66 Days

Catherine Pulsifer once said, ~Graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending, however, it is also a time of celebration of achievement and a beginning for the new graduate.~ Without a doubt, the journey to finally reach the pinnacle of academic achievement is a place many college students look forward to as the proverbial blood, sweat, and most certainly countless number of tears ultimately paid off. For the past 4...5...8 years have tested/challenged you showing that through determination, hard work, sleepless nights as you consume coffee/red bull in order to finish projects/papers, studying for tests, and praying to God to give you the strength to keep going you finally crossed the finish line signifying the metaphorical marathon of higher learning is over.

Let me ask you this question, what did you consider the most toughest aspect concerning your time in college? For some people, it was trying to stay mentally focused on the tasks at hand such as a seemingly hectic schedule all-the-while avoiding any distraction, which was a difficult situation indeed at times. Yet, for others being able to stay emotionally strong was something considerably challenging as one's personal life in regards to family, a significant relationship, or whatever the case may be can take its toll on you causing a breakdown to the point where tears are shed. However, for most people like myself, waking up early in the morning in order to go to an 8 a.m. class was the toughest thing to deal with and I don't think many of you would disagree with me there.

Essentially, one of the greatest aspects while being in college is establishing not only friendships, but also potentially meeting your future wife/husband. I think we can all remember the who, what, where, when, and possibly even why as one met certain individuals under the same or different circumstances like being in the same class, being introduced by a friend, accidentally bumping into him/her, etc. When it comes to the people who first turned out to be strangers to where they now ended up becoming lifelong friends. Hey, you form a bond with these people that continues long after college and with such online venues as Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Skype, and Twitter it gives you that opportunity to do so.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, ~Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.~ Personally speaking, this is my life verse and it has definitely applied during my time in college where I struggled to fully put my trust in him leading me to experience times of frustration, anger, doubt. etc. For its in my own personal trials and tribulations concerning my time in college that have led me to question Him as I tried to understand why I was going through those difficult times. Ultimately, God has His reasons and even though you may not understand it you pray to Him acknowledging that you are fully trusting in His will to direct you on a path to where ever or whoever He inevitably leads you.

In retrospect, my time in college can be somewhat compared to the movie character Van Wilder with different circumstances of course as he tried to stay in college while I've been trying to get out. In any case, I thank God for everything I've gone through personally, mentally, physically, and spiritually because quite frankly there were times where I wanted to quit. It was through God that I was able to meet lifelong friends at Pensacola Christian College who prayed for me, encouraged me, and gave me sound advice through scripture when I felt truly discouraged. For its these people...you know who you are...that continue to be a source of praise in my life and all I can say is thank you. In the end, I along with the rest of the 2009 graduating seniors have been anxiously counting down to and right now its t-minus 66 days till we cross the finish line.

Just My Type

Someone once said, ~Its so funny how we set qualifications for the right person to love, while at the back of our minds we know that the person we truly love will always be an exception.~ Let me ask you this question to the single people out there, who do you consider your type when it pertains to meeting the right person you've imagined spending a lifetime with? For its a question that not only has been asked many times over, but it also causes you to stop and think about what truly matters in a relationship as one goes through the proverbial rundown of likes and dislikes. Hey, its part of the dating process as you mentally try to figure out the right type of guy/girl who gives you what's most important, especially when it involves matters of the heart.

Without a doubt, having the right person in your life who is the type that absolutely respects you is something many women consider a rarity to find these days. Why? For its a difficult situation indeed for any woman to meet a guy who doesn't have intentions of treating her as just another notch on his belt. I think it would be safe to say a woman doesn't want to be known as a mere number or the latest conquest that is bragged about to his buddies all-the-while sharing a picture to prove one's exploits, which is totally disrespectful. Let me tell you something ladies, there are guys out there who are respectful and want to experience a love not for the quantity of many women, but rather the quality of one woman.

If you think about it, when it comes to true happiness that is right for your heart you want the type of person who will honor you. When I say the word honor it refers to standing up to and defending the name of the guy/girl you love/care about from being disrespected by an individual or individuals who simply enjoy starting drama by spreading rumors that may not be true. For some, most, or all of you have been in this situation where you've been bombarded in the past by all the negativity to the point where it physically and mentally drained you. Yet, when you have someone who will fight for you either in the literal or metaphorical sense in order to not let others demean you causing emotional pain you're positively affected in a way in which you grow stronger within your heart.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, ~He hath made every thing beautiful and in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from beginning to end.~ For the question can be asked to those in a significant relationship, do you absolutely know the type of person you married who has instilled within his/her heart moral values. It's in those moral values in which you find God's truth, beauty, goodness, and willingness to let Him completely work in every aspect of his/her life. Essentially, He knows who each one of us are to spend the rest of our life with and as frustrating it is for us to selfishly focus on our own happiness you have to put faith in his timing and that he will send the right person for you.

About a week ago my cousin asked me the type of woman I imagined spending my life with and after some careful thought here's what I've been able to come up with. First and foremost she has a servant's heart for God; Family oriented; Grounded in the sense that she's sensible, practical, and has a good grasp on reality; Not high maintenance; Not a party girl; Drama free; She's just as beautiful dressed down as she is dressed up; Able to make me laugh; Keeps me thinking which is a good thing; Good conversationalist; Has her own independence; If she's filipina its a plus but not highly important, etc. In the end, its God who makes no exceptions when it comes to love and when it comes to my true happiness I know the woman He will send my way will be just my type.

