Junior.

Last night, I attended my first night of “in person” class at KU. As I was filling out a form to share a bit about myself with other classmates, it felt so good to answer the question, What level/year in school?

I am a junior, thank you very much. OLD junior, but junior, none the less.

I loved every minute of the two hour class, soaking in the experience, the professor’s words, the short discussion with three classmates who are now my Group 4 for the semester – I even loved the nervousness of not knowing how to digitally function in an actual classroom without the comfort of a notebook and pen, and stepping into an all-gender restroom that is now standard on campus.

I entered college behind the 8 ball back in 1983. I was not prepared, and I did not make good choices. Those choices delayed my re-education by a few decades. But God used those years to prepare me for this season of life, where my enthusiasm and desire to try again is overflowing.

When class was over and I loaded up my laptop and walked out into the soup of the evening, my first thought was, “I want to call Mom and tell her all about this!” She would listen enthusiastically and be really interested and happy along with me.

When I got home, I did the next best – I called DAD. And he was the perfect Mom substitute. He listened enthusiastically and was really interested and happy with me.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.” – Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)

I fall back on that passage of scripture a lot. It fits.

I am so grateful today to finally be a junior, even if it is at KU.

Side note: I am also so grateful today that we have season tickets to our KState games where I can wear purple with pride!

I am so grateful today that I have a partner who encouraged and continues to encourage me to pursue my lifelong dream of obtaining this degree, even if it takes me YEARS. I am on the road and in the lane. Sam called me yesterday just to tell me how proud he is of me and he wants me to keep going and get that Masters. Slow down, pep squad…

I am so grateful today that I can pursue this degree a few classes at a time, so the bank account can handle lots of small shocks over time, rather than all at once.

I am so grateful today that I can still call Dad and he is there to listen, as he always has been.

I am so grateful today for the opportunity to sit in a class that is so diverse – I can feel my mind and heart stretching and it is so good.

I am so grateful today for the reminder, yet again, that it is never too late to learn, to start over, to try again, and begin again.

I am no longer my past self. I am a JUNIOR, in school, and in this life season. For that, I am so very grateful.

“…I’m realizing that Christian growth is all about transformation – a lifelong process. Some of the knots from my past are very hard to untie, especially those that involve people who continue to hurt me. Instead of obsessing about how to fix things, I need to keep turning toward You – seeking Your Face and Your will. As I wait with You, help me to relax and trust in Your timing for smoothing out my tangled-up places. Show me how to live with unresolved problems without letting them distract me from You. I rejoice that Your abiding Presence is my portion – and my boundless blessing! – August 23, Jesus Listens by Sarah Young