What's Next?
The infamous question has been asked more times than I can count over the last month of my life. You see, after about 4.5 years at The Ohio State University I have finally graduated, so I suppose that the question isn't so out of place as maybe I would like to have the right to deem it so. 9.5/10 college graduates will do what ever is humanly possible to avoid that question at all costs; shove the next bite of food in their mouths, turn and run away, stare blankly at the sky.. I am sure the list goes on and on..
And rightfully so. College life is scary enough, despite what most are willing to admit, let alone the real world. And there it is, the "real world". The place where you can no longer just sleep through that class you don't want to go to or stay up late at night talking aimlessly to the 10 housemates you've lived with knowing that you'll have time for a sufficient 5 hour nap the next day. It's the place were you are no longer spending loan money.. but paying it back with that "job" that you are sure to get, late night Taco Bell runs turn into mid morning indigestion and for some reason eating pizza every meal for 8 days no longer seems satisfying.
The Real World. Not that television show that was played for too many seasons on MTV. The real thing. The place where a different revelation of life begins for every human being at some point in time whether it's at the age of 10, 23 or 50, it's coming. There is a point in life when innocence is lost and the carefree attitude and spirit seem to give way to the blowing of the wind bringing in new aroma of smells unrecognized.
But.. I believe that we all, myself included, have a choice. We can let the reality of the "real world" paralyze us with fear, or we can look it straight in the eye, and declare with as much confidence as one can muster, I am not afraid of you.
And friends, I have to be honest, by the Grace of my beautiful God, I feel like that is actually where I am at.
Oh believe me, I have had my breakdowns leading up to this place, weary about my loans upon loans upon loans, fearful about my job security (lets me real.. i am an artist..) and unsure of where to take the next step fearing if it were the wrong one I would trip and call into a pit of utter despair. Dramatic, sure. But any of you who have graduated before me, I dare you to tell me that you've not feared the same before. I've looked the reality of the real world in the face and trembled with fear and uncertainty.
But no longer am I paralyzed by the fear that the enemy desires to strike within my heart. For you see, I have tasted and seen that the Lord, my God, is good! (Psalm 34:8) I have been reminded that I need not look any further than straight into the eyes that are burning with fire, with love for me (Revelation 1:14) to know who I am or who I am to become, because who I am in this very moment that you are reading this sentence is who I will be for all of eternity, the Beloved One and the Beautiful Bride (Revelation 19), the prodigal come home to the Father who's arms were open wide (Luke 15:11-32) , a co-heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8), the one who is sitting at the feet of the only one who's attention brings significance (Luke 10:38-42), the one who's feet are beautiful and blessed upon any road I am travel (Isaiah 52:7), I am the anointed one (1 John 2:27).
And this is just a fraction of it all!
The reality of my real world is that I am already a citizen of another world, the eternal world of Heaven, where Christ Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the day when He will be reunited with His Bride. But as He waits, He woos her, draws her to Himself. And the more and more that my heart, my spirit and my mind become awaken to this reality, the fears of the "real world" fade into the background of my worries, of my mind. It doesn't mean that things like needing to pay back loans or the need for a job goes away, no it merely makes the things no longer a burden, because I know that God is providing for me all the things that I need to sustain me. And He has and He is!
So it brings me back to the question.. what's next.
Well.. funny thing is. I have an answer to that question. And the answer at the end of the day will always be the same, regardless of what season of life I am in.. but I don't think that I am meant to grant you the privilege of that answer here.. because I think that God desires that the answer would be the same for all who seek Him and for those whom have yet to embrace His all satisfying love. So I am praying now as I end this little note bubble put into a blog praying that each of you would come to the same revelation that the Holy Spirit has given me about the real world.. and about our futures whether you are 10, 23 or 50... because believe me friends, it's a life-changing one.
and if you really want to talk more about it.. well than we can! just not here.. and not now..
Be blessed.
