Life, not-quite-near-death experiences, and choices

The way I see it, I had two choices when I began this new semester.
I could do things the way I had always done them, or I could take my life experiences and learn from them.

Let me back things up just a bit.

Just over two weeks ago, I was in a car accident.
I'll spare the specific details, but the car I was driving ended up with badly dented-in passenger side and stopped less than a yard from hitting a tree head-on.
I sincerely thank God for car brakes that work.

I found myself at the E.R. a little bit later in a lot of pain, having (as I later found out) badly knocked my spine and pelvis out of alignment.

I remember lying on a hospital bed in super-attractive hospital gowns having a tearful conversation with my mom about how I could have died. She took that opportunity to point out that God had watched out for me and wanted me alive.

I'm choosing to believe that I'm here for a reason. Growing up, I always heard that God had a purpose for my life. When I got older, I began to believe that for myself. Though I'm still figuring out the details of how I'm going to spend my life, I know it is not for nothing.

As I am writing this, I have ice packs perched on my back and my neck to help with the pain I'm still fighting. But I am blessed. I am blessed because I can breathe, walk, and write this post. I am blessed because I'm alive.

Back to the part about choices... How does a person who realizes they're blessed to be alive act? Do they continually moan about some pain-in-the-neck (literal or figurative)? Not sure about that one yet. However, I do know this: They live like they know that their life is not necessarily theirs. It's like life is an awesome but super-fragile gift that can be knocked off the proverbial shelf at any moment.

Life is an exquisite gift that was given to every one of us. Still, viewing it that way is a choice. I can choose to live like I have something worth living for or live just to survive another year (or 80) on this Earth. I can be passionate or passionless. I can love or hate whatever comes my way.

The point is that we all have a choice to make.

So... What's yours going to be?

"What I did this summer"

The stereotypical back-to-school question a student receives is this: What did you do this summer?

As I am attending the first classes of my senior year at Lee University, I’m fully expecting to be asked that question at least 900 more times than I already have.

The answer to said question brings to mind both happy and frustrating experiences at the same time.

Here’s a quick list of what I did in case you’re wondering:

• Went on a university trip to Germany and Austria for two weeks
• Took my first law class ever—Media Law
• Got involved with a new small group Bible study led by a couple of friends through their church
• Enjoyed some free time doing everything from reading to researching grad schools
• Spent copious amounts of time job hunting in a country where 9.1 percent of us are unemployed
• Had lots of pleasant (and quite unpleasant) things happen along the way
• Learned the value of patience in various areas of my life

There’s this cheesy commercial on TV right now with pieces of cereal dressed in party hats and the like exclaiming “Happy School Year!” as a group of children is going back to school. As groan-inducing as it was, the ad got me thinking. Starting a new school year DOES have a lot in common with starting a new calendar year.

The biggest similarity? The feeling of being faced with a chance for new beginnings. Every new semester is a chance to begin again. For that matter, so is every day. The Bible says God makes everything new. The things that have happened in the past shape the way you view the world. However, it doesn’t have to shape who you are.

I’m claiming this semester as a new beginning because I don’t want to be discouraged by past failures or cocky because of past successes. Something tells me it’s time to move on. “Happy school year” indeed. :-)

Hello, End of the World...

I haven't written a post for this blog in ages. Today is supposed to be the end of the world though, so I figured now would be a good occasion to share my thoughts yet again. ;-)

There has been a lot of hype lately because a religious group is claiming that the Rapture is going to occur today, May 21, 2011, at 6 p.m. It's being hailed as "Judgment Day" by a guy named Harold Camping who claims to have figured out the exact date and time of the Rapture from some elaborate math equation given to him by God. Evidently, he has convinced a lot of people of his views…

Now, I am a Christian who believes the Rapture will happen at some point. The thing is... We can't predict it, according to the Bible:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” --Mark 13:32-37

I have seen some interesting posts and comments from friends about the Rapture. They range from poking fun at the idea of it being today to pointing out that we should be ready for Jesus' return anyway.

I’m sort of in both camps, finding the prediction funny yet realizing the Rapture's seriousness. If the Bible plainly says we do not know the hour, then we don’t. However, we should also follow its advice to always be ready.

How does one get ready? Admit to God that you, like every other human that has ever existed, are a sinner. Ask for His forgiveness, and commit your life to living for Him. Then actually do it by following what He commands.

The End of the World is going to happen at some point, but I don’t think it will be today. Be ready anyway. Nothing in this world is certain, and neither is the exact date of its end.