How Do You Measure a Year?

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights; in sunsets

In midnights and cups of coffee

In inches; in miles

In laughter; in strife

In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?

Measure in love

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand journeys to plan

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

In truth that she learned

In times that he cried

In bridges he burned

In the way that she died

It's time now to sing out

Though the story never ends

Let's celebrate/remember a year

In the life of friends

Remember the love

Measure in love

Oh you've got to remember the love

You know that love is a gift from up above

Share love, give love, spread love

Measure your life in love

("Seasons of Love," from the musical, "Rent")

There's so much I could say... but I hardly know where to begin. Time is an enigma. It can be measured mathematically, but its impact is far more complex. While on the one hand it seems as though the year has flown by, on the other it seems that too much has happened to be contained in the span of one year. My mind and heart have been very full these past two weeks, as I've looked back on the year and looked forward to the future.

I have learned a great deal this year. I've loved being here, at MACU. I've loved my classes; I've received invaluable training for my future ministry. I've loved my professors, who have worked with me and talked with me and who have expressed genuine interest in both my immediate and long-term goals. And here's a shout-out for Dr. Reese, my advisor and MACU's Cross-Cultural Ministry professor--he's the man.

There is a difference, however, between what I came here for--a Biblical eduction and cross-cultural training--and why I came here. There is only one answer to the why: God's will and plan. I felt the specific call to MACU, though at the time my why was very pragmatic. God paved the way for me to be here even before I thought I might want to be! I came here to learn what it took to be a missionary, and I have begun to learn that, and learn it well. God, however, had His own purpose in bringing me to MACU; as always, His plans and purposes far exceed my own. He is able to do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine.

LOVE.

That word makes my heart skip a beat; makes the blood pulse in my ears; brings a lump to my throat and the sting of tears to my eyes. Oh, how He loves me. God has romanced me this year; He has taught me about His love and grace in ways I can hardly describe. The things He has revealed to me sound ridiculously simple when put into words, but God's word colors them with rich shades of meaning:

God loves us.

"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten, unique Son, so that whoever believes in, trusts in, clings to and relies upon Him shall not perish, come to destruction or be lost, but have everlasting, eternal life."

-John 3:16, AB

Love God.

"Love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy."

-Mark 12:30, MSG

Love one another.

"My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love becomes complete in us--perfect love!"

-1 John 4:11-12, MSG

When I think of the way God has loved me this year, the way my dear, dear friends--my comrades in arms; my brothers and sisters in Christ--have loved me, and the way I have loved others, I could weep for the sheer joy and beauty of it. Our prayers have been answered; our hearts have been knit together in love. Our love for one another flows out of our love for God, and His for us. We have held each other, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have laughed and wept and fought and prayed together; this is true fellowship. We have each other's backs; we encourage and exhort. As often as it possible, and as much as we are able, we are there for one another. I have many memories to cherish. Oh, I will miss my friends this summer!

This year has changed me in more ways than I have words. How do I measure it? In mistakes made? In lessons learned? In good conversations? In smiles or tears? In jokes and laughter? In adventures? In quiet times? In hugs and kisses?

No.

In love.