One day, let’s hope soon, I’m going to pay off my student loans. But I’m still going to be in debt. And here’s one reason why..
Last night I was scrolling on social media and a post came up with enrollment day at my alma mater. And there they were. The department I gave way too much sass to and not enough gratitude. And then I kept scrolling.
Fast forward a couple of hours and I’m laying in bed. Tossing and turning. When what runs into my mind? Yeah, that department again. UGH. Talk about conviction. But the thoughts kept growing until they turned into the following…
This department had a list of rules. Rules they expected you to follow…I know, right. What the heck kind of college staff expects that?! Anyways, there are three in particular that still stand out (probably because they are the ones I broke the most).
- No cursing.
- Always have a shirt on.
- No shoes on the trainer tables.
To clarify, I didn’t purposely go in there guns a blazin’ trying to break every rule. But I didn’t respect the rules enough to remember either. Funny though. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to disregard the rules, if the enforcer commands respect, they’ll get it. Even if it’s a year down the road.
Those rules and my disrespect towards them will stick with me. Why? If you look close enough at those rules you may see a deeper meaning…or I may just be losing it.
No cursing. Respect others. You would think that were a lesson already taught…but have you met some young adults? Speaking from personal experience, we can be a bit self-centered at times.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3 ESV
Always have a shirt on. Respect yourself. My mama taught me this at a young age. But I went to college and it fell straight out of my brain.
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – -1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
No shoes on the trainer tables. Respect your surroundings. There are people who made sacrifices to ensure you were provided everything around you.
He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:32 AMP
Now as my brain kept running last night I remembered a couple of other things. You know one of the few places I could go on campus to hear some Jesus music? The training room. The place that gave more respect than was given to them? The training room. Showed true servant leadership? The training room.
As much as college costs, I don’t think I could ever put a cap on it. I mean seriously. I’m still pulling life lessons from that place. Lessons of what it means to be a good person. Lessons of what passion looks like. To see people who cared enough to push you to be a better human being every day…priceless. I must thank them for their boldness.
College is a time of finding yourself, but first you must lose yourself. I’m continually grateful for the treasures I’m able to find from the four years of memories made. I hope this serves as a reminder that rules aren’t always meant to be broken. They actually tend to hold some good life lessons. And if you search hard enough, you might hear God whispering through them.
Forever indebted,
From Her Fortress.
From Her Fortress 