How I came to Crossroads & semester reflections

I took my 4th and last final for my first real, true semester of college today, and I thought that it would be a good time to review how things have gone.

To say the least, college has exceeded every expectation I had about going back to school. When I graduated from high school in May of 2007, now some 18 months ago (wow), I was burned out. I was completely, entirely ready to be completely, entirely done with school. For good. Until this summer.
In the spring of this year, 2008, I started to have thoughts about going back to school. But I had no idea what I wanted to do, or where I wanted to go. Previous to graduating, I had my eyes locked on Northwestern College in the Twin Cities, for a broadcasting degree. Through an internship with a local radio station during my senior year however, I learned that my perceptions about radio life were somewhat glamorized, and that it was not the best career choice for me.
As I lay in my sleeping bag in my bunk at Fort Wilderness near McNaughton, Wisconsin on a mid-May night, this lone thought popped into my head some time before I drifted off to sleep: "What about Crossroads?"
I thought that it was maybe just a fleeting thought that would vanish with the dark the next morning, but when I awoke, behold, that little school had demonstrated great staying power! Again, I thought to myself "It's probably one of those things that will wear off after a few days." and so I lived my life. But that thought of at least checking out to see what the school had to offer staid right there. So a couple weeks later on my day off, Amanda and I went to one of our usual coffee shops, and I went online to the school's web site, just to see what they offered. As expected, they offered a number of ministry-oriented degrees such as youth and family studies, music ministry, and pastoral leadership. I have never seen myself going into a church position full-time, so I wasn't interested in anything like that. But one thing did catch my eye, something that stood out from the rest: Business Administration. I clicked on the title and read:

"The Business Administration Major is intended
to equip students to serve in the business
world with Christian attitudes and ethics that
demonstrate servant leadership.

Students will learn the basic skills necessary to
function as a business owner, manager, or
employee within the profit or non-profit sectors."

I was immediately interested, and scoured the site for as much information as I could find about the program. In the next couple weeks, I talked with my parents and prayed about it. Within weeks, I felt comfortable with my decision, and printed off the applications and forms needed to apply.
Despite mailing in everything several weeks late, I was accepted to Crossroads College with open arms. Before long, I was emailing with people named Cindy, Kimber and Scott, knowing them by name only, and as the people who could answer my questions about how the housing worked, what I did and didn't need to bring, how to get scheduled for classes, and anything else I needed to know. Their helpfulness only solidified in my mind that this was going to prove to be a very good decision.
On the morning of August 23 I packed up about half my belongings, all of my music, my stereo equipment, a few tubs and boxes, a small TV, and fit everything into my small Mitsubishi Galant. It was stuffed from the floor of the front passenger seat to the very back of the trunk, but I got it ALL into my car, which was a rather satisfying accomplishment. Then, with me in my car and the family tailing behind in the mini van, we made the long trek from the Holter farm on Marion Road to Crossroads College, next to the llama farm on Mayowood Road. The grand total of traveling time? About 8 minutes. I was met at the entrance to the school by a guy named Brett who welcomed me to the college and noticed that I was listening to Fair's superb debut, 2006's The Best Worst-Case Scenario. I was thrilled to immediately make a connection with a music fan.
Up and around the bend, I got signed in, and met my R.A., a guy in a bowler hat named Bryan Casey. He helped me carry my stuff in to my unit, Earl Grice Hall. With my family's help, we arranged the provided furniture and fit my personal things into my room in the most efficient and comfortable way. A few hours later, everything was set to go, and we all smiled and hugged goodbye.
From the very first opening night pizza party and RA introduction time, I have loved, and been loved, by Crossroads College. The strangers I met my first few days became acquaintances by the first week. As the semester revved up, many of them turned into friends, and now, with one full semester done, many of them have become my spiritual family with whom I know I could trust my life with.
My professors are knowledgable, attentive, ready and willing to field any questions I may have, treat me with respect, and have been excellent to study under. The office personnel, those who once were just names, have become faces and friends. My first semester has been fantastic, and I have nothing but the highest and brightest of hopes for the future. Thank you to all of you, faculty, staff and my fellow students for accepting me as I am and providing encouragement, honesty and humor during the times I have needed it most. I love you all.

Merry Christmas!

A Beautiful Life

Lately I've been really captured, as I am every so often, by the idea and the drive to live a passionate, beautiful, successful life. This has been a recurring thing for me throughout my teen years, and now, into my early 20's. I'm struck by this urge usually once every few months, and it causes me to think on a different level about the way I treat people, the way I view God, what I want out of life, and the attitude with which I approach all things, even the most mundane tasks.
There are different things that spark these brainstorms. This time it was running across the blog of an old acquaintance that I met through the homeschool circuit when I was about 14 years old. Eric Farewell was born into a very unique situation, and has leveraged this situation very much to his advantage, turning himself into someone who started out with a fascination for flight into a highly prestigious marketing guru, who has essentially retired at age 22. He now travels the world taking beautiful, beautiful photographs for a company he started, Blue Shoe Photography. While its true that airplanes, marketing, and photography don't have a whole lot in common, the true thread running through his story is his creative thinking and entrepreneurship.
It definitely could be argued that Eric is the type of person that Malcom Gladwell writes about in his most recent book. He is an outlief. Someone who was born into a very unique situation with a lot of things out of the normal that most people do not have, and those things have helped launch his career to where he is now.
I'm no Eric Farewell. He's 22, (probably) a multi-millionaire, and travels the world visiting his friends and taking pictures. I'm 20 years old, and a college student who works just enough to pay his rent every month, eat, drive a car, and have a little extra cash on the side. But I believe I can live a life every bit as full and passionate as him. Don't get me wrong, I would be utterly thrilled if, at some point in my life, I can live even a remotely similar lifestyle. But I don't believe lifestyles are intrinsically indicators for one's passion for life. I believe beauty can be found in the smallest acts of kindness, and can be perceived in every bit of creation. Maybe its letting the guy merging onto the highway have a few extra feet. Maybe its greeting the folks at the office with a cheery "Good morning!" Maybe its taking a second look at the snow on the trees as I look out my bedroom window and recognizing God's handiwork.

Maybe its recognizing that I'm where I am is where I'm designed to be, and making the most of every conversation, every course, every class, every hour at work, every friendship, giving as much encouragement to as many people as I can, and thanking God for the ability to do all of it and live in His world as His son.

"I want to add to the beauty, to tell a better story, to shine with the Light that's burning up inside."