weird thought

So i realized today (and quasi-fact checked) that the age I am at now is the same age (i think) a mentor and close friend of mine was when I was entering college. that seems like such a strange thought, but let me explain. I bring it up because as i think about the risen seniors (now freshmen) who have left boston to go to other places to study, I realize I'm on the other side of this counselor/student coin.

I was there once. I left to study away from my home church. I'm reminded of who i was when i was there and how this friend would check up on me from time to time. He'd make the trip out to worcester for an hour or two just to grab a meal. I didn't realize until my four years of college how significant that was and now eight years removed from my freshman year, i am now thinking about and ministering to college students. Oddly, feel the urge to check up on those freshmen who left boston and maybe i'll make a trek out to wherever they are just to spend some time together.

my motivation for this is not because my mentor did it, although I wouldn't be surprised if on the subconscious level that might be there. No, I am motivated to do so because God put that on my heart, even before the summer was over. This feeling has just been churning and fermenting in my heart (the good fermenting, like kimchi). Now it seems to have come to a head. This recent flare up of interest stems from the ramdon desire to contact a couple of these students, wondering how they were doing. Providentially, one was wrestling with something and responded to share and ask for prayer. It reminded me of how God has amazing plans for all of us, nudging my heart at the precise moment of difficulty for this undergrad. Praise God because He chooses to use us in His work and because there is not a need that He will not meet or has not already met.

Anyway, I don't know how this student is going to be in four years or what he'll do in between now and then. He might make the same mistakes I did in my undergrad years or he might build his life and hope in Christ in a way that his relationship with God is one that I can only dream about. I certainly hope it's the latter, but I can say that realizing what it's like on the other side of this coin, I am starting to learn to trust in God's hand in others' lives because His hand is mighty and His love is great. I hope that student recognizes that he is cared for, not only by me, but by the Creator of the universe. Much hope lies in such truth.