End Of An Era

So the other day, I was talking to someone and the issue of blogging came up. When asked why I haven't written a blog in so long, I responded with, "I'll write, when there is something significant to write about."

Tonight was significant.

Tonight was my last chapter meeting as an active member of Kappa Upsilon Chi. This event inspired me to reflect on the past 5 years of college and the past 3 years that I have spent with KYX. In two weeks from today, I would have finished my first day of my first rotation of my final year of pharmacy school. Those last few words carry a lot of weight. My FINAL year of pharmacy school.

Yes, I will still be enrolled in school. But I will no longer be waking up and walking to class. No longer will I be able to walk by the Russell House, or through the Horseshoe. My days of spending the afternoon at BCM are over. I have spent the past three years in one of two classrooms. There is a feeling that college is "over" for me.

In two weeks, I will be starting my rotations. I will begin the last step of my journey towards adulthood and being a pharmacist. This last leg will take me all over the country. Texas. Colorado. Oregon. Greenville, SC. Florida. I am very nervous, but it is more of an excited nervousness.

As I start this journey, I cannot help but look back at the past years that I have experienced at, what I consider, the greatest university in the country, THE University of South Carolina. In the past five years, I have made countless friends, and even more memories. I will forever remember road trips to Texas, away football games, national championships, trivia nights, and victory lights (totally didn't mean to rhyme). I have had a few relationships that fizzled out for whatever reason, and also times where I may have missed out on relationships. I can honestly say that I would not change a thing.

I can say that I would not change a thing, because I am 100% sure that everything that has happened this past years, have happened because it is the way that God planned it. It was God's will that I ended up at USC in the first place. It was God that sent me to BCM. It was God that took me to Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Nicaragua, and Greece. It was God that put me in pharmacy, that helped start Kappa Chi. It was God that put me into the position of Chaplain, one of the most trying times I have ever endured.

It is amazing to see what God has done in my life these past few years. I cannot even begin to imagine what He has in store for me in the years to come. I have a crap-ton of questions. Where will I work? What state/country will I live in? Will I have wife? How can I handle the responsibility of being a pharmacist? How will be faith grow as I leave behind those that I am close to?

If there is anything I have learned these past few years, it is that I will always have questions. Some may be answered quickly. For others it may be a while before God answers them. There will also be times where more questions are added. Thankfully, I have learned that there will always, be questions. There will always be an unknown. But the most amazing thing, is that God knows the answers. He will always know the answers. There isn't anything that he doesn't already know.

I can take comfort in that fact. Whenever I feel lost, or in over my head, God is there. I have had struggles and troubles, but through it all God is there.

This blog was a lot longer than I thought it would be. But I guess it could be a lot longer. For the sake of the three people that will actually read this, I will wrap it up and bring it to a close. I guess if I had to put a theme, or over all message on this blog, it would be to not take any situation for granted and just enjoy life. Life is short. Enjoy the company that you keep. And lastly let God be in charge of your life and just be amazed with what He has in plan for you.

Prove It

So I cried today. First time in a little over a year that I have cried. First ever that have cried in front of a groups of guys. What caused this rare outburst of emotion?

The love of God.

If you don't know anything about me, I am the chaplain of Kappa Upsilon Chi, a Christian fraternity at USC. Every Monday I do a devotion on a variety of topics. This past week I had watched a video about an organization I'm a part of called Compassion International. I was very moved by it and decided to talk about the video and the verse that went along with it. (James 1:27 if you are interested)

As I start preparing the devotion, I was having a hard time figuring out what to say. I looked up a few references and got it all done. But after I had finished, I wasn't satisfied. I read over my notes and it just didn't have what I wanted.

As I was driving to work, I guess the Spirit was moving in me and I decided to scrap the entire devotion and just play the video.

I went to work, left that and went to chapter. After Lukas lead worship, I got up to talk and started playing the video. It started off with some people talking about how it is the churches responsibility to care for the orphans or the widows and that we are called to do this. They then started talking about Compassion. They go into 3rd world countries and introduce Christ to children. They also provide clothing, medicine, food, and an education. They are trying to break the cycle of poverty starting with children.

The video then cuts to two men. One of the men was from Kenya who had been in Compassion. He talked about how much his life had changed after someone had decided to sponsor him and how Christ was moving in his life. Then the host brought out the man who had sponsored him. They embraced and cried together. Two grown men. They are forever connected because one man decided to sacrifice a little time and money to help out his fellow man.

The video finished and started to talk a little bit about my experiences with Compassion. I sponsor a child, named Heber, from Bolivia. When I started to talk about him, I was overcome with emotion to the point I actually started crying when I was talking about how I feel when I get his letters. It completely makes my day, and sometimes the week. I usually show my roommate the letter and read it to him.

