Resolutions/Goals for 2013

1.Break my web addiction:
Last year I spent way too much time on the web. Most of my internet use is for social/communication purposes. Facebook alone probably held the largest portion of my time. This is hypocritical in the highest degree for me because I have a poem called “The Theology of Technology” where I address the problem with the idol we make of media/technology. I can no longer recite this poem if I can’t limit my web usage. Being in school requires I use my computer to put together presentations, type papers, do research, and communicate via email so I won’t be able to stop using my computer altogether, nor do I want to. I know that the gift of technology is great if used in both a proper context and moderation. I just have to learn to limit myself.

2.Stop Missing Church:
Last year I missed a lot of Church once school started. Or when I did go to Church it was at a new Church with friends from school. I wasn’t very settled or focused. This year I’d like to be consistent in my Church attendance at my home Church.

3.Go on a Cruise:
One of my best friends went on a Cruise last summer and had the best time. She had invited me but I was unable to afford it at the time. I’d like to save up this year and go with my friend this summer.

4.Get Arms like Michelle Obama’s:
I hate my arms! They’re so ugly to me. I’ve been losing weight but my arms are an area that needs much toning. I hope to get this part of my body in shape.

5.Get a tan:
I’m tired of being so pale. Last summer I went camping with the youth group. We were at the lake, enjoying our day. This was the only day that had clear weather while we were camping. I wore my bathing suit and didn’t bother with sunblock. Major mistake. Later that evening I was freezing, teeth chattering, and had an awful headache. The next day my face was bright red. When I got home I realized my shoulders and back had blistered. Then I had the fun of waiting for my burn to start peeling. It was painful, unattractive, and unpleasant. I’ve been reading about the best way I could get a tan without burning so I want to try these methods.

6.Poetry Crew:
While at school I’ve had the privilege of meeting some very nice guys that perform spoken word poetry. I’d like to form a group of us that would be interested in putting on different events, speaking at open mic competitions, traveling to different Churches, and speaking to youth groups. The guys and I are supposed to have a meeting once school starts to see where everyone stands and pray about things.

7.Record a video:
Last semester I shared my poetry a lot. 3 open mic events, at Church, class devotionals, or randomly on campus. I was frequently asked if I had any of my work on YouTube. The answer is “no” but there are 2 videos of me on Facebook (requiring you to be my friend to view them). I’d like to get my work on YouTube but I want to be happy with the video. I don’t know how to film or edit anything impressive and I want to make sure I pursue this poetry project carefully. As of right now it looks like a friend of mine at school may be recording a quality video for me and if it turns out nicely, I hope to get my stuff on YouTube.

8.Make more female friends or focus more on the female friendships I have:
God has blessed me with some awesome guy friends. Whether back home in MD (Eric), at my Church (Joel, Jared, Adam), or here at school (Royce, Tanner) - my guys are the best. But I realized this past semester that I really have a small handful of female friends and I don’t get to hang out with them enough. It would be really nice to have more female friends in my life that can appreciate the little things with me (like chick flicks or my appreciation for Ryan Gosling).

9.Weight loss:
Always. I’m so tired of this being a goal. I lost a bit last year. Not enough though. Once school starts I’m going to return to the gym and try to adopt some healthy eating habits. I want to look good for that cruise I mentioned earlier.

10.Go on a date:
Ok so my year of being single ended on October 31st, 2012. I am now free to date. So I’d like to go on a date. I have a friend that seems to think I’m scared of relationships because I’ve decided not to pursue potential relationships with a couple of guys that have asked me out. I’d like to prove my friend wrong and go on a date this year.

But I do have a couple rules:
1. The guy has to ask me out. I refuse to ask a guy out.
2. I have to be friends with him before the date. I don’t want to go out with a stranger. That’s just weird to me.

11.Look more like Jesus:
To do this I must have more of God’s presence in my life. I must meet with Him on a daily basis and I must fall in love with Him all over again. I want to hunger for holiness. I want to be obsessed with God. Right now, this isn’t enough.

Melissa

Last semester when I first met my roommate, Melissa, I had no idea I would make a best friend. Melissa was not the type of company I usually kept. I had imagined I’d meet people at college that were very like-minded. I wanted to befriend theology geeks that enjoyed Christian hip-hop and impressive vocabulary words. I had imagined meeting people like myself. So when I met this artistic, free spirited type, I had no idea what was going to become of this relationship.

The human experience is a funny thing. At first I think we made each other very uncomfortable. I perceived Melissa as this crazy little hippie chick that said ‘dude’ a lot and played a djembe drum. She probably perceived me as this studious close-minded Church geek. But as different as we were, we realized we had so much in common. We could relate to each other on the strangest things. We shared similar past experiences. We even understood the little shades of crazy in each other’s lives, and we didn’t judge each other for them.

Eventually the new wore off of this relationship. I think initially we were really friendly and fake with each other, careful not to offend one another. But I think it dawned on the both of us that we had to live with each other and being fake with each other wasn’t fun. Once this started happening, things went downhill for a bit. We had 2 huge arguments a month or so into the semester. We even had dramatic moments of “I’m leaving this place and I want nothing else to do with you!” We really got on each other’s nerves there for a while. Looking back on this is incredibly comical because we eventually moved on and bonded like nothing had ever happened between us. But I love the fact that we’ll always have angry journal entries written about each other to laugh at.

The rest of the semester was pretty good. We made a lot of friends, hung out all the time, danced in our bedroom, painted together, went thrift store shopping, prayed together, and worshipped a lot. It was pretty smooth sailing for the remainder of our time together. We had a minor argument around the end of the year, but it was over by the next day. Something strange had happened when we weren’t looking- God used us to teach each other lessons we didn’t realize we had needed.

By the end of the semester I found myself to be a different person from who I was around the beginning of the year. I wasn’t as argumentative or quick to debate. I wasn’t so reserved and quiet. I stopped worrying all the time and actually learned how to have fun. I stopped caring so much about what others thought of me and started being myself. I started noticing I wasn’t trying to dress like others or look like others. I was me. I went through a handful of hairstyles, and started wearing whatever made me happy. I decided to start painting- and I love it! I learned how to listen to others even when I disagree with them. I became more comfortable with the reality of God’s work within believers, and even started embracing things that had usually made me uncomfortable. I’d like to say that I even became less judgmental than I was before. I’d say the most noticeable difference was the fact that I had loosened up and learned to enjoy life.

I don’t think I would’ve changed in such a positive manner had it not been for my friendship with Melissa and the way God used her in my life.*Melissa and I have both stated that we’ve impacted each other’s lives, but I don’t think we’ll ever fully recognize how much of an impact we’ve had. Melissa ended up leaving Lee University because she felt called to Kansas City, Missouri. We said goodbye, and agreed to keep in contact. She has said a few times that she could see us doing ministry together in the future. Only God knows if that is part of His plans for our friendship. But during Christmas break I had a pleasant surprise when Melissa called me and let me know she was driving through the area. We hung out for just a bit and prayed together. It was so nice to see her again! When we talked and prayed, I really felt God’s presence. It was such a blessing to me.

She did share the funniest thing with me though. She told me she would be attending a theological seminary next semester. What?!?! I never would’ve guessed she’d one day attend a seminary! Melissa wasn’t big on theology, that was always more my thing. It cracks me up that she is pursuing this and I’m pursuing art. It feels like we switched paths or something.*I’m super blessed and thankful to have had such a great experience. I look forward to posting more about what God has decided to do through our friendship, and any future stories of hanging out.