The Book
For some time now, I have felt the need or the calling or the whatever to write a book. It was taken me years to come up with the most appropriate angle for the topic I feel my first (hopefully more to come) book should contain.
I have finally found the angle. After mulling over it for the past few weeks, this reoccurring format keeps popping into my head with more and more ideas to make it better, fuller.
The working title: Letters from a Preacher’s Kid
I am praying that the Lord will use this time of writing to reflect and give Him the glory in my life. That sounds cliche; but once you read the book at completion, you’ll understand.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…”
Brotherly Bond
Over the past few days, I have been anxious about the future as it concerns my major and my career. Currently, I am an Accounting major, but I do not see myself trailblazing away on the typical path for Accounting majors. I have done well in the classes thus far and see myself getting my CPA to work in public accounting for the beginning years.
Nevertheless, I have other interests, other career goals, other dream jobs. This week, my prayer has been, “Am I in the right major? Please show me your plan in your time. Grant me patience. Which of my interests are career paths, and which are merely hobbies?”
Through all of this anxiety, the Lord has blessed me with some wonderful prayer partners:
Foote: Through thick and thin over the past two years, you have been there for me. We may not get to hang out as much as we would like, and our triathlon/swimming training may not have lasted very long, but you still are a brother to me. The Lord has given you such a wonderful opportunity to shape this next school year by leading the new freshman class through a smooth transition. Know I’m praying for you and the rest of the team.
Cossiboom: You are the Paul-like mentor that I asked the Lord for years to have. Thank you for your encouragement, open honesty, and time. I look forward to serve alongside you more this next year.
Young: You are the best friend that I prayed I’d meet pretty earlier on in my college career and would you believe it, we met on the first day. While we have been separated as of late do to travels, I thank you for being my person, my brother. Your committed prayers and your passion for the spreading the gospel convict and excite me everyday. I pray for you while in Ecuador.
Lewis: It was great to continue the discipleship group this past fall even with Foote and Young traveling in London. Your maturity in and devotion to the Lord has been such an encouragement to me. Your faithfulness to accountability comes at all the right times.
Thompson: While we knew each other barely last year, it has been wonderful to call you brother this year through fraternity life but much more importantly through Christ. It’s been great to laugh with you through class and see how the Lord has been pressing on your heart to see Him known in our campus circles.
Smalley: Our friendship is just beginning, but I already consider you brother, accountability partner, business partner, and friend. Your passion and commitment to being the man the Lord is calling you to be is admirable. I cannot wait to live life alongside you when we return to Birmingham.
Now there are more guys that I recognize as being part of this brotherly bond in Christ (Horne, Denning, Nichols, Ballard, Fuerniss), but these mentioned are the ones I have had prayer times with over the past few days. Lord, thank you for putting in my life, bold men of the faith to live life with during these important years of finding my footing outside of my usual family nest.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…”
20
On February 14, 2012, I turned twenty; I am no longer a teenager. Today, on May 26, 2012, my cousin graduated from high school.
In these times, I reflect on the past. Much has happened throughout the past two decades of my life, some good and some, well, not good; but through it all, I have always had the love, support, and guidance of the Lord and of my family.
During the awkward middle school years, I thought I knew it all. I thought I was so grown up. I stopped playing in the dirt. I stopped trick or treating. I stopped doing pretty much everything. All because I was “mature;” I was a teenager.
Instead of continuing to write about past regrets, mistakes, successes, or awards, I choose to grow up. Who would have thought that it would take me to this point in my life when it seems to be speeding past me faster ever to have such a revelation.
I should not be anxious but trust in Him to carry me through each day. I have probably said this a million times, but it really is time to grow up. As I told my college minister the other week, “Chad, I can do one of two things. Grow up and be the man the Lord calls me to be or remain in denial of my own growth and try to remain a lost boy forever.”
On this day, I choose the former. At twenty years old, I am still in school. I do not have a job. I do not have a straight career path nailed down. I do not have a girlfriend or wife or kids. I do not have bills or a house. But on this day, I do have a Heavenly Father who is calling me to be a man.
“For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
summertime
My buddy Tim created a “Summer Bucket List” of sorts that he will complete while working at school as an Orientation Leader. I don’t know if mine is considered a “bucket list” or not, but here it is.