I think I cried because at that point I realized the extent of what exactly I was doing. I was helping this kid, who I have never met, become something. I am showing Christ's love to him. I am getting him off the streets, breaking the cycle of poverty, maybe even saving his life.

God loves us so much that he sent his Son, Christ, to earth as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. Because God loves us we are to love and sacrifice for others. I sacrifice $38 a month so that a kid can eat, learn, and change his surroundings. O yea, and he has a relationship with Jesus Christ, so that in and of itself is worth it alone.

We always say that we want a better world or that things should be done to make the world a better place. Yet we sit on our couch driving our cars, eating WAY to much, getting fat expecting that someone else will solve all the problems.

My challenge to the 7 people that will read this that want a better world is simple. PROVE IT. Do something about it. Whether its sponsoring a child, or becoming part of some organization. Don't just stand by waiting for someone else to step up. Change the world.


www.compassion.com

Playing in the Rain

So right now it is absolutely pouring in Columbia with crazy amounts of thunder and lightening going off every 3 seconds (yes 3 seconds. I counted and timed and then came up with an average). So I decided that it would be a fun idea to just go outside, sit on the stoop of the apartment, and collect my thoughts or whatever people do when they sit outside in the rain.

After about 3 minutes, I had gotten so excited from all the rain (I was literally jumping up and down giggling) I called Lee out there and we just watched for a few more minutes. After a while we decided to see how deep the water was out by the street. So I ripped off my shirt and ran out to the road. It was up to my ankle and rising! I came back onto the stoop and then realized that someone's recycling bin was floating away, so I had to go chase it down. I put it in someone's lawn, hopefully it was the right lawn.

After that Lee and I just decided to be children and went and played in the rain. We pretty much just ran up and down the street and waved at cars. We had a few honks and a lot of weird looks. We ended up making a boat and letting it float down the street.

It was nice being a kid again. Sometimes we get so caught in life with work and school and all the other "stuff" that we crowd our life with, that we never stop and see how awesome the world is around us. We see rain as an inconvenience because it will take us longer to get to our next activity.

God has given us this awesome world to be a part of. Sometimes we need to just step back from all the "stuff" that we "have to do" and just sit back and be amazed by the awesome creation that God has made. You might just be surprised how much fun it is.

It Has Been A Year

So as of last Thursday July 2, 2009, I have been in the United States for an entire year since getting back from Australia. I can't believe how fast the year has gone. It still feels like I walked into Burnett yesterday and met the most amazing people on Ground Floor North like Warwick, Dannie, Karina, Matt, Kruz, Prue, and Kirrilly. I will not forget the great memories and friendships that I formed with people from around the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other places.

The past year I have found myself thinking what I was doing at that point in the year in Australia. I watched NBA and college basketball championships, USA soccer games, and even baseball games in the TEDs basement. I watched the last hole of the Masters in a Canterbury store in New Zealand. I went skydiving, bungee jumping, and glacier hiking. I have camped on islands, climbed mountains, and slept in vans. Casinos, tazzie devils, and Big Bananas. I loved kangaroos and hated Cockatoos.

One of the best things that happened to me while I was there, was getting involved in UniChurch and Newcastle Christian Students. Meeting Martin and Webbie at Reality Bible study really made sure that I stayed connected with God and continued to develop my relationship with Christ. It was great to learn about Christ outside of the American church and to hear it all from different perspectives and different cultures. I will never forget hanging out and meeting amazing people like Kiwi, Abro, Sam, Tom, Ben, Kate, Julie, Rosi, Dave, Scottie, and Mick. I'm sure I am leaving some of you out and I'm sorry about that.

The past year has gone by so fast and has been so amazing. I have started pharmacy school, gotten a nephew, been to Peru to help spread the love of Christ, joined a fraternity, bought a grill, had it stolen, and so much more stuff. It is amazing what God can do for you when you put your trust in Him.

I loved my time in Australia. Will I ever go back? We will see. It all depends on what God wants for me. To the people that I met there, I love each and every one of you and I am glad to have met you. Hopefully, by the grace of God, our paths will cross again.

Hole in the Wall

So today I had an amazing experience. I had lunch with some folks from First at a place called Compton's. This is over in West Columbia, very close to Triangle City, as it was pointed out to me. I had never been but I heard that it was the place to be. We walk in, and it mostly senior citizens that were getting their fill on the South's finest: fried chicken, fried pork chops, country fried steak and things like that. (note the use of fried in every food mentioned) All the waitresses knew the people in our group as well as most of the other people eating at the restaurant. As I found out later, everyone was a regular and had been coming to this place since 1974.

