My Mountie Life: Living With The Lights Off?

- Time to update blog more frequently? Check.
- Downloading new music like a fat kid eats cake? Check.
- Living as unreservedly with my faith as I used to? Uh... could I get a raincheck on that?

Lights Out.

I'm nearing my second month here, and I've learned quite a bit about myself and the people that I spend time with. But with most new things, it takes me a while to warm up to them. I feel sad to say, but until very recently (past couple days or so), I had been very apprehensive about what type of music I played, and what I practiced in my room. You probably wouldn't believe it, but Hillsong just recently started playing regularly on my speakers. Why did it suddenly change, you ask? There are a few main reasons.

A week and a half ago, I was talking to my friend Ashley, who is in second year and also goes to MACF. We were just talking about our favorite music groups (apparently we like the same kind of stuff), and then it started to get slightly more in depth. I told her about my reservations toward playing my music with everyone around, and she told me that when she was in first year, she was also like that. But then God worked on her heart, and asked her "why are you ashamed to worship me in the same way here as you did back home?" This struck me hard. I had never thought of that before. Just because it was easier to worship Him back home doesn't mean that I should stop when the going gets tough. It was a reality check that I desperately needed.

And MACF... I didn't know just how powerful the lessons and fellowship could be from that group. Recently, we had a chapel service that culminated to one of the most powerful evenings I've experienced here. I'll always remember when we filled that chapel with one acoustic and our voices. The group has helped me to focus not only musically, but spiritually. And I never would have thought of MTA as being my Narnia if it wasn't for them too... Now that's given me a lot to think about!

Hmm, back to question 3... I think I still need to keep that raincheck on it. But things are getting better, little by little. God is still everywhere, and I'm grateful that he hasn't given up on me.