Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.- James 1:2-3
         or, That that don’t kill me will only make me stronger.

It’s amazing to think that I have just one semester left before I graduate with my Master’s degree. My MASTER’s degree. Five years ago, I wouldn’t have thought it; I was a busy-bee, content little college freshman. Ten years ago, I wasn’t even thinking about college; I was too worried about surviving the eighth grade in one piece. And yet, here I am. I’m pursuing a profession I love. I have surrounded myself with true friends who truly care about me and want to see me succeed. And... I'm doing it. I'm growing up, I'm making small differences every day.

It's almost the end of 2011, almost time for a new year, and with a new stage in my life fast-approaching, I find myself doing a LOT of reflection. Even more than that, I always find myself doing self-reflection around Christmas-time. For those of you who celebrate Christmas, you'll know that the time preceding it, Advent, is a time of expectant waiting and preparation. In the case of Christmas, we wait and prepare for the coming of Christ. But I think this end-of-the-year time is good for preparation for the future for everyone. We wait for the future to come, for the new year and new opportunities to arrive, and yet we must also prepare for the time that is to come. We can't just sit idly by, waiting for the future to hit us; we have to make the best of each day that is given to us so that we can make the best of the days that are to come.

The Bible verse I quoted above, from James, resonates with me especially when I consider this past year of my life. Personally, I feel like I have grown and changed immeasurably. It's not that so many life milestones have occurred this year; although many have. Friends and family get married, break up; babies are born, loved ones pass away. Every change in my external view has challenged the way I think, the way I relate to people, and the way I live every day.

But more than that, somehow this year, I've gone through some INTERNAL milestones. I have been challenged to really think about why and how I'm living my life. The external things around me can change in an instant or can stay eternally the same, and I've realized I can't let those external factors rule my life. Instead, I must choose how I react. I must make sure that my internal foundations are real, solid, and true. I must learn from my past successes and mistakes, and allow them to make me "harder, better, faster, and stronger."

2012 is coming, in a big way. BIG changes are ahead, but I'm going to love people just the same and more than ever. I'm going to enjoy the small victories, laugh at the little things, and enjoy the moments that all too soon will be gone. Most of all, I'm going to have confidence in myself and faith enough to trust that everything is going to be okay.