Community.
If there's one thing I have discovered since being at college, it's that community will be one of the most important things you can possibly have. Face it, being away from the home you grew up in for 18 years (or 19, in my case) is a bizarre, new experience. One of the only ways you're going to survive (beyond relying heavily on the Lord) is having a community of friends who will look out for you. God has blessed me by placing me in a group like that.
Valentine's Day was really where I started to see what I had been given. Without any of the girls' knowledge, the boys of our group put together a fantastic spread of sweets, goodies, and flowers, and presented it to us at the park that night. It was the most beautiful gift I've ever experienced.
The next night was the performance for Belhaven's Dance Ministry. That morning, a bunch of my friends had said they wanted to come see, but I was unable to get tickets for them. To my surprise (and utter joy) they came anyway and stood in line for an hour to ensure they would get in. It may seem like a little thing for people to come to a dance performance, but it means the world to me.
There are all the nights we spend at the local park and wandering about campus. Some of my favorite moments are when we sit around under the night sky, telling stories, singing, and just relaxing. During times like this, school and homework don't exist and we have the freedom to do whatever we want.
Then of course there are bad days. A couple weeks ago, the stress of several projects was starting to wear me out. These are the times when a community is most important, because I'm sure I wasn't a great person to be around at that time, yet they were still there for me. With their help, I eventually got out of whatever funk I was in that day.
And of course, all the random food trips we make. (Not going to lie here... cafeteria food is everything people say it is. Not good. At all. Abort. No. Every once in a while, we get a good meal when there are perspective students. But otherwise...... just no.) Taco Bell is a wonderful place. It is entirely possible to eat tacos for dinner multiple days in a row.
Of course, we aren't perfect. There will always be drama. However, the sign of a really great group is if you can work together to get past the drama. It's hard, but I've found that it only brings us closer together.
Like I said, community. Get one. These are the people who will be with you every step of the way, from late night television binges, to last minute studying for tests, to listening to jazz or electric swing music, helping you with projects, to praying for you when you need it most. I couldn't have asked for a better place to be.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Song of this post, since it goes really well with my theme, is Hey Brother by Avicii. This is seriously one of my favorite songs, just because of the truth behind it. And I feel like it fits my friends here.
Love you all!
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