Some post-sisters' appreciation reflections

I was wrong...

I thought that people were spending superfluous time celebrating what I once viewed as needless and made-up-to-be-untolerably-romantic events. This may have taken the form of valentine's or anniversaries or what-not. But my view has changed after sisters'

Over the course of my stay at USC undergrad, i've had the privilege to meet and befriend and grow attached to a body of believers so unprecedentedly closely. So this past wednesday was sisters' appreciation. Last year, USC threw what i thought was the best sisters' appreciation (obvious bias due to my own recomm), with chicken wine dinner, fondue fountains, gifts, the works. I took pride in the creativity of each of the guys, their participation, and our ability to put on a great night!

This year was drastically different. Our membership had grown so quickly (could ONLY be the work of God as answer to prayer) And as sisters' approached, God showed me a different way to view them. In the community that I have come to love through ReComm, knowing that the girls comprised of now more than half our membership, i was filled with a different passion. Not to put on a great sisters' appreciation night but for our sisters to genuinely enjoy and relax in a night in which the guys take up the work. With this kind of attitude, the planning, at least for me, became so free-flowing. Not thinking about the PRESSURE of putting on a great night, but remembering that each girl here was a precious GIFT God had given to me in our SC community, i wanted to honor them and give them the best night of their school years.

To what degree the SC guys accomplished that is really only up to the SC girls to judge. But... i made a connection that night. Anniversaries and romantic days i thought extraneous before... (100-days, 1-month, 6-month anniversaries, valentines, etc etc) There is a reason for them. Perhaps i was just too young and naive before to appreciate those days in this way. SC ReComm has shown me that it's not a burden to remember and celebrate, but if i cherish a particular something (be it a girl or ReComm), it should be natural.

It excites me. To think that i have yet to feel this way for some one/people. To be so utterly grateful always for the person(s) in my life. And it won't always be confined to romance. Even just to realize on a complete different plane of experience how precious my friends are, or my family; i can't wait!

So God,
I await Your appointed time for which those relationships in my life take on that special meaning, the kind of meaning like was revealed to me at sisters' on wednesday. But for now, if there is one relationship which i need that special meaning revealed NOW, it is my relationship with You, Father. God, I have tried of my own efforts to draw near to you, even when I was counseled that it could not be done, I, in my own efforts and vanity, tried to get close to You. But God, i confess that i'm tired and exhausted and wasted from my own efforts. I need you to come near.

When I Feel Like I'm at an Impasse

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.