My People

Hey Y'all!!

Today I want to talk about the biggest issue I faced the first few weeks of school. Community. This seems like a broad issue that every college student faces but I believe it is even more difficult for a Christian in an extremely secular party school.

When you go to a new place it is always hard to find your people. I'm used to adjusting to new places and new people. I've done it many times before but what I experienced at the being of college was much different. Anyone who knows me would no doubt say that I am an outgoing person but for the first time in my life it was hard for me to be a social butterfly. I don’t honestly know why but my guess is because I knew from the get-go that it was going to be hard.

I did my best to start making connections with people and getting involved. I thought everything was going great until I realized the people, I had started to consider friends weren’t the people I really wanted to be associated with. Of course, the number one thing I was looking for in "my people" was a faith in Christ. This by no means implies that I wouldn’t be friends with those who weren’t Christians but when it came to "my people" I wanted individuals that would lead me closer to Christ and not pull me away. I got connected to Christian organizations in hope of finding these individuals and sadly I was let down by the hypocrisy of many of the members in these organizations. Not to discredit the ministries but I figured I had just as good of a chance finding people on my own. I continued to find ministries that I felt suited me and hoped that I would find "my people". I also joined some political organizations that I knew would at least lead me to like-minded people in terms of values and politics.

Sadly, none of my efforts were quickly rewarded. I was relying a lot on my relationship with God and my long-distance best friends and family to get me through these lonely times. I started a devotional on the first day of school called "Freshman First Forty Days" by Belmont University. The devotions proved to be exactly what I needed on several occasions one of which was my loneliness and search for community. The community themed devotions often talked about loving your neighbors and keeping good company. I was confident on my ability to love others and make friendships with them but I wasn't as confident that I would find the good company I was looking for. One of the entries was by a student and it was exactly what I needed. It started by saying, "You’ve probably even asked yourself, ‘How many more awkward ‘what’s your major?’ conversations is it going to take before I find my people?' You know the “people” I’m talking about. The “people” described in Philippians 2:1–2 — the ones of the same mind, same love, in full accord." This was exactly how I was feeling. They went on sharing some advice they had received and the piece that resonated with me the most was, "Hold your gaze upward, toward your creator! If you can manage to keep your focus on the One who doesn’t change in the midst of a season that seems to be changing constantly, then everything else will fall into place at just the right time."

I attended many meetings and it took a solid month or longer before I really found people in these organizations that I meshed with. I joined delight ministries and found a group of girls who understood exactly what I am going through and are vulnerable enough to discuss their struggles and work together to get through them. Through the Baptist Student Union, I found students that were like minded and had a common desire to spread Christs love in campus. Through the conservative organization, Young American's for Freedom, I found people that shared my values for the politics of America. It was also through this organization that I found my closest friend thus far.

I have made friends that have strong Faith's as well as those who don’t. I am still searching to build an even stronger community, but it is through focusing on God that I have made it this far.

Thanks for the love and support.

As always, love ya and stay tuned!

Emily ♡