Reflection or Two of a First Day

Let me tell you, it's been all adventure-y and inevitable and future-y over the last few days. Since the last post, I've moved to Atlanta, GA. Today was my first day at Georgia State and it was delightful, but more on that later. Life is moving like an avalanche, but I'm some how tucked away under an outcropping. I only have to take one step and I'm off on the ride of a lifetime. It's all real, and everything is happening now.

I wanted to have a creative way to present the last 72 hours of my life, to paint a clever little picture full of sarcastic parenthesis, applied creativity, and impressive English to further the overall impressiveness of everything. Instead, and in failure, I wrote out a list. But, it's an annotated list. So it's more exciting that way. Anyway, enjoy.

Class: I started them today. Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be my Business Time, because class starts on those days at 8 am and ends at 3:45 pm, with 15 minutes in between each class. It wasn't bad at all today; maybe because its new, maybe because I've been putting in five 8 hour days a week for the last four years. I think I can handle it. All of my classes (except Math 1101 of course) hold some unique interest or intrigue. It's going to be fine, maybe even fun. College life is appealing to me, no doubt.

Philosophy: My Philosophy 2010 professor looks an awful lot like a young Kathy Geiss

Barrett: My English 1102 professor can't be more than a couple of years older than me. He's either got the whole, "be the cool teacher" thing down, or the almost complete lack of emotional gap between him and the students just makes him easy to relate to. Either way, I think he's nuts a little.

Ball Pit: Up and running at Azul, come over and check it out.

Lauren: I had a very painful, heart-breaking kind of discussion with Lauren yesterday. It's definitely over and it hurts pretty badly right now. You can ask me about it if you really want to know. I'm only sharing this here because I know that the only people that read this are ones that i trust and whose love in my life has been so beautiful and life-giving and I don't give enough of myself out of my gratitude for those of you who fit in. But, yeah, ask away.
Soccer: Old Azul is a ten minute walk from the Georgia Tech rec fields where there is a pick up soccer game every night of the week. Literally. It's awesome. I freaking love soccer.

Relationships with firehouse people: Old Azul is also a few doors away from a Firehouse Subs. I've already begun to develop a relationship with the folks that work the night shift. Today, I talked with one of the cooks who was in the Army and was stationed in Lebanon in 1984 when the "Lebanesians" bombed a hotel.

Rugby: I saw Tech's club rugby team today. The coach said I could come out and play around with them if I ever wanted to...

Crazy Applied Linguistics teacher that doesn't wear a bra: Not great.

Old Azul: I've mentioned it a few times. This is the name of the house in which I live. It's filled with five other guys, four of whom are in their fourth or fifth year. The fifth works full time and is out of college. People, they are awesome. God, I've been craving community for so long, often unaware, and He has thrust me head first into a place where it is overflowing. This house is beautiful, and the friendship and love that permeates from it is undeniable and so, so sweet. It's amazing to have roommates who actually ask me about my life; how my transition is, how I'm doing coping with the Lauren mess, etc. Just asking me if I'm okay is a blessing that i've craved for a long time from peer relationships. It's so beautiful And I get to be a part of this beautiful place.

So, in summary, Atlanta is alright. I'm facing some heavy stuff, but find myself surrounded with people that care enough to want to help me through it. I can't praise Jesus enough for bringing me into this place, while the wounds heal. It's beautiful, and I can't wait to see what this new adventure has in store. Man. Anyway, I've been emotional as of late, but I think these things I've written are what I really feel. It really, really sucks at times; the failed relationship, the move, the emotional surgery that's taking place. But, there's better truth out there that I've been shouting at myself, laced with f-words, trying to believe in the face of a multitude of lies and hurt and condemnation. I'm going too long, and if you're still reading this then God bless you. He sure has blessed me, and I don't quite know why yet. We'll see, soon. Thanks for your love and your prayers and your phone calls. I love you guys.