Coffee shop reflection

Today, 6/18/24, I got to return to the college prep program I have been a part of since 3rd grade. About a year ago, I had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I had committed to a school that I was reasonably content with attending. It was my best choice on paper. It was a 4-year university, and everything was pretty much paid for. Even though I wasn’t really excited about going to this university, it was a good option and I thought I “would get used to it.”

Everything was set for me to go there and to walk into that new season of my life, but something in my heart felt off. I couldn’t explain what it was or what I felt, but I didn’t feel at peace. I wasn’t really content, and I felt like I was settling for something less.

I’m writing to you a year later about the decision I made to uncommit from what everyone else thought was the right thing to do. I walked away from what my family believed was a better option for my future (and they were not wrong for thinking it was the right choice). I had been preparing to be ready for a university since I was in 3rd grade.

Today, I am going back to speak to the incoming college freshmen from this program about my experience with my first year of college.

I decided to go to a community college, and honestly, I thought I had made the biggest mistake at first.

I wouldn’t show anyone that I thought it was a mistake because they all wanted me to be confident about what I was walking away from.

I had walked away from something I didn’t necessarily want, but it was good enough.

I was not where I wanted to be, but I was exactly where God wanted me. I didn't know how to explain that to anyone. I had chosen to go to community college, but it wasn't where I wanted to be at the same time. The thing is that the spiritual cannot be understood by the flesh. My flesh did not understand what was happening, but my soul knew deep down that I was where God needed me to be.

As I'm sitting in a coffee shop, the barista is playing worship music, and the first song I recognized was "Set a Fire." "Set a Fire" is such a special song because it was the first song I ever learned to sing with my brother when I was young. He would sit down in front of me with his guitar and teach me songs in both English and Spanish. I was touched by the bridge because the same song I sang as a little girl is showing itself to be true years later.

"there's no place I would rather be

No place would rather be

No place I would rather be

Then here in your love

here in your love"

Here's the thing: I might not always be where I want to be, but I have no regrets about remaining in the place and season God called me to. I didn't always feel happy, and there were many times I questioned my decision, but God isn't asking us to be perfect; He's asking us to be obedient.

I won't lie and act like I'm always obedient to God's calling, but in this case, I'm thankful for that obedience because God's hand has been so evident in my life this past year. It wasn't because I deserved to be blessed, or because I had the best attitude, or because I didn't try to get myself out of that season multiple times. He rewarded my decision to remain in His presence, to stay put when I felt like running, and to trust that He knew what was happening when I didn't.

The Lord has opened doors that I would have never even thought of.

He blessed me in ways that I do not deserve.

He prepared me to take on new responsibilities that I would have never thought myself capable of.

And most importantly, I have seen the fruits of His love like never before.

To close off I want to share the lyrics to the song that was playing as I was leaving the coffee shop (the song is "Another One" by Elevation Worship)

"Miracle after miracle

Open door after open door

Here it comes

So get ready for another one

'Cause another one is on the way"