Today I swam with two bottlenose dolphins in the wild. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I will never forget it.

Addicted for Life

I'm addicted. Going there is like returning home. And every time I return, it's like I never left. This place is a reflection of majesty and incredible creativity. It is the second largest barrier reef in the world, 1/4 mile off the shore of Ambergris Caye, Belize...

Making sure that there are no coral heads nearby, I plunge into the crystal-clear depths. A sudden chill rushes through my body as the skewed image of turtle grass and sandy ocean bottom comes to life. The humid air and sea gulls are now a world away...further than the vacillating ocean floor was just seconds ago.

The initial chill of the salty water sparks a burst of adrenaline. However, my body quickly adjusts to the startling temperature change since the water is a comfortable 82 degrees Farenheit. Within a few seconds, my breathing and heart rate slow down to normal pace. Fascination and curiosity take over.

Beneath the surface, there is always more the discover. Conch shells that have been cleaned (meaning that the animal was removed for food) provide homes for small, colorful fish and an occasional cleverly-hidden octopus. Fish busily swim beneath me, and I often entertain myself by diving down to the bottom and chasing them with an outstretched arm.

As I approach the reef, the concentration of life augments dramatically. "Click, click, click" sounds through the teeming water as tiny schools of seemingly microscopic organisms float along the surface. Endless varieties of bizarre creatures hide in the coral, waiting for those pesky humans to leave them alone. Around every corner is something new and different. Vigilance is almost always rewarded with a discovery.

The sun's rays are bent on the surface of the water, creating rhythmic patterns of light across the ocean floor and coral heads. Fish, lobster, sea urchins, sea fans, sponges, turtle grass, and endless other forms of life sway back and forth, to and fro, up and down as the water gently glides by. And the dancing sun rays illuminate every movement.

Some types of fish are hyper, zipping around so fast that I get tired just watching them. Others are curious, as though they want to know more about this big, tan-colored creature but are hesitant to move any closer. Schools of fish move together, rest together, hide together, eat together, and respond to threats together. Blue tangs, triggers, and queen angel fish light up the scene with radiant colors. Angel fish bashfully hide behind coral heads. Parrot fish are preoccupied with chomping on coral and don't care who's watching. Lookdowns resemble swimming mirrors; and countless other fish are spotted and striped with luminescent colors.

But predators lurk among these resplendent species. Even the sight of a moray eel is threatening: these common reef-dwellers bare their teeth and viciously chase anyone who comes too close. You never know what's around the next corner, so vigilance is essential for safe observation of marine wildlife.

Although I have enjoyed its splendor since my childhood, I fear the ocean. This fear results in reverence and respect. Throughout my years in Belize, I have witnessed two tragically flawed views of marine life... Many people are paralyzed by fear and miss out on (what I am convinced is) one of the most awe-inspiring parts of God's creation. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, some people don't exercise proper caution, vigilance, and respect for the ocean. This often results in unecessary injury to the person and/or sea life.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

~ Psalm 8:3-9 ~

Tying the Knot

She met him on our first day of classes at Grove City College...about four years ago. Things started out rocky for Amy and Geoff, but within one year, they were inseparable.

This past weekend, I was honored to be one of Amy's bridesmaids, along with two of our best friends. Amy was gorgeous. The wedding was really nice, and being in the bridal party was so much fun! I absolutely loved it.

Emotions were abundant. When Amy's dad gave her away to Geoff, tears filled my eyes. My friend, one of my closest companions, was sealing the deal. I was witnessing the most important covenant she'd ever make with another person. It was touching to stand right by my bud as she made her wedding vow. Thankfully, no tears escaped my eyes.

But light-hearted fun was also plentiful. For example, during the wedding ceremony itself, the groomsmen played a great prank on Nate. And the whole weekend was party after party after party... It was such a blast.


...And then I got home and hit a deer.

Every Season

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children's games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that's new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season's change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

Lyrics by: Nichole Nordeman

The End of an Era

There's no denying it. My college years are coming to an end. And during this final stretch, everything is a last. Today I turned in my last paper, and tomorrow I'll hear my last GCC lecture. Some people seem absolutely thrilled to leave Grove City, but it's a very sobering experience for me...a time to reflect on the past and anticipate what's to come.

