Reality Check.

This week and the previous one are often called "Hell Week"and "Death Week" on college campuses all over america. A term that is used to describe the time when lists are made,  composed of  overwhelming projects, book reports, exams and so on that are worth the majority of your grade in the class that semester. Timelines and news feeds are filled with complaints about how a particular assignment will be the "death of me"or brings them to a point in which they post "Kill me now". On occasion you might pass by a conversation that sounds like this, BOB1: "what does this week look like for you?" BOB2 :"Like death". . .

That was my reality. my attitude. I jokingly have made some of those comments in the last week (when you are up till 4:30AM several nights in a row working on a particular subject. . . your attitude isn't always the best.) but I WAS WRONG. 

*Disclaimer: I am simply pondering. processing. reflecting. and trying to learn, while celebrating the life of a brother.

On 1:30 Saturday night I was given a reality check - a horrid,  and awful reality check that left pain and chaos in its wake.

Death became a reality this weekend. 

I didn't know Daniel very well, but he made GREAT stir fry, and always had a smile!

. . .This week has left me with a broken heart and a burden that I carry for those that I love, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who LOVED Daniel well (those that still do).

The sounds of shocked and broken sobs from my friends echoing in that auditorium are seared into my memory and not easily forgotten.
I don't have answers I can offer, Words are inadequate, and I cannot begin to have an idea of the grief that they are enduring. IT SUCKS. I don't like seeing some of my favorite people hit rock bottom and being unable to help them.

The reality check that we as people are not immune to death and loss is good. Even though the death and loss itself is HORRID, a nightmare. I do not believe we were made to handle such tragedy, we are incapable. We were made to know goodness and Love, companionship and creativity, but Asa BUT, There is a solution that satisfies the need that our distorted nature creates. Christ. I think that there is a odd beauty in being awakened to that need, because it is only when we are truly needy to we crave and desire the solution.

Maybe that is where joy comes into play. I believe that is possible to have joy when you are sorrowful, because joy - deep and abiding is not happiness. Joy is more.

MAYBE JOY IS THE MINDSET THAT DESPITE THE DARKNESS (EVIL) OF THIS WORLD THERE IS STILL LIGHT (GOODNESS). 

In studying for one of my classes I was reminded that God is righteous! Meaning that He fulfills every relationship perfectly.
That includes his relationship with darkness. That means He knows the correct PLACE of darkness and also what is IN the darkness.
He is in control. He is sovereign. Despite what has taken place.
AND. . .

In him there is new beginnings and New hope that we can cling to. 

It doesn't mean we are going to have answers we want, but thats when we MUST trust. Trust in someone who is constant and unchanging. Someone outside of time, in whom is the source of life.
I am thankful that Daniel knew life, that he knew the source of all life, and that he knew his identity was in Christ. I am thankful that He LOVED the Lord with his whole heart and I am jealous of him. Because he is face to face with The King of Glory! - which is way better than winning the lottery!
He is in paradise! A paradise that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. A Paradise that makes men want to boast! A paradise that those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ get to enter into because of His victory over death on the cross, and their restored relationship with God!

Life here on earth is simply a gift from God, it's is always a gift - a gift that I am guilty of forgetting, one that I am not entitled to by right; but one that I have. One that we are all given - even during finals week, even during the midst of tragedy. 

Maybe I can't offer answers to tragedy or the horrid things in life, and maybe I can't make that hollow ache - that gapping hole that comes from senseless tragedy go away. But I can pray, and love, and I can share moments of laughter, with my friends, with those hurting and remind them of the other reality. The reality of life. 

#WatchOutForTheIcePuddle

    Unless you have been living under a rock, or hibernating for the last 4 weeks (like I wish I could be doing) you have probably heard about the south and the sudden #snowapocalypse2014 --- and, No I did not make that up it was a legitimate tag on twitter in reference to the condition of good 'ole South Carolina.

     It's a scary place folks! Walmart ran out of bread and water,  people have lost power, all businesses have been shut down, schools been out for the last 3 days, and driving would be right up there with committing suicide (just a joke). . . As the picture below so beautifully points out S.C has been closed.

Courtesy of Stix blogs

     It hasn't been that awful, although for me to say I am ready for spring and summer is for sure an UNDERSTATEMENT!

I do have to say though, that It is Awesome how God gives us EXACTLY what we need, when we need it most. I was just telling my friend the other day that I needed a day off - where everything would be cancelled and time would stop for a bit while I caught my breath... and look what happened aside from time stopping.

     All this to say, even though I learned my lesson from the last snow day and have worked on a toooooooon of homework in the last few days - They have been so great!

     


















    
     Time with people, plenty of  laughter, olympics, and lots of good things to think about are what have marked my days and made them good gifts. . . and since I know that it is Valentines Day and all, I'm just gonna conclude by saying I don't deserve any of those good gifts, especially the love that I have been given at such a costly price, but I will accept them and dwell on the giver that ultimately gave me life. 

     Anyway, I hope you have a moment in-between eating chocolate and giving hugs to your closest friends today to think about the good gifts God  has given you recently;  and if you are in the South or anywhere with snow or ice really - grab your boots and grab you gloves and watch out for those ice puddles! :)

Love the Arctic penguin 

   

The Kindness of a Stranger.

This post is dedicated to the kind ole' gentleman that helped this city girl change a tire. 

      After today,  I can no longer say "Never have I ever.." been stranded road side due to a obnoxious tire. . .or if you want to get technical a nail that lodged itself into the side-strip of my tire. I had just finished my last shift of the holiday weekend at the good ole' Depot and was headed back for a relaxing saturday afternoon at my friends home (since it is Thanksgiving break after all!!!) and all of a sudden, well -you can imagine my surprise as a few cars rolled up beside me mouthing words and pointing anxiously at my back wheel. It was only after I pulled over in a neighborhood that probably isn't the safest place to be stranded in alone; that I did the only thing a single girl thinks to do when she has car trouble. . .
Called my daddy (who I might add is over 500 miles away and does not have a personal jet at his disposal... but I called anyway). I may or may not have teared up a little bit but hey, being on your own has some scary moments. Needless to say it was about this time the gentleman.. named George walked up to my car and asked if I needed help.
I had a decision to make. I could trust this guy and have immediate help, or wait 3 hours and call AAA like I'd been planning to do.
     I must have looked pretty nervous (after all I'd seen my far share of CSI , NCIS, and all the informative TV shows now a days) because the gentleman called me on it said that It was okay - he told me he had a daughter about my age and he'd want someone to offer to help her if she was ever in my situation. So I decided if worst came to worst I had pepper spray.
     I popped my trunk and within 30 minutes he had the "Donut" spare on and I knew a little bit more about this kind fellow. I eventually got home with daylight to spare and now the next thing on my to-do list is make a stop at the tire shop to get a new tire.
    I will probably never see that kind ole' gentleman or his wife again, but I am sure grateful for the kindness of that stranger. I made it through that seemingly impossible situation - I got home safe and sound, learned some new tire lingo, and have one more story to tell my kids someday. After all 'tis the season to count your blessings and today was just another gift that showed me what Gods goodness looks like.
Have a good one Guys!
- Jac