Learning ahead...yesss.

Today was the first day at a new school. Remember what that feels like?

My sentiments? I think overwhelmed and forlorn will basically do. Its a big school. I didn't get lost or anything, except in the huge sea of faces that I've never seen before. I was a bit lonely in the plethora of strangers. It was a long day despite the fact that most of the profs only went over the syllabus and dismissed early. Of course it wasn't all so bad, there is hope. I got to spend part of the day with a good friend, Kim. I'm really excited about this friendship, it's one I really need right now. She's helping me and I know things will be better as I adjust. There's just so much adjusting to do! I'm going to learn a lot from this experience, and am looking forward to being stretched as much as I probably will be. I learned quite a lot today already. So who knows, this may turn out to be my best semester of college yet!

"For many of us, we understand peace to be the absence of conflict. We talk about peace in the home or in the world or giving peace a chance. But the Hebraic understanding of shalom is far more than just the absence of conflict or strife.

Shalom is the presence of the goodness of God. It's the presence of wholeness, completeness.

So when Jesus tells the woman to go in peace, (Luke 8:43-48) he is placing the blessing of God on all of her. Not just her physical body, He is blessing her with God's presence on her entire being. And this is because for Jesus, salvation is holistic in nature. For Jesus, being saved or reconciled to God involves far more than just the saving of your physical body or your soul - it involves all of you.

God's desire is for us to live in harmony with him - body, soul, spirit, mind, emotions - every inch of our being."

...a piece that resonated with me my first time reading Velvet Elivs. (I guess I'm supposed to read it ten times or something.)

"I feel so right about this decision - a peace. I used to think peace comes when things were easy and just seemed to flow. I'm learning that that isn't necessarily true. This is going to be so hard, and I don't want to make this change right now, but I feel peace about it. I think its because I just know that this is what God is telling me to do. It must be real peace."

...from my journal last summer.

I thought I had this figured out, but being human, I forgot or something. So reading this from Rob Bell was a great reminder at just the right time. Amazing how God does that. So, even though I long to be in Indiana sometimes, I know that this is where God wants me at this time. That peace is here. God doesn't just live on Christian campuses, after all, and I cannot wait to see Him all over EIU!

Shalom.