For All Time

Elizabeth Eurnari once said, ~Love is a rose, which grows out of tenderness which needs the caress of soft touch and care. If one does not feed it with water and sun the beautiful petals will fall one by one. And there will stand alone the long and green stem with only the memory of what once was the beautiful image of God's greatest gift...love!~ In some aspect, the human heart is like a rose and each petal is considered to be a piece of one's heart that represent qualities of love such as trust, honesty, tenderness, caring, kindness, understanding, etc. For its each of those qualities mentioned above not only work together to give off a sweet smelling aroma, but an absolute beauty that can be seen when you show/give all that you have in your heart to that special someone.

Without a doubt, when it comes to the petals of a potential and/or significant other's heart it most definitely takes the proverbial soft touch to handle something considerably delicate. In a sense, just like the delicate petals of a rose the delicate "petals" of a person's heart can be precisely cared for and nurtured so that the qualities of love are able to hold strong through even the harshest of situations in a relationship instead of letting them to in all intensive wither away from the lack of attention being given. I think many would agree with being able to have someone in your life who has the capacity to spend quality time in treating every part of your heart in such a positive, warm, gentle way you grow more in love with him/her each day.

If you think about it, when you look at a rose you can see an all around depth to it in which there are layers of petals that can be seen as well as unseen. Essentially, the same can be said when you metaphorically look into a guy/girl's heart and truly see the immense depth concerning particular layers of importance like communication, commitment, intimacy, faith, friendship, integrity, respect, etc., which are key aspects for love that are deeply meaningful. It's a sad situation indeed when there isn't any depth to be seen within someone's heart showing you that even though your attention is initially captured by the beautiful and albeit alluring scent you'll unfortunately find out the hard way there wasn't more to him/her than meets the eye.

Someone said, ~...Within every soul ... there is a rose....We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies.We never realize our potential. Some don't see the rose within themselves ... It takes someone else to show it to them...This is the truest, most innocent, and gracious characteristic of love - to know another person, including their faults, recognize the nobility in their soul, and yet still help another to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the rose, they will conquer the thorns. Only then will they blossom... Our duty in this world is to help others, by showing them their roses and not their thorns. It is then that we achieve the love we should feel for each other. Only then can we bloom in our own garden.~

In retrospect, every person has at some point been pricked by the thorns of heartbreak on the stem of someone else's heart. Yet, when you experience true happiness those thorns are cut away from the stem to never be afraid of being hurt again. Thinking about it, it's the thornless stem of one's heart that is able to hold in place all the petals of love you never want plucked or blown away. It's just a matter of looking to God's word for guidance and it's in the light of His word that the individual petals are nourished and thriving with life. In the end, when you can completely give your all emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, to the one you love then you can say as you place his/her hand on your chest my heart is yours for all time.

Finally

Someone once said, ~It's hard to find someone whom you truly love, much less to find someone who loves you as much. When the chance comes don't ever let go.~ Without a doubt, we all want a chance at experiencing true happiness and for a lucky number of people they're fortunate enough to have found that special someone who loves him/her just as much as he/she does, maybe even more. For it’s a dream come true within one's own heart to not only find your best friend for life, but also the one who makes you feel absolutely complete in mind, body, and soul. Thinking about it, love begins as a simple friendship and the more time spent getting to know each other on a deep, personal level a bond is established, which is considered the best way for love to flourish.

Let me ask this question to all those in a significant relationship: when you met the person who you knew were going to spend the rest of your life with, did he/she knock you off your feet? When I say that I don't just mean it in the visual sense as you can most definitely be taken back by what's underneath the physical exterior to the point where you can be blown away, metaphorically and literally, at what you find out. It can be a mind blowing situation indeed to spend time with someone you truly interested in over coffee, a bite to eat, or whatever the case may be and have a real, genuine relaxed conversation that you never want to end as the hours seem like mere minutes instead of the other way around whereby leaving a smile on both your faces.

If you think about it, when you've found true happiness after experiencing times of utter heartbreak in the past you know within your heart that it's different this time. The sadness, loneliness, frustration, fear, anger, bitterness, etc. one usually tends to subconsciously hold on to are let go of as he/she gradually gives you back the one thing you lose when it concerns the pangs of love...faith. I think it would be safe to say there are people out there who have at some point lost faith in love because of being with a guy/girl who sorely disappointed you in such a way that being in the relationship didn't get any better as it instead became increasingly worse. Hey, for those who are in a relationship and it's better than it's ever been I have faith it will continue to keep getting better for you as time goes on.

For the question can be asked of you, how long have you been waiting for your dream to come true? As said before, it can be a dream come true as you find not only your best friend for life but also the one who makes you feel absolutely complete in mind, body, and soul. For some, most, or all people have seemingly been waiting a lifetime for someone who is an immensely exceptional, unique person and doesn't have the unfortunate traits, as well as, characteristics exhibited by guys/girls that have disappointed you in the past. What it primarily comes down to is being patient and even though it can be frustrating to wait, you know that it will be well worth it as God sends you that person who will forever take your breath away.

In retrospect, when it comes to matters of heart you want to find a genuine connection with someone that can't be faked whatsoever. A connection that's honestly real in which you can laugh, cry, and confide in with that person about your worries, fears, hopes, and dreams without having to wonder if he/she is actually listening to you. Let me tell you something, to find a best friend who gives you a renewed sense of faith in your heart to where your life can now begin is what we're all searching for. In the end, I hope to someday find my best friend and when I eventually do I can say I've finally found someone who makes me feel complete as I share my life with her, which is a song by Bryan Adams that best reflects this thought.