Shine Like Stars

This past weekend I was able to go to Grand Rapids for a going away party for my friend, Tyler. While there I got into a discussion with a group of friends about grad school. Of course we started off talking about how hard (or easy, for those of us who are lucky enough) it was so far and began evaluating how well Calvin had prepared us for this new step in our lives. From there we began talking about the differences in our new schools and eventually got around to questioning how much we saw faith being addressed within our various schools. For some, faith is looked down upon and even criticized, for some it is discussed briefly, and for others it is ignored altogether--And that is where my school stands. Ignored.

And because of this, I've found that it is much more difficult to come to class every day living out the gospel. People of faith are few and far between out here in the "real world" and now that I've removed myself from such a spiritually enriching environment it has become so much easier to fall into the habits of the real world.

I tend to complain more. I become bitter about situations that really aren't all that bad. I criticize others. I speak negatively. And I forget why it is I was called to graduate school in the first place.

And then today in church my pastor reminded me of Philippians 2:14-16 which says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

What a great reminder. In a world where faith is not ever-present may I remember that I am supposed to be an example of Christ and therefore "shine like stars in the universe."