-Pick the blog back up.
-Explore Sea World, Universal, Disney multiple times while working in Orlando.
-Start the book(s).
-Pick piano back up.
-Voice lessons.
-Scripture memorization and life application.
-Family time.
-London.
it’s been awhile
I haven’t posted in a long time, but I’m hoping to reconnect with the blog over the next few days. Sometimes when so much happens at once, it is hard to find time to write it all down.
Semester in Review:
- I turned 20.
- I had my first Spring Break beach experience (not the stereotypical spring break, so don’t get any ideas).
- Many people around me got engaged.
- The Lord closed many doors, but opened a few windows.
- My grades were the best they’ve been at Samford at a time when I thought they would be the worst.
From all these points come many stories, stories and lessons I hope to share over the next few weeks and months.
DeGreenify Me
This weekend I had the opportunity to see Wicked with my family. It was a wonderful ending to a great birthday week, for this show is one that I have wanted to see for a long time.
Now that I have seen it, I have such a new perspective on the storyline of The Wizard of Oz. I felt a connection with the character of Elphaba. All she wanted was to be accepted and supported in her endeavors to succeed, to use her “gift” for good. She wanted to be understood. But when that did not happen, she turned “Wicked.” Really, she became obsessed with her cravings for adoration and power, justifying it as working to save the animals.
This happened when the few things she believed in fell apart. The Wizard was not who she thought he was or would be. Her family life was not what she wanted. It is interesting to think that the Wizard is her real father and that she would never know.
[PERSONAL CONNECTION]
I too sometimes find myself feeling green and unaccepted, not having the full opportunity to execute the ultimate potential. In my past, I chose to act out as Elphaba does throughout the story. Instead, I hope that I can forever find rest and satisfaction in the Lord, knowing that He has a perfect plan for my life. Too often, I replace Him for a “wizard” of some sort like involvement, recognition, or advancement.
Lord, I thank You for granting me such a peace. I know that each day is not promised to me, but as I receive each new day, it is just that, new. New mornings and new mercies come with each sunrise. Lord, help me not to desire such a temporary Earthly love of power or prestige. It is my desire to be Your hands and feet while in this place. Grant us all the love and direction we seek to find. I thank You for changing me For Good.
Call Me Cupid
Today is my birthday! I will turn twenty (2-0) at approximately 8:32AM, just a few short hours away.
Confession: I sorta obsess over birthdays. It must be the middle child syndrome coming out of me. Birthdays are a big deal to me, and I get to share mine on Valentine’s Day.
While I sit and rest my feet from being at Step Sing Dress Rehearsal all night, let me reflect on the way my 19th year was spent. (Cue the glorious rain in the background.)
- February 13, 2011: I had my first ever completely successful surprise birthday thrown for me by none other than my older brother.
- February 26th: Barn Bash with Pi Kappa Phi - celebrating our initiation into brotherhood
- Spring Break: Wrestled with the idea of sharing my faith during everyday life while serving in NYC.
- April: Had a true heart to heart with my brother Justin Kyle Young, ultimately serving as the catalyst for my personal spiritual journey that I’ve experienced over the past few months.
- May: Took an awesome sister in Christ to Rose Ball Formal (Miss Katherine Thomas)
- Summer: Interned with a church’s children and youth ministries. The Lord showed me so much about myself and about His ministry.
- August: The “Sophomore Slump” year began, but I don’t see it like a slump year. We also sent Kyle off to London for the semester.
- September: Watched my little sister begin to make her mark on my ole stomping ground at MCHS.
- October: Discovered that I could be changing my major again.
- November: Rejoiced with my new Tupelo extended family during the release of “Take a Stand.”
- Christmas Break: Had some great conversations with family which haven’t been readily available previously.
- Now: Step Sing 2012 could be a great birthday present. Such great entertainment.
Now, I know that outline is pretty shallow, but it would take a lot of time to really dig down deep. Just take my word for it, through thick and thin He has been faithful. He is always faithful, but I am seeing it all more clearly now. I thank each of you who made my year as a 19 year old so great. Your friendships and prayers are always a blessing.
[HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, WORLD]
