rebelling against low expectations
2021 was many different things for me. It was a year of many joys, yet confusion. Moving forward, yet reflection. Busyness, yet apathy. It was the year that transitioned me from high school to college. It was the year that I experienced some of my favorite memories, but also a year where I experienced much loneliness, chaos, and stress. I moved to the big city of Indianapolis in the summer of...
Generation Z is made up of those who have been born after 1996, those who are twenty-six years old and younger. Generation Z has remarkable similarities to the millennial generation. Yet, as each generation arises, it strays further and further from the truth of God’s Word with each passing year. In 2018, a study was conducted showing that 95% of teenagers use a smartphone, and of those...
Since the decision made in Roe v. Wade that protected abortion, sixty-two million innocent unborn children have been killed. I, along with many others, am grieved by this massive loss of life. Such mass genocide is comparable to the Holocaust, which led to the deaths of eleven million victims. Shockingly, abortion has caused fifty-one million more deaths even than those who suffered during the...
Recently, I embarked on a new sort of journey. One I had previously never known or experienced. I began my first committed relationship for the purpose of marriage. During that relationship, I experienced such a wide spectrum of emotions and grappled with my view of myself, God, and others. As I look back over that short journey, I cannot help but see several lessons the Lord taught me along the...
The world is ripe with brokenness. Natural disasters rage, conflicts ensue, and bitterness stirs within. Death is rampant and suffering is widespread. Around 690 million people go to bed hungry every night, and approximately 150,000 people die daily. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, thus separating families, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Where...
What do you think of when you hear the term Critical Race Theory? You may picture protests, news headlines, or conversations you’ve had concerning this idea. Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become a buzzword that almost everyone has heard of. Although it’s not a new idea, it has become a hot topic in our society that demands a response. But do we really know what it is and what it means? As...
As I sit down to write, I often forget that my words are not my own. There are many times when I forget that I must seek the Lord and ask him for guidance when I relay my thoughts into words. I often forget that the Lord deserves to be extolled through the words that I write. Words have the ability to either destroy or to build up, and this is a responsibility that I cannot carry alone. Like many...
I consider myself a Lord of the Rings nerd. Well, maybe enthusiast is a better word. I don’t know about you, but I am fascinated by talking trees, tiny people with an insane amount of grit, daring escapes, fiery depths, and yes, even a wizard who whispers to moths. But I do not only love this story for these reasons (although they’re all really good reasons). I love this story because...
Tears. Again and again. Fear. Fear that the vicious cycle will send you tumbling off your feet once more. Friendships involve edging out of the shadows and into the piercing light. Friendships involve risk. A lot of risk. Friendships sometimes tear your heart to pieces, while at other times, build you up tremendously. While they come with their fair share of pain, friendships are so worth it. But...
There I sat. My face in my hands, and my grief cascading down between my fingers in crystal drops. My heart felt as if it was being rendered in two. I was in shock, and the full gravity had not yet completely settled within my aching soul. I kept hearing his voice, and I kept seeing his face. Deep within I felt a massive loss. This was goodbye to an amazing friend, support, and grandfather. How...
rebelling against low expectations
