I promised I would write a little blurb about some happy times. I like happy times.
There are three characters to talk about – Myself, Mike and Anna.
And both of these events happened in high school, during Part II: http://hoppy393.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/sovereignty-part-ii-hurdles-heroes-and-uiuc/
…
You can say that Anna and I met each other when we were lost.
I wrote before about how, on my first day at the University of Illinois as a freshman, I went out for a run at night and got lost. I do this a lot. I love getting lost and exploring new places, which is weird because I rather dislike change. Maybe that’s some sign of optimism or success: That I dislike changing the things I am accustomed to and love, but I am on the lookout for the new. I love to get lost when I run and find a peaceful new spot. I love to get lost while driving and figure out a new way home and see places I never would have seen before.
And early one morning, at Eastern Illinois University, Anna and I sneaked out for a run. And got lost. It is kind of amazing how an activity like running (or even walking) can help to bring out who you really are. For some reason, there are no layers or walls. It is almost spiritual for me.
Anyway, we made a wrong turn and ended up running four miles further than we planned (that’s a guess). We were running at a slower pace, just to wake up and then just to make our way back home. I think we were out there for a good fifty-five minutes. At that conversational pace, we got to talking about lots of things. I asked her about her family, her school, why she was at this camp if she was so young, what kind of church she went to… why she was doing sprinting stuff when she could obviously do well at distance running. And I got to know her.
I learned about her brother, her small middle school, her ‘nominal’ Catholic background, her mistake filling out the form (She filled in 9th grade because she was going into 9th grade, but the form asked what grade you came out of), and lots of other stuff. And she was silly and naive. It was no big deal that we were lost in a small city and had no clue where to go. “Let’s turn here.” “Why?” “I don’t know, but I think we have to turn left sometime.” She fell asleep during the nutrition presentation later on in the day.
She was impulsive and whimsical. And she was at a crossroads in her life. Looking back, I can see how high school students and college students are both heavily influenced during that age; during their first tastes of freedom and self-realization. Earlier in that summer, I had gone to a camp in Minnesota to learn how to evaluate my spiritual strengths and to learn how to evangelize. Anna was in my sights 
I have this ability to get Gospel messages from secular movies and songs. “Oooo! That sounds like something Jesus would say!” One night, after all the planned activities were concluded, Anna and I were watching TV in the main lounge downstairs, sitting on this ratty, old, faded yellow couch and eating a pizza we had just ordered (which also happened to be my first pineapple pizza – thank you so much, Anna). I do not remember what show we were watching – I think it was some stupid reality TV show on MTV or VH1 or something – but a commercial came on and the music for “Bring me to Life” was in the background. Anna made the comment that she loved that song. Perfect segway for the Gospel. Here are the Lyrics:
Bring me to Life – Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy from 12 StonesHow can you see into my eyes like open doors Leading you down into my core Where I’ve become so numb Without a soul My spirit sleeping somewhere cold Until you find it there and lead It back home
(Wake me up) Wake me up inside (I can’t wake up) Wake me up inside (Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can’t wake up) Before I come undone (Save me) Save me from the nothing I’ve become Now that I know what I’m without You can’t just leave me Breathe into me and make me real Bring me to life
(Chorus)
Bring me to life (I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside) Free me tonight
Frozen inside without your touch without your love, darling Only you are the life among the dead. (All this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me) I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems Got to open my eyes to everything (Without a thought without a voice without a soul ~Don’t let me die here~ There must be something more) Bring me to life
(Chorus)
Bring me to life (I’ve been living a lie, there’s nothing inside) Bring me to life
Gospel Message. And I prayed with her. And we stayed up all night just talking (sorry to my pole-vault camp roommate who wondered where I was) and raced horribly on the next, and final, day. But I gave her the Bible I had brought with and I left a little note to her. We exchanged emails once in while after that, and met up again after I returned from Mexico.
This story precludes Part VII: http://hoppy393.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/sovereignty-part-vii-running-the-race-and-my-beloved/
…
There are some key details I remember about the Winter Retreat I went on with Mike. I remember Tether ball, my running shorts, the scavenger hunt, my small group leader, class struggle, A Whole New World, the hobo house, and that I had to drink all the milk at the table because of lactose-intolerant people. Oh. And the fact that I was surrounded by Koreans and this was the first time in my life I was a minority.
However, I think I am going to focus on a single night’s service. We were in that little chapel and we sang so many songs – it was like a revival. My favorite song from that retreat was “For me to Live” by Kate Spence (?). I was so blessed by the worship. But then we cleared the chairs and there was a sermon followed by a time of prayer. The sermon was about being ’spiritually fat:’ That we receive so much in the form of sermons and stuff but we do not use what we get. We eat, but do not exercise. OK, cool. I had heard quirky sermons before, but the prayer time after challenged me. I was on my knees, praying as I always had, when the Pastor walked up to the microphone and started to rebuke us. You’re not praying hard enough!
Those are words I had never heard. Maybe from where I came if you prayed at all you were doing great. Like people had the attitude that they should be thankful that the youth (or anyone, for that matter) pray at all.
At first I was ticked off. In fact, for the rest of the prayer time, I could not think straight and I kept thinking who is he to say how I am praying? I am praying hard! I am praying like I always have! But near the end and into the rest of the night I realized how right he was. Yes, maybe the way he said it was not the best way for me, but however hard you pray, you can pray harder. And I guess you should always be striving for that. Does it make sense to hunger to be hungry or thirst to be thirsty? And this is kind of ironic or fulfilling that the verse on our shirts read My soul thirsts for God, for the living God (Psalm 42:2a).
And that night I also prayed with Mike. And we kind of promised to keep each other accountable and look out for each other. I do not know how I can say I was surprised that he asked me to be his roommate in college.
This story goes into Part III: http://hoppy393.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/sovereignty-part-iii-ivs-crusaders-and-living-water-at-frat-parties/
…
Have a nice day.
