[swept away]

How ironic that, almost a year ago, my last post dealt with my musings on beauty, when over the last year I have glimpsed beauty in a way that I never knew existed. In the past 12 months, I have traveled to four different countries in Europe, am anticipating two new nieces and nephews, am enjoying my last and final year of college, and am growing in ways only my Father above could have orchestrated. But nothing compares to the best surprise of all that happened on October 28, 2010. The man of my dreams proposed to me! Throughout the entire engagement, I have been swept away by my fiancé's steadfast love and patience with me, and moreover, his steadfast love to our Father above. His eyes are fixed on Jesus, and what a blessing to know that is the man I will spend the rest of my life with! He will be running right beside me, chasing after the One who calms the storms of life and fills us with indescribable joy. And I only know the best is yet to come.

The best is yet to come... what a promise that Christ gives us in the scriptures: That all things work together for the GOOD of those who love God! I am no preacher, but I can't help but share a small portion of what Christ is teaching me. While this time of year does indeed represent new life and fresh beginnings, there can be a sense of anxiousness as things come to a close before summer. Especially among many of my fellow classmates who are graduating, there is a simultaneous mixture of happiness, grief, contentment, regret, anticipation, reflection, and anticipation of what is to come. "Did I do everything I wanted to in college? Was I the kind of friend the Lord speaks of? Did I choose to love those who were unloveable?" Did I cross off enough "things" on my list?" Isn't it a relief, or should I say a great relief to know that our lives are not dependent on our performance? Scripture says ALL things work for the good of those who love God. Certainly we can't expect for everything to be rainbows and butterflies in our lives, but we can expect for God to bring us through it. His tapestry for our lives is far greater and far better than we can even imagine. With that in mind, perhaps it can change the way we live. Knowing that all that counts is "faith expressing itself through love," perhaps we can begin to live beyond ourselves.

I believe Nicole Nordeman says it best. Dear friends, hear the beauty in her words:

"Not well-traveled, not well-read

Not well-to-do or well bred

I would like to hear instead:

Well done, good and faithful one."