MaK
The infamous question has been asked more times than I can count over the last month of my life. You see, after about 4.5 years at The Ohio State University I have finally graduated, so I suppose that the question isn't so out of place as maybe I would like to have the right to deem it so. 9.5/10 college graduates will do what ever is humanly possible to avoid that question at all costs; shove the next bite of food in their mouths, turn and run away, stare blankly at the sky.. I am sure the list goes on and on..
And rightfully so. College life is scary enough, despite what most are willing to admit, let alone the real world. And there it is, the "real world". The place where you can no longer just sleep through that class you don't want to go to or stay up late at night talking aimlessly to the 10 housemates you've lived with knowing that you'll have time for a sufficient 5 hour nap the next day. It's the place were you are no longer spending loan money.. but paying it back with that "job" that you are sure to get, late night Taco Bell runs turn into mid morning indigestion and for some reason eating pizza every meal for 8 days no longer seems satisfying.
The Real World. Not that television show that was played for too many seasons on MTV. The real thing. The place where a different revelation of life begins for every human being at some point in time whether it's at the age of 10, 23 or 50, it's coming. There is a point in life when innocence is lost and the carefree attitude and spirit seem to give way to the blowing of the wind bringing in new aroma of smells unrecognized.
But.. I believe that we all, myself included, have a choice. We can let the reality of the "real world" paralyze us with fear, or we can look it straight in the eye, and declare with as much confidence as one can muster, I am not afraid of you.
And friends, I have to be honest, by the Grace of my beautiful God, I feel like that is actually where I am at.
Oh believe me, I have had my breakdowns leading up to this place, weary about my loans upon loans upon loans, fearful about my job security (lets me real.. i am an artist..) and unsure of where to take the next step fearing if it were the wrong one I would trip and call into a pit of utter despair. Dramatic, sure. But any of you who have graduated before me, I dare you to tell me that you've not feared the same before. I've looked the reality of the real world in the face and trembled with fear and uncertainty.
But no longer am I paralyzed by the fear that the enemy desires to strike within my heart. For you see, I have tasted and seen that the Lord, my God, is good! (Psalm 34:8) I have been reminded that I need not look any further than straight into the eyes that are burning with fire, with love for me (Revelation 1:14) to know who I am or who I am to become, because who I am in this very moment that you are reading this sentence is who I will be for all of eternity, the Beloved One and the Beautiful Bride (Revelation 19), the prodigal come home to the Father who's arms were open wide (Luke 15:11-32) , a co-heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8), the one who is sitting at the feet of the only one who's attention brings significance (Luke 10:38-42), the one who's feet are beautiful and blessed upon any road I am travel (Isaiah 52:7), I am the anointed one (1 John 2:27).
And this is just a fraction of it all!
The reality of my real world is that I am already a citizen of another world, the eternal world of Heaven, where Christ Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the day when He will be reunited with His Bride. But as He waits, He woos her, draws her to Himself. And the more and more that my heart, my spirit and my mind become awaken to this reality, the fears of the "real world" fade into the background of my worries, of my mind. It doesn't mean that things like needing to pay back loans or the need for a job goes away, no it merely makes the things no longer a burden, because I know that God is providing for me all the things that I need to sustain me. And He has and He is!
So it brings me back to the question.. what's next.
Well.. funny thing is. I have an answer to that question. And the answer at the end of the day will always be the same, regardless of what season of life I am in.. but I don't think that I am meant to grant you the privilege of that answer here.. because I think that God desires that the answer would be the same for all who seek Him and for those whom have yet to embrace His all satisfying love. So I am praying now as I end this little note bubble put into a blog praying that each of you would come to the same revelation that the Holy Spirit has given me about the real world.. and about our futures whether you are 10, 23 or 50... because believe me friends, it's a life-changing one.
and if you really want to talk more about it.. well than we can! just not here.. and not now..
Be blessed.
MaK
