"All that you know is about to change..."
(Aslan, "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian)
A lot has changed in these past two weeks. I have found myself leaving my comfortable, though challenging, life at BBC for the summer. Packing up was a lot more difficult than I thought, and not for the shear amount of stuff I had brought with me two years ago, but also the more I have acquired. I don't have any idea as to why it is so hard to pack up, and no I am not talking about physically dismantling your room - rather emotionally dismantling. Every picture I took down, every poster, quote, book, shirt, lamp, golf club, refrigerator, decoration, pillow and blanket was hard to pack up and put in my car. Every thing brought back a memory, a thought from the last two years. Things that have been joys and blessings and things that bring back memories of God stretching me within a hair to which I could possibly be stretched anymore, hard and good times. Needless to say, there was a lot to pack in.
The last several weeks of school I was praying for summer, begging the calendar to move faster than the rate it seemed to be crawling along. Now, in hindsight, it was flying faster than I realized. It was harder than I thought this year saying goodbye to friends that I have become even closer with this past year - ones that have graduated or are going off on internships and student teaching assignments. Either way, there was a lot to wind in.
As I left BBC Friday the 9th, and made the journey back home to Illinois, only to unpack and repack (in a much more compact way of course) and find my way up to Union Grove Wisconsin this past Wednesday the 14th for the beginning of yet another ministry, working as a Living Skills Instructor here at Shepherds Ministries.
I have come out of the my first week and weekend here at Shepherds. Going through a basic orientation last Thursday and a full weekend of hands on direct resident care. My first realization is that I most definitely do not regret my decision to spend my summer ministering here. Already having spent over 32 hours working with these guys within 3 days, I know that God is at work. I see men who are living out their lives in a way that is some senses are so pure, naive and ignorant. Whoever said ignorance is bliss may have been right.
Many of these guys that I am working with have a love and a faith that is so childlike and so beautiful, it puts my academically systematic, dissected and studied faith to shame. They seem to trust God to take care of them no matter what - can I say that? Often, I would shamefully have to say no.
I have been encouraged. Encouraged towards a summer of change, personal growth and servant hood in a new and profound way. And once again reminded of the Christ's words in 2 Corinthians (12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".
As C.S. Lewis said through the medium of Aslan in "Prince Caspian", "all that you know is about to change". Looking back on the past and remembering where Christ has brought me, I look to the future, excited for the change He is bringing to my heart and to my life.
Being continually sanctified by His mercy, love and grace,
-Alex C. Nagel
A lot has changed in these past two weeks. I have found myself leaving my comfortable, though challenging, life at BBC for the summer. Packing up was a lot more difficult than I thought, and not for the shear amount of stuff I had brought with me two years ago, but also the more I have acquired. I don't have any idea as to why it is so hard to pack up, and no I am not talking about physically dismantling your room - rather emotionally dismantling. Every picture I took down, every poster, quote, book, shirt, lamp, golf club, refrigerator, decoration, pillow and blanket was hard to pack up and put in my car. Every thing brought back a memory, a thought from the last two years. Things that have been joys and blessings and things that bring back memories of God stretching me within a hair to which I could possibly be stretched anymore, hard and good times. Needless to say, there was a lot to pack in.
The last several weeks of school I was praying for summer, begging the calendar to move faster than the rate it seemed to be crawling along. Now, in hindsight, it was flying faster than I realized. It was harder than I thought this year saying goodbye to friends that I have become even closer with this past year - ones that have graduated or are going off on internships and student teaching assignments. Either way, there was a lot to wind in.
As I left BBC Friday the 9th, and made the journey back home to Illinois, only to unpack and repack (in a much more compact way of course) and find my way up to Union Grove Wisconsin this past Wednesday the 14th for the beginning of yet another ministry, working as a Living Skills Instructor here at Shepherds Ministries.
I have come out of the my first week and weekend here at Shepherds. Going through a basic orientation last Thursday and a full weekend of hands on direct resident care. My first realization is that I most definitely do not regret my decision to spend my summer ministering here. Already having spent over 32 hours working with these guys within 3 days, I know that God is at work. I see men who are living out their lives in a way that is some senses are so pure, naive and ignorant. Whoever said ignorance is bliss may have been right.
Many of these guys that I am working with have a love and a faith that is so childlike and so beautiful, it puts my academically systematic, dissected and studied faith to shame. They seem to trust God to take care of them no matter what - can I say that? Often, I would shamefully have to say no.
I have been encouraged. Encouraged towards a summer of change, personal growth and servant hood in a new and profound way. And once again reminded of the Christ's words in 2 Corinthians (12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".
As C.S. Lewis said through the medium of Aslan in "Prince Caspian", "all that you know is about to change". Looking back on the past and remembering where Christ has brought me, I look to the future, excited for the change He is bringing to my heart and to my life.
Being continually sanctified by His mercy, love and grace,
-Alex C. Nagel
