The Promised Land

So it’s that time of year! You have a new and promising year in your sights. You are getting excited for your future and all the new changes. You may have new positions and jobs, new housing arrangements, and new roommates! There will be new mentees, new residents, new students to lead! Or you may be stepping down from leadership and are looking forward to a little less stress and chaos :) For some, it will soon be your senior year and for others, graduation is just around the corner! Change and the hope for something better is so refreshing and exciting.

But I am here to say be careful.

Don't get too awe-struck and enamored by your “bright” future because what you are doing now will eventually be over.

When it’s done, it’s done. When it’s gone, it’s gone. When it’s time to move on, there really isn’t any way to stick around. Even though you may try, you cannot make things the same as they once were. This is the only time where you will get opportunities like this.

There are still those who are relying on you to be a shoulder to cry on, to vent frustrations, to share in their excitements, and hear their burdens. There are still those willing to ask for advice, to discuss their ups and downs, to be reached out to. There still are those who need to be served, to be cared about, and to be loved well.

We all can get stuck in the thrill and excitement, or even the anxiety and worry of the future. I get stuck in the trap all the time. It’s natural. I have been reading through Exodus and Numbers and it has provided a perfect example. The Israelites, from the time they left Egypt to finally making it the Promised Land, got to witness a lot of crazy cool acts of God. Things that would make our jaws drop and say “Did you see that?!?!” Unfortunately, a lot of the time they were more worried about their present problems, wanting to go back to the “better days” in Egypt, and even (you guessed it) their future in the Promised Land. They missed so many lessons, opportunities, and

God’s splendor because they were so focused on other things.

Dunn Hall Staff, 2012-2013

You may say "but that’s what we are supposed to do, Logan!" To think, plan, and execute to get us where we need to go. Right? There is truth in that, the future is for planning. And the past is for remembering, but the present is for living. You can try to live in the past and future but the only thing you are going to do is miss living in the present. God tells us in Ephesians 5:15-16, "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” This can be interpreted in a variety of ways for a variety of situations but I do believe this verse can speak into your situation now with thinking about the future, yet struggling to stay focused and motivated in the present.

God has called you to be where you are going, but he has also called you to be where you are at. And until you are actually moving on to your next adventure, you are called to serve faithfully and whole-heartedly in the moment.

You only get so much time to be doing what you are doing now. To be leading AU in a special way. Do not let it pass too quickly or with no thought. Enjoy the time and moments that you have now. Psalm 118:24 (ESV) says “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Let us rejoice and live fully in these present days.

Instead of looking longingly to the “promised land” of your future plans, look at the days and moments that you have in front of you with extra zeal and fervor. “Rejoice and be glad in it” and live faithfully and fully in the time you still have left.

Dunn Hall Staff, 2013-2014

Logan Hansen

Peer Mentor, 2011-2012

3rd Floor Dunn RA, 2012-2013

3rd Floor Dunn RA, 2013-2014