Thoughts of a 20-Something Woman

Over the past 24 hours, I have held five different people in my arms as they've wept for various different reasons. Over the past 24 hours, I have watched friends confess their secret sin and shame to feel some kind of relief from the burden they've been carrying all alone. Over the past 24 hours, I have watched hearts break. Over the past 24 hours, I have watched tears fall. Over the past 24 hours, I have seen my friends be extremely vulnerable. Over the past 24 hours, I have seen darkness overtake my friends. Over the past 24 hours, I have seen my friends question hope, question love, and question God. That's a lot to take in over a 24 hour period. There has been a lot of brokenness to begin to comprehend. There has a lot of pain to understand. There have been a lot of tears to wipe. There has been a lot of darkness to call out. There has been a lot of stories to be heard. There have been a lot of prayers that have been prayed. I am thankful for all that ...

There are some days where life feels chaotic. And then there are some weeks where life seems chaotic. Sometimes we experience  months  of chaos. Other times---it feels like the chaos has been going on since we were born and will probably never end. I'm not sure if I've been having a day filled with chaos, a week filled with chaos, a few months filled with chaos, or a couple years now. Honestly, I'm not keeping track. Life is chaotic. We can all agree with that statement. Depending on your stage of life, at this very moment,  you probably have homework to finish, kids to get ready for bed, dishes to clean, work to be done, or conversations to have. You're may already be in bed, but you're having a hard time falling asleep because you're remembering everything you have to do tomorrow.  Chaos fills our world. We have our own chaos. But we also have friends and family members with chaotic lives. And then they tell us about their chaotic lives and we freak out...

I've been sick for the past two and a half days. There is nothing better than spending 48+ hours in a dorm room with episodes of Friends playing on repeat, saltine cracker crumbs on your bed, and gatorade and 7-up bottles thrown around the room. ...Actually, I can think of a lot more important things that needed to happen this week...Papers to write. Tests to study for. Dinners with students. Youth group events. Volleyball games to attend. Friends to see. Youth talks to plan. Books to read. Journaling that needs to happen. The list goes on for a while... But God has a way of slowing us down .  And this week...He did just that.  I have barely left my dorm room over the past 48 hours. I'm sick of staring at these walls. I'm sick of not having any motivation. I'm sick of being tired. I'm sick of being sick.  If you know me at all... you know that I like to be busy. I like to go...go...and go. I love  running back and forth between Lindenwood and Chesterfie...