by Andrew Howard, Class of 2018

I was waiting for my prayers to be answered. I was praying for a sign from God to help me really know that, without a doubt, he was real. And that day came during Fall Retreat when God shot me with all the truth of all the ways that he had been in my life. Maybe he made me to talk to people who really need his grace and forgiveness. I run track—barefoot, and when asked why, I say that God created us naked and that is our best form. Everyone has God working in their life, but not everybody sees it right away.

Once I questioned his judgement, now I see his path for us is challenging, so we can learn though our actions. When the path is hard, we can get closer to him, not question his grace or love for all of us. I questioned the Lord more than ever when I had a spine injury that took me out of track for a while. I questioned his entire existence and was on the brink of destruction… until that day at Fall Retreat.

There had been a gap between my mind believing in him and my heart with him. Now they move as one with the Lord. There will be those days I question how things happened, but I will never lose sight of the Lord. I am no longer chasing him, faking everything… now I walk alongside him to learn and teach the word of the Lord with my brothers and sisters, and to help show his undying love for us all.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen Jude 2:20-21, 24-25