The future is uncertain. Although I have a vague conception of where I might be next year and dreams of what I'll be doing ten years down the road, it's all speculation. I suppose life is always that way, and this is yet another lesson in trusting God with my future. Trusting can be so difficult. But on the other hand, part of me likes this uncertainty. Where will I end up? The possibilities are endless, and it's as if I'm setting out on an adventure to discover what God has in store for me. Nevertheless, the beginning of this adventure marks the end of a wonderful experience.

The past four years have been amazing. I have made so many memories with some of the best friends I will ever have. [Entering sappy, sentimental mode] We've been together through thick and thin. We've grown together and learned together. We've laughed until tears were rolling down our cheeks on so many occasions, and on May 20th, we'll probably all cry together. College is nice, but relationships add the flavor, the sponaneity, the love, the depth, and the value that make it all worthwhile.

During the past four years, I have also learned about myself: my weaknesses, my strengths, and things that make me feel alive. Oh yeah, and all that academic stuff, too...like thinking critically, arguing somewhat cogently, yada yada yada. In all seriousness, though, Grove City has provided me with a wonderful, well-rounded education. It's a great school with an incredible faculty and a remarkable student body.

Although it's hard to say goodbye, to watch this fabulous time of my life come to a close, I am so thankful. God has richly blessed me with friends, experiences, a college, professors, and even classes that are worth missing. I will always look back on my time at Grove City College with thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have spent for four years here.

Two College Students Reside in Local 24-Hour Grocery Store

Many people pass through aisle 13 every day, but few call it home. However, two college students were found perched upon the shelves last Wednesday night.

"These shelves are much more comfortable than the beds in my dorm room," remarked Libby Greene of Grove City College. "Plus, when I'm up late writing a paper, in desperate need of caffeine, all I have to do is reach up to the shelf above me. Then I ring a little bell and the cashier comes over so I can pay for my pop. It's so convenient!"

Lindsey Carner, of Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, prefers the chip shelf. "I wish we had a 24-hour supermarket near my school where I could live," asserts Carner. "There's nothing like the bustle, the halogen lighting, and the corny soft rock of a grocery store to fall asleep to. It sends you right off to dreamland."

Aside from the comfort of their metal shelves, Greene and Carner also find that the grocery store environment provides a plethora of entertainment options...

Just kidding.

The end.

P.S. I've come to terms with the fact that I am not cut out for journalism.

[I've been a major blog slacker over the past few months. I could blame that on a chronic case of writer's block, or on my inability to come up with an interesting topic. But all excuses aside, this blog is back in business.]


But we have this treasure in jars of clay...

My last post addressed the dramatic changes that I experienced 10 years ago. When I reminisce about those days as a 12-year-old, I am dumbfounded by my simple understanding of Jesus. The message of Christ made so much sense. I believed "with faith like a child," and I loved Christ for the salvation that He had so freely given to my undeserving self.

The question: Have I changed since then?
The answer: I have. And yet, I haven't.

Over the years, I have grown and struggled and learned. Many of those lessons have been repeated over and over...and over...and over. Along this road, I have frequently learned the importance of humility. Again and again, I am brought to the realization of my own inadequacy, my complete need for and dependence on God. I have learned the truth of David's words in Psalm 51: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." But the story doesn't end there. In the face of my weakness, my shortcoming, my brokenness, God reveals His majestic love and strength. It's a beautiful irony.

Humility is one of the most important foundations of Christianity. It brings us to repentance. It illuminates the overwhelming contrast between God's infinite strength and our weakness. And when we are truly in touch with God's mercy and our unworthiness, we cannot help but love others.

Jesus' humility and servanthood go against our very nature. Instead of looking out for number one, as the world and our internal instincts tell us to, we are to put others first. It's truly counterintuitive, but that's how things often are with God.

Although the Lord has taught me these things on several occasions, it is still a daily struggle to put them into practice. Some days, weeks, and months are better than others.


"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-29


Song of the day: "Nothing Without You" - Bebo Norman