"You need a 1300 SAT just to watch it."

-ESPN commentator referring to the Duke-Stanford football game

I went through Amarillo about 1:00 AM on my way to a missionary conference in Lubbock. We drove all day straight from Tennessee in a crowded church bus. One of the greatest trips I ever took with college friends. Here is a little George Strait for all those pulling long nights tonight.

Is that a Razorback?

Saw this on Facebook and had to repost.  Great omen for Arkansas fans.

Sharing troubles

It has been said that troubles or worries kept to one's self will only multiply while trouble shared is divided and therefore easier to bear.  I am not sure what I think about that sentiment, but I was able to mutually share some troubles and worries with a couple of great friends this week.

My two friends are very different from each other, but all of us have experienced ups and downs since college.  Both of my friends are in graduate programs and hearing their insights about romance, education, politics and religion was refreshing.  I am seldom around people my own age especially people struggling with some of the same questions I wrestle with.  This week proved very positive as I was able to look back over the last decade and see how my life has grown and changed. 

Having old friends is a blessing and seeing them is even better.

College friends

Next week I am planning on seeing a couple of college friends I have not seen in several years.  Much of my college experience was social and I miss having close friends of my same age and background.  Both of these friends have been busy with graduate school and I love hearing about all their adventures.  Friendship is a great feeling and being able to relate to other people is a blessing.  Looking forward to reunions, big and small.

Life changes and perspective

Those of you who know me well know that I am not the best at romantic relationships.  In college I dated a lot of people for various lengths of time.  Currently three of my former girlfriends who were all significant in my life and growth as a person are now married and expecting their first child. 

This fact has made me realize a couple of things: one, that I would not change any of those relationships or how they turned out.  These three ladies are now each happily married and very happy in their locations, careers and families.  I am not married, as you know, but am in a quite content season of life as a single person doing a job I love. 

Secondly, I am glad for the ability to remember good times in my dating relationships.  Each of these women were enjoyable to be around, good at listening and are genuinely caring people.  Just because we did not form lasting romantic relationships does not mean I do not still think highly of each of them. 

Finally, I realized that I have changed a lot since college.  Obviously, my health problems have played a part in those changes, but I think the maturity that has come in the last five years has radically altered the way I view life and relationships.  Since leaving college dating behind, I have had a positive, adult relationship with a wonderful woman.  While that relationship ultimately evolved from a dating situation to a mutual friendship, I learned so much about what I want in life as a result.

For along time I was ashamed of my dating behaviors in college.  I was inexperienced and immature.  Now I realize that past mistakes do not have to define my future in any area of my life.  I am looking forward to whatever life has to offer and hope that the lessons I have learned will enable me to meet its challenges.

Memory

Memory is a strange aspect of the human experience.  Often we cannot remember good experiences as we wish, yet we cannot forget mistakes or bad feeling we once knew.

I was talking on the way home from Bible study tonight about some pleasant college memories.  I often forget, in the haze of memory, that I had some wonderful times in college.  I was popular and enjoyed lots of activities with people my own age.  That seems strange now because almost all my time is spent with people older than I.  I miss having friends of my own age and experience.  If I would go back I would capture certain moments, friends and feelings:

• All the great nights spent at the little brick duplex on Crook Avenue.  I was so in love with every girl that lived in that house.  Luckily, they all avoided my advances and all are happily married.
• The trip to Columbia/Mt.Pleasant during my sophomore year.  I never felt so accepted by people my own age as I did by Boo, Aarek, Chantel, Allison, Heather, April, Stacey and all the other friends that made that trip so memorable.
• The New England summer course.  Monica, Jeremy and Rachel (plus Drs. John and Margaret) made this trip amazing despite the cramped conditions and continual playing of Backstreet Boys.
• Paul Gray Hall and guys like Scott, Jeremy, Brandon, Daniel, Travis, Adam, Stephen, Zack, Joseph, C-Hump and Cason.
• Bible class at Estes.  Thanks Jesse, Jason and Mark.
• Bell's Drive-In.  Best Hamburger in the state.  Really.
• Jack's Creek Bar-b-que.
• Intramurals.  I loved single A sports and I played for three different clubs (2 of which dissolved later).

So many more memories could be named.  I have come to realize that while parts of my college experience were stressful and dismal, much of the time was fun.  I chose to remember the good and hope my memory of the less than good will fade away.