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.