While sitting in my new home in Aylsham I randomly picked up a book off the Garwood's coffee table. It was called "The Noticer" by Andy Andrews (Ha, I love the name!). Anyways, I started reading it and got quite absorbed rather quickly.. it's a novel full of life lessons, and words that will make you stop and think. I highly recommend this book! Though.. I am not completely finished it myself yet, but I would still recommend at least the first 40 pages! It may be some what hard to see the vast significance of these words with out character and plot outline.

So, I thought I'd post some of the quotes I have come across to make me think, and ring true.

"Everybody wants to be on the mountaintop, but if you'll remember, mountaintops are rocky and cold. There is no growth on the top of a mountain. Sure, the view is great, but what's a view for? A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination-our next target. But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain, go through the valley, and begin to climb the next slope. It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit life's next peak."

"So, my contention is that you are right where you are supposed to be." The old man scooped up a double handful of the white sand and let it pour from his fingers. "It may look like barren sand to you, son, but nothing could be further from the truth. I say to you that, as you lay your head down tonight, you are sleeping on fertile ground. Think. Learn. Pray. Plan. Dream. For soon... you will become."

"Remember, whatever you focus upon, increases...When you focus on the things you need, you'll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on what you don't have, you will soon be concentrating on other things that you had forgotten you don't have-and feel worse! If you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose...But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person's life."

Last Saturday I got attend a Capernwray presentation by four college students attending this bible school. Each student gave their background story, testimony and a glimpse of their experience as a Capernwray student. I absolutely loved hearing each one speak about the different things God was doing in their lives.. most of them had similar backgrounds.. actually, I don't like saying that.. because everyone has a unique story.. what I mean to say is this, they all grew up in a Christian homes, and lived in North America. One of the students had quite an opposite story, she was from Germany, and had gone through times in her life that I couldn't even fathom... my heart hurt for her, yet, she was now growing into this wonderful person from these experiences, I could tell she was down to earth...once you got to know her, she was funny and personable.

There was a Canadian among the group, from Alberta. After the presentation he approached me as a fellow Canadian and we talked for awhile. I could tell by the way he presented himself that he was also very down to earth, not super hyper or "outgoing", but friendly in his own way. One thing I picked up very quickly from our conversation is that he was slightly pessimistic about random things. I tend to get a long with sarcastic people, so this didn't bother me, if anything I found it refreshing. Felicity found how we related as Canadian's quite interesting.. and how we maneuvered through out conversation topics.. chatting about Americans vs Canadians, Missions vs. Bible School, etc.

I have always felt an odd one out when it came to loving college. See, when I was in college I loved certain aspects.. Praise and Worship services, my awesome friends and room mates, and some of the classes were interesting.. I loved that I could be with a body of people my age who liked being involved in different academic, curricular activities.. But.. there is huge but.. I just felt.. not quite right all the time.. I yearned to be.. out in the world, or, at least out of the small Dordt College Campus.

For months I struggled with as of why I seemed different than everyone else... many of my peers seemed to love college life.. going to the fun dances... hanging out late into the night... being alright with always being slightly tired... doing homework late...

It didn't add up.. I was pretty outgoing, or at least chatty.. I didn't mind groups of people, though I do know I before smaller, more personal groups of friends... and I didn't mind learning.. I was scared that if I didn't love college then maybe I wouldn't love anything! Or, I wouldn't be as... "well adapted" into society, ha.

But, then.. I heard about.. 4 people's testimonies that night at the Capernwray presentation that I found comfort in. Each of these students hadn't attended the typical college.. the two males had tried it out for one year and didn't enjoy it. One super outgoing, friendly, God driven guy said "University and I didn't get along!", Ha.

The Canadian was really honest and said though all his classmates at Capernwray were all pretty interested in heading into the mission field, he wasn't.. yes, he wanted to be involved in youth group leading, and he was a mentor.. but, his passion was construction.. and that was where he'd be a witness for God.

So often we forget that we can be a witness, a light, salt of the earth for God anywhere... at almost any career choice. So many of us young adults are wandering around thinking and arguing with ourselves as of what we should be doing with our lives.. we dismiss everyday opportunities... looking for something big and "meaningful" that should be our life goal.

Yes, I want to be involved with missions..Yes, I want to see the world... but, I also want the small things of life too. Being home, or mentoring a kid from my community... And most importantly, I want to be joyful in all these circumstances.. whether I am on the mountain peak, or the sloping hillside going to the valley.