Gratefully Red

Last month I went to Rob Bell in Des Moines. At one point he asked for some audience participation. We wrote on cards “ I know how you feel” and exchanged them ( I still have mine in a my daily planner to see it everyday) if we have gone through certain experiences. These experiences help us re-prioritize what is most important. In talking about these painful experiences, the audience started feeling vulnerable and emotionally-connected to one another. Rob explained that when you talk about suffering with others, the ground is holy all of a sudden. There is this bond that transcends and distance is bridged, what he referred to as an "art of solidarity."

I have this same feeling not of suffering when I see a Northwestern College t-shirt but of joy. When I see a Red Raider of the past, present, or future I have a sense of joy that says I know how you feel. I am a Fern girl and have done the ‘special’ snow angels. I have seen the boys in their boxers on Super Bowl Sunday performing the Great White North. I have been apart of many many pranks. I have driven all over country to support the football team. I have made late night Perkins and Wal-mart runs. I feel a sense of “I know how you feel.”

It is hard for me to think that just ten years ago I was a high school senior. The year was 1999. I was busy in high school playing volleyball, basketball, golf, and on chapel planning committee, spending time with friends, in the orchestra, speech, and more. I was exchanging senior pictures with friends and living the “good” life. Now as I look at the last ten years I see a multitude of God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life. Ten years ago at this time I would have not even thought about where I was going to going to go to college. Now 5 years after I graduated I see how great college was, what it taught me, and how I made the perfect decision on where to go.

Next week I head to my alma mater for my 5-year class reunion. I received a magnet in the mail that said Gratefully Red. I truly am gratefully red.

Here is what I learned from college.

I learned that you can be a follower of Christ and also be a fierce athletic competitor.

I learned what true and authentic community looks like. When you lose a grandparent there are friends there to build you up and comfort you. I found what true Christian community in worship, prayer, encouragement, and love.

I saw what deep unconditional, love looks like.

I learned how to have complete uninhibited fun with out any alcohol necessary.

I learned how to be a leader.

I learned to love Survivor.

I learned how to come out of my shell and be the social person I am today.

I learned to love culture and things that are different than what I am.

But most of all I learned what it means to be a follower of Christ. Northwestern put people in my life to teach me what grace looks like. They taught me what service looks like. The people I knew and met did not treat me like a dollar amount that paid tuition but a follower of Christ. They encouraged me to use my gifts to further his kingdom. I had professors who had a deep faith and love for what they did. They all knew my name. I had professors who came to my volleyball games as a Northwestern athletic supporter. I attended Chapels that challenged me and praise and worships that cut to the heart and soul of who I was and what I was doing.

When I wear my Northwestern sweatshirt or fly my flag I am proud of school I attended and what they have done for me.

So thank you Northwestern College for making me not only the teacher I am today but also the Disciple of Christ that I am today.

That is why I am Gratefully Red!

To All the Single Ladies

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."- Genesis 2:18

Many have told me that you can be happy as a single. You can serve God better as a single. Some people have said that you just need to be happy in your relationship with Jesus or your image comes from God and not from marriage. Be content. I have been content. I have ministered in ways my married friends can not. I have traveled to places that some would dream of. I have taken Seminary classes that most would be jealous of. There comes a time when those things are not enough. After a while like many single people you get sick of hearing and striving to do these things.

I read Genesis 2:18 and this went against everything those happily married people told me. If I am created as Eve than I am created for a purpose. That purpose is to satisfy the aloneness of my Adam. My job is to be a helper and fulfill the cultural mandate and ministry with my own Adam. As a women part of my purpose is to be married. God found a suitable mate for Adam and gave him Eve.

This may not be the way it happened but it is the way I would like to envision it. I see Adam in the most beautiful place ever, he is in Paradise. He is there all alone. Trust me I have been to places that I have thought of as paradise. Neither time I was alone but it would be hard to experience and enjoy alone. I guess I would like to picture Adam in the midst of this glorious and beautiful place we call Eden. Since at that point he was without sin he walked and talked with God. I see Adam saying God this is great but I am kind of lonely in this garden. So what does God do he sends Eve his way to complete him. I do not know how long after God created Adam he created Eve but it must have been long enough for Adam to sense a need for a mate.

So what does this mean for mean for me? For me it means that I can be alright with telling people that I want to get married and my dream job is to be a wife and mother and helper to my mate. A women once stated and I agree her that we have been doing this all wrong, “I have been looking for a man to fit with my career, rather than looking to help him succeed at his. My true ambitions had nothing to do with my job but all I have ever really wanted was to be a wife. Not just any wife but a Proverbs 31 wife.”

All the single ladies: We are suitable woman for someone! We are someone’s Eve. There is some wonderful man walking around this world loving, glorifying, and honoring God. This mans life might be perfect and close to paradise. Maybe someday this guy will be on a walk praying and talking to God like Adam was in the garden and telling God he is alone and in need of a companion. One day he will send Eve to complete him. Just like Adam in Genesis 2 God will awake man from his deep sleep of singleness and wake him to his Eve. May all of us as single ladies be given the patience and trust until God awakes our Adam from his deep sleep of singleness.