Traditions

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Growing Up

Ever wish you were like this guy? Not only had the awesome power of flying but also didn’t have to worry about growing up?



This is a shout-out to the seniors who are -like me- super excited to move on to another stage of life but who are also terrified of growing up. I think most seniors go back and forth on this topic every day – or at least I do: “I’m so excited to get out of here! But I’m gonna miss my family so much…But I’m SO ready to meet new people! But I’m gonna miss my old friends back home…But I’m so pumped to explore my options about what I want to do with my life! Oh my gosh…I have to decide what I’m going to do with the REST OF MY LIFE!!!” It’s a battle for sure. I’m personally preparing myself for what has the potential to be a very emotional week, considering that my last musical is this weekend – another “last”. Today I had a two-minute meltdown –for a variety of reasons, the last musical being one of them – but the overarching theme of the meltdown was growing up. This post won’t have any hardcore theology in it or anything, but it’s just a note from my heart to a group of people I care deeply about. Fellow seniors, I hope you are encouraged by this.

Some of my most precious times with the Lord have been in the car. It may sound silly, but if you like to drive as much as I do, I highly recommend that you have a convo with God in the car…it’s the best. I had one today during my mini-meltdown, and really just poured out my heart. As I was venting to God about how afraid I am of growing up, I heard a still, small voice in my spirit say, “But the reason you must grow up is because I don’t let you settle.” Boom.

When I heard Him say that, something my youth pastor said came to mind, “God loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to just leave us there.” It’s the same principle. Growing up isn’t just part of the Circle of Life; God making us grow up is an act of His love for us. As terrifying as becoming an adult sounds, it’s another step to us becoming more dependent on God and less on ourselves and those around us. Growing up is the process of God gradually removing our security blankets of the world and tightening our grip with Him.

Even though that probably wasn’t earth-shattering for you, I hope that realizing this gives you peace. Keep praying seniors; keep giving your plans and your future over to God’s control. He’s got your back, and helping you grow up is His way of doing that. We weren’t called to be Peter Pan’s, folks. We were called to be so much more than that.

Growing up: “All it takes is faith and trust, and just a little bit of pixie dust.”

*Motivation for last 3 months of high school: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). I hope we are all able to say that when we walk across that stage in May!*

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