Strength

Sometimes my dreams teach me a lot about myself. I don't believe they can be weirdly interpreted, but it is what is subconsciously in my brain so, occasionally, I pay attention. For example, last night I dreamed I was walking down the street ran into Justin Bieber  (VERY likely scenario ;))! I just gave him a quick hug and talked a bit, but, for some reason, the brief exchange deeply inspired him. He was so moved by me that he decided to change his life around and the dream ended with me bidding him farewell as his limousine headed to rehab.

Anyway! Maybe this was just a result of reading too many articles about the pop star's sad decline, but I think it also proved something about me. I really want to save people. I want to be the strong one for people to lean on and I want to be able to conquer the world. After all, who doesn't want to be powerful? Is there anyone who doesn't want a great life that inspires others?

Unfortunately, this "togetherness" is not a reality in my life. The truth is, I am weak in almost every way. I get so upset every time I break down. Why do I have such little control of my life?

Maybe it is cause I'm human? I was reading Mark today and came across the story of a father whose son was possessed by an unclean spirit. The father begs Jesus to save his son who is literally being destroyed by the spirit. The boy has been this way since childhood and no one has been able to cure him; the situation seems out of control. The father has no strength to save his son and Jesus is his last hope. He asked Jesus, if He can, to have compassion and heal the boy. Jesus replies with, "All things are possible for the one who believes."  So the weak father exclaims the famous, "I believe; help my unbelief!" The father has been given his strength: Faith in the power of Christ. Jesus heals the boy. (Mark 9:14-29)

Many of us feel like the father most of the time. We want to make everything better, but we are faced with the reality of our weakness. We look everywhere for help, finally falling before Jesus and begging Him to save us. We would do anything He told us to do if only it would fix it all. But the command Christ gives us is strange: Believe. Even this is hard for us, but we pray God will take our meager faith and do great things. He does. Jesus Christ renews even the most helpless situations, He is our strength in weakness. Our lives will never be so perfect that they will transform others, but luckily, it is not our life we are looking to and Jesus' life does inspire and it does bring change and His new life does save.

"Then they said to Him, 'What must we do, to be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'"-- John 6:28-29

Sincerely, the Socially Awkward Homeschooler

Dear Naive Society,

Hi! My name is Megan. I am a senior in high school. No, I don't go to the public schools near by, not even the Christian school. I'm homeschooled. Does that surprise you?  When my older sister used to tell people she was homeschooled they would reply with, "But you are so normal!"  When I tell people I am homeschooled they respond more like, "Ohhhh. Now it makes sense!" This is because I am quiet, fairly naive, and often a good dose of awkward among my peers and when people discover I have been homeschooled my whole life, they finally have something to blame it on. After all, how could I have been socialized?

Well, actually, I have been given as many opportunities to socialize as anyone. I go to church, work, sports practices, and youth group on a weekly basis plus a decent amount of just hanging out with friends. I have also reaped social skills in these situations by needing to seek out my friends. I don't get to know people by going to school with them everyday since kindergarten, so I have to ask questions to learn about those around me. Not to mention what I've learned from needing to be intentional about socializing and learning to plan my own events rather than just seeing my friends at school tomorrow or having every weekend filled with school activities. Being homeschooled has not crippled me socially, but caused me to pursue friendships with more intention.

Yet, regardless of my many opportunities and the wealth of social skills that they foster, I would still consider myself a little awkward. This isn't because I was isolated growing up or because I don't have friends, it is because that is just my personality. I am introverted, quiet, quirky, naive, and unstylish. I would be this way if I went to a public school, private school, or sea school! Yes, I am awkward, but blame it on me, not my education.

Sincerely,

The Socially Awkward Homeschooler

P.S. This is not an angry rant by any means! I am not trying to claim homeschoolers have worse or better social skills, but simply calling to mind that they have equal opportunities to socialize as anyone else. I am simply saying that social skills have a lot less to do with where you go to school and a lot more to do with individual personalities. I am not being bitter in the title, just stating a fact that I am awkward and I am homeschooled, but I don't think one flows from the other :)

Christmas Anticipation

It is that time of year when we are all chugging coffee, icing our wrists, and stretching our aching backs as we prepare to take those lovely finals. As we draw our learning days to a close (at least for a few weeks...), we also anticipate Christmas. However, for some reason, between re-taking the ACT and studying for finals, my December hasn't been super Christmassy. This year, I am doing my shopping last minute, have realized  I hate most Christmas music, and haven't had time to see even one Christmas movie! But I have been reading the Old Testament for a Bible class.

All semester I have been reading about how God called, made a covenant with , and has been faithful to His people, despite all their unfaithfulness. Now I have come to the prophets. They tell of judgement to come through the exile, but also of a Messiah who will fulfill God's promises and renew the nations. Then, this morning, I woke up to my sister playing Christmas carols. All the sudden, I was filled with the same anticipation as the Jews had. The Messiah! He is coming! Now is the time!

So, really, this year I am celebrating Christmas the most because I fully understand it. God's story does not begin in the stable, it climaxes there. All my previous Christmases I have missed the thousand years of waiting that came before this little baby's birth. Jesus coming into the world was God fulfilling His final promise, and I can't wait to celebrate!

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD." -- Hosea 3:19-20

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"-- Luke 2:10-14