Less than 100 days from today, I will be walking across the graduation stage in Cougar Stadium, celebrating the completion of 4 years of late nights, lots of classes and not nearly enough sleep. Shortly after that, the most expensive piece of paper I will ever buy will be mailed to Eureka, and bam! College is over. I will leave Azusa, visit with friends and family for a few weeks, fly across the Atlantic and into the next chapter of my life.
I was thinking about that today; chapters of life. At a whopping 23 years, I'm can still claim youth, yet so much changes in a couple decades. It's crazy to think that just a few years ago, I was looking at the 9th graders and admiring their wisdom and high school experience. And then senior year, coming to visit Casey at APU, falling in love with the campus and getting even more excited to come here. Then I think of my year in Hungary and feel like it wasn't so long ago, but I've studied for 3 1/2 years, been to China, South Africa, been an RA twice even went back to Hungary for a visit since I left almost 4 years ago.
I went to an African American church a couple of Sundays ago. The pastor told us in the sermon, "I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me." And I don't, either. I may not have realized in every chapter of my life, but God has been there prodding me and comforting me and challenging me. I have changed a lot--in bad ways and in good--but He has been there through it all. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, no matter who we are or the decisions we make. That's a comfort.
Grace and peace,
Hilary
