On May 10, I completed my last final and jury.
On May 12, commencement band ended in the afternoon.
On May 19, I left my apartment at Woodway for the last time.
Each event brought a sense of completion, an end point, a tiny finale. Each was preceded by work, time, effort, joy, sweat, diligence, blood, stress.
A semester of class and hanging with Rogers kids.
Study guides, cramming, practicing.
Rehearsal rehearsal rehearsal.
Packing, cleaning, organizing.
Yet they weren't ends.
Nothing ever ends. School bled seamlessly into summer. I glided from textbooks to snowcones without missing a beat. It's a blessing and a curse, and it's a pattern to which I am well-accustomed. Since about the 6th grade, my summers have gotten progressively more full. More busy. More awesome.
One would think that at a point, the awesome must abate. I'm sure there's some technical economics mumbo jumbo to describe that principle, but that's out of my league. The years cannot continually produce more incredible experiences.
Yet so far they have.
Summer is more beautiful than I remember. Schoolwork must have been clouding my sight; I'm pretty sure it