Journey of a Thousand Miles

We are coming to the end of a very beautiful year. Alot has happened in 2008 that was a turning point for all of us: we saw Houston and Galveston get blown to pieces by Hurricane Ike and witnessed the first black President make it to office, seen the gas prices go from almost $3 a gallon down to $1.30, watched Britney get her life back together, mourned the loss of the talented actor Heath Ledger, and freaked as the stock market made a plummet to hell. As I reflect on my own life, I see a scared girl grow into a brave and courageous woman, someone who has fallen and broken, risen up and mended. Someone who has overcome her obstacles and still has many yet to overcome. Whose heart has been broken and repaired, stronger than it was before. Who has learned the awesome love of God and learned to love herself better than she ever has before. Who is striving to reach her dreams and building a better life for herself as she makes better choices. I have seen the ugly and the beautiful si...

Campus seemed smaller than it did when I attended school there. It was good to see my old stomping grounds... nostalgic. It looked the same, but it felt different. The buildings were just buildings. They were no longer big, hostile monuments of intelligence. They were old, rickety buildings that looked tired and cold. I also saw the Square where we spent many nights of fun. I had coffee at the old joint and wondered why I didn't go there more often while I was living there. I drove around town a little bit and realized how much I didn't explore and take advantage of my opportunities while I was there. I guess I just didn't want to be there. I felt trapped, and I just wanted to get out. I had alot going on within me back then. I made some new friends at the coffeeshop while I was reading a book, chillaxin. I never realized how easy it is to make friends in Denton until I didn't have to. I don't miss home at all, which is unusual. I usually get homesick...

So I took a trip to Dallas for the weekend, and it's strange how this place used to feel like home. I haven't lived here for the past year, and now it's like a strange place to me again. I know now that I don't want to move back to Dallas. Although it's a nice place, it doesn't have much culture, which is always something that bugged me about the place. I actually find myself missing people back home, and it makes me wonder how life is going to be once I do move out of Houston. I know when the time is right, I will move on. And being away from Houston for the weekend makes me see things from a different point of view. I like my life in Houston for the time being. I like the people in my life, my job, my church, my family, my house, my dreams... I know it can't last forever, but for now, this is right. I'm happy with my life right now. I'm surrounded by the people I care about, and I think some time away has given me some perspective. Tomor...

I've been out of work for a couple of days, and it has given me enough time to ponder on some things. I know God has called us to love difficult people, but how do you know when it is time to let certain people go? When they start to influence your life in a negative way? I know which people I should definitely keep out of my life. But then there are some questionable ones where I think, what would my life be like without them? When is it okay to let people go? I don't want to be picky with my friends because I know nobody is perfect, but sometimes I think my life would be better off if I found more positive influences. These are just thoughts, and I have prayed about it, but I haven't gotten an answer. So I am left to my own devices. My pastor at church made a very powerful statement: "Maybe our non-Christian friends would be better off without Christian friends who always compromise their standards." I find myself compromising my standards with certain...