rebelling against low expectations
We sit around in her room as she tells us how God brought her here. Of the open doors, the blessings, the hard stuff. We sat on the back porch, wrapped in blankets, the sound of the rain a perfect soundtrack. The Tennessee lightning bugs popped in on us every now and then. We discussed match-making, and car accidents, and neighbors. It was such a far-cry from what I would picture as “culture...
Dear fellow world-changer, Sometimes, doing hard things seems boring and insignificant. Like everything we do isn’t really helping anyone. How is hitting tennis balls making a difference? How is studying about chemical bonds and electron configurations helping the poor? How is sitting in my bedroom typing on my keyboard changing the world right now? The world is full of poverty and famine...
If I could go back in time, there are plenty of things I would want my teenage-self to know. But if I could, I’d especially want to go back in time and shine some truth into a few of the lies that I believed as a young person. Maybe you’re struggling with some of these lies too. If so, this is my invitation to you to experience some truth. Lie 1: I’m too young to do big things. The world we live...
Every weekday morning has a similar sound. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. “Oh no, morning. Please, just five more minutes,” I groan as I reach over to press the snooze button. With the exception of those who enjoy rising early, no one likes to hear their alarm clock in the quietness of the morning. We groan and sloppily reach out to press the snooze button on our incessantly ringing alarm clock...
I really like being in control. I always have. I enjoy knowing exactly what is happening, when it is happening, why it is happening, and how I can change it. I know everyone values different things, but I’m pretty sure most people can relate to some extent. Because of my obsessive (and often sinful) desire for control, there was one question that graced my lips more often than any other. Why...
I never planned on taking a gap year. I never dreamed of deviating from the four-years-of-college-right-after-high-school path. I’m the kind of person who enjoys school and accomplishing things, one of those type-A high achievers. That’s why, when I was forced to take a gap year due to health issues, I felt devastated. I went from several AP classes to a low-skill, very part time job...
My grandparent’s home is graced with clocks that provide a steady tick-tock in every room. Without fail, the stately grandfather clocks ring out a loud bong, bong, bong to mark the hour. These clocks not only create a unique ambience, they also provide a constant reminder of the time. Whether in bed, at work, or at play, the clocks’ constant presence reminds everyone in the home that the...
As teens and early twenties, it’s easy to spend our time trying to create an identity. The most common question I got as a high schooler was, “What do you want to do with your life?” In other words, how do you want to define yourself for the next forty plus years? It’s a big question and not I wasn’t the only one trying to answer it year after year. My friends were experiencing the same...
Sometimes, devotions are great. You sit down with your Bible (and coffee, if that’s your thing) as morning light filters through the window and read a few chapters or dig deep into one passage. You write out the beautiful, powerful truths you’re learning in your journal. You spend time in prayer, praising God for his goodness, overflowing with thankfulness and dependence on him. Other times, you...
Do you ever feel like you’re the only one trying to do the right thing? Maybe you’re striving for purity, but you’re easily discouraged after seeing your classmates’ seductive Instagram posts. Maybe you’re aspiring to have a cheerful attitude while you’re doing your chores, but you’re the only one that cares enough to try. Maybe you’re attempting to do your best on your math homework, but your...
rebelling against low expectations
