Beautiful Beginnings

Today was the official move- in day for the freshmen/transfers coming onto ELH 3. It was a very exciting day indeed. I actually already had 5 new girls on the floor(4 international students and 1 volleyball player) along with Jamie my chaplain and Bri, themelios. But it feels good to have the girls here. LAst night, before all the moving in and unpacking and registration and all of that hub bub began, Bri, Jamie, two of the Korean students-YoungSun and SoMang, and I prayer walked the whole floor. It was wonderful and organic and I could feel the relationships being formed as SoMang and YoungSun prayed fluidly in their native toungue over eachother's rooms. Today was steady and I stayed out of parents and student's ways while guiding them through the necessary steps of move-in. The parents want to make the most of every last second they have with their kids. well, some do. The past week has been intense with training from 8:30 to 5 every day since the Impact Retreat. I have felt the weariness settle in. Yet God has been faithful. I have the overall feeling that he is strengthening me for what is ahead. I don't know what that is, but I am praying that it will be amazing. So, it was nice today to focus on welcoming the girls, to work on the bulletin board with Jamie, and to unpack some of the boxes in my room. I have noticed one issue I need to deal with before it works it's devious little roots through my spirit. I have the senior cynicism and it has crept in somewhere along the line this past summer. It has jumped out of my mouth and reared it's ugly head in the form of a disrespectful attitude and an unwillingness to work and to do the job set before me. I want to live with excellence. Yet, this cynicism is disgustingly seductive in it's call to "come, be lazy with me. Lay down those burdens they have put on you. How dare they!?" It's a beast, that cynicism. But really, it is just my pride and my flesh (sin) in one of it's many forms. I need accountability in this area. Yikes.