Howdy there peeps!
Hmm... well, here I am with less than a week left in my southbay adventure. It has been a long ride, but a good one. reflecting a bit on what has happened since I moved to the southbay, I can't help but thank God for his blessing and provision throughout the year.
I would like to believe that I am a brilliant individual. Truly I would. But the reality of the situation is that I feel more like a delivery boy. Okay, hopefully a delivery man, but you get the idea. What prompts such a random comment? I was thinking back on the problems that arose this year at work... definitely some tough ones! At each step of the way, I feel like the Lord inspired me with ideas to solve the problems as they arose. Kinda feels like that game ("wack-a-mole"?) where you bonk moles when they poke their head out of a board and you have to bonk them quick or you lose the game.
Enough problems came up this year at work that I truly believe that without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the refueling and renewing of my mind, that I might be in mental shambles. I will not bore you with a list of all of the things, but suffice it to say the list makes me a little tired! =)
Work aside, it has been a tremendous blessing to live with my cousin Scott. Beyond just getting to know that chap better, it has been fun goofing off with him. In some ways we are good for each other since we have some almost opposite tendencies, but then we have a lot in common as well, which makes it fun to talk (and sometimes complain) about work problems since the other can understand them a bit better.
Then there is the whole housing thing... again, what a blessing! I got to live in a perfectly central, beautiful apartment complex in Sunnyvale that was very relaxing to come home to (and even had a jacuzzi and pool). For these last few months I have been blessed to live with Scott in his new home in Santa Clara where I have been the proud occupant of the master bedroom (Scott will soon rent it out, which is why he didn't want to move in there).
I had the opportunity to get to know a girl from Santa Rosa (Elisa) which ended up not working out, but was still a learning/growing experience for me. I am often torn when I think back on relationship history-types of things, since all relationships that one invests in that do not work out do take their toll, but thinking back I can praise God that he is teaching me these things so that my future wife will hopefully be shielded from them. I guess you could say that I have a long way to go, but hopefully I can accelerate and make up that distance fast! =P Speedracer! lol
Since I spent time going back and forth to Santa Rosa / Petaluma, I have had the chance to hang out and have some great talks with one of my closest friends (John). It is amazing to me that I can know someone for such a long period of time and still misunderstand them. It would not be appropriate for me to fully explain what I mean by that statement here, but let me just say that I am blessed with close friends who find me worthy enough to share part of their inner-selves with, and this encourages me beyond measure.
On top of all these things (I sure am glad I didn't list the problems, I wouldn't have had room for this list of blessings!) I have felt much more at peace with my future and future directions, which I would definitely call a miracle in and of itself. For someone like me who is constantly over-analyzing everything and trying to optimize, feeling at peace with the unknown future and being content to see a few years in advance and settle on a path is no small feat! Yet, the Lord has seen fit to grant me this insight/direction. For that, I praise Him!
I look back and wonder how else I would have come to the same conclusions without spending this time here... I have often wondered why I am here since I am somewhat isolated and I hate watching my family grow up from a distance. Don't get me wrong, I knew that I needed to be here to finish my formal education, but one can't help but wonder if there isn't another way when you feel lonely... But, the Lord has a plan and I am more and more willing to let Him lead and watch the beautiful things that result from letting the omniscient One have the reigns. How ludicrous that I think I can do better sometimes! =)
Check back here on the blog soon for an update with some pictures. I promise to get some pics/videos of the people I've been working with and post 'em (with their permission, of course). Yet again, a great blessing that I need to praise God for... so many people do not enjoy the people they work with, yet I generally can't wait to get to work and interact with these people (and when I'm not excited to be at work, it is generally because I am tired).
Okay, well that'll do for now, pig. I hope wherever this post finds you, you are doing well and the ways that you are currently being blessed will be revealed to you also. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
-Gav