Going to this place made me think about other hole in the wall type restaurants. These are the restaurants that look all run down and make you wonder why anyone would ever eat there. Then you go in and wonder why anyone wouldn't eat there. This places are so much better than McDonald's, Burger King, or Arby's. It is phenominal food at a phenominal place. Yes you might have to wait a little longer than 15 seconds for your food, but in the end it is very worth the wait.

Some other great restaurants I have experienced in my life that come to mind are from back where I was raised in Albany. The first place that comes to mind is The Quickie. It is named that because it comes and goes very quickly. I would go there every Friday morning during high school for prayer breakfast and be greeted by "the usual?" from the amazing Ms Pat, who never gave out menues or had a consistant price.

Another place is Carter's Grill which is also in Albany. This place has some of the best soul food that I have ever had. That's right, soul food. Fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, cornbread, and a big ole' glass of sweet tea. This was my first meal back in the States after getting back from Australia. The entire place is covered with pictures of famous people that have come in such as Steve Harvey, Deion Branch, and even Bill Clinton.

The point I'm trying to make is, next time you are looking for a place to eat and turn some place down because it looks "rundown," just give it a chance. These places might not be around forever. They are usually family run and they really hope that you are eating a quality product. When ever I eat at a place like that I feel like I am in a part of history, or a part of a story. Can you say that happens at your standardized, no personality, fast food joint?

Saved by the Bell

So I learned today something that stirs up memories from my childhood. Going off of a link from Facebook to youtube there is a video of from the Jimmy Fallon show where he is interviewing Zack Morris. Yes. Zack Morris. Not Mark Paul Gosselaar, but Zack Morris. There were the familiar rolled up jeans, time outs, pictures of Kelly, and yes the Zack Morris cellular phone.

Little did I know before the interview, Jimmy Fallon had started a push to get the entire cast to have a reunion on the show. Mr. Belding, Liza Turtle, AC Slater, Jessi Spano, and now Zack Morris have all agreed to do a reunion. The only two that haven't agreed yet are Kelly Kapowski, and Screech. I am hopeful that both of them will come back to what started there acting careers but I doubt that Screech will.

Thinking about Saved by the Bell made me go back to my childhood. While I was just a babe when the show originally aired, I distinctly remember watching the show every morning on TBS before I went to school. I was also a huge fan of tNBC. tNBC was NBC's Saturday morning lineup. It was real actors and not cartoons. It had shows like California Dreaming, Hang Time, City Guys, Saved by the Bell: the New Class, and One World. These shows were geared more towards teens and were, simply put, awesome.

They were all pretty much the exact same show, but they were all great in their own different, cheesy ways. They were all set in a high school setting and involved problems of a "typical" high schooler. I look back at these shows and realize how cheesy they were but how awesome they were at the time. It makes me think about kids now and the shows that they watch and how they will view them in ten years or so.

So for you fans of the early morning TV, hears to living in the past and hoping that Saved by the Bell will soon grace us with a reunion on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Come on Kelly and Screech

Perfect Weekend

So this weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season. Good Ole Memorial Day weekend. This is a time where people get together, grill out, go out on the lake, watch some baseball, relax, and basically just be American.

Two things that are definitely American, and Southern specically are Coca Cola and NASCAR and the connection between the two. That's right, I'm talking about the Coca-Cola 600 that is on tonight. This is more that just a race. This is four hours of nonstop, 200 MPH, night racing. It really doesn't get any better than this. This is the marathon of racing. It is like going from Atlanta to Washington D.C. is less than four hours.

Some people might ask, "Ben, since when did you become such a NASCAR junkie?" My response to that is that NASCAR has been shown on Sunday afternoons in my house since I can remember. I grew up a fan of Mark Martin in the 6 Valvoline Car, when the Earnhardts and Elliot and Wallaces were still ruling the track. Jeff Gordon was just breaking onto the scene. Now I call myself a Carl Edwards fan, absolutely despise the scum of NASCAR Kyle Busch, and wish that Junior could actually carry on the family name and win a race every now and then.

To me NASCAR is more than just racing around in circles making left turns all day (which is what they do in horse racing and in track). If you think about it, all sports, when broken down to their basics are very simple. Baseball players hit a rock with a stick and run in circles. Basketball tries to get a ball into a basket. Football tries to get an inflated piece of animal skin over a line.

I'm not saying that other sports aren't complicated. I'm just saying that NASCAR gets a bad rap for "just going in circles." There is so much strategy going on that people don't even realize. The teams must consider tire pressure, pit windows, drafting, how much wedge to add. Every little tiny detail must be considered. If a lug nut on the tire is fastened as tightly as possible, after racing 30 laps at 200 mph the tire can and will come off.

So if you are looking for me this glorious Memorial Day weekend, you can find me hanging out with my friends, grilling steaks and burgers, drinking Coke, watching NASCAR. What else could you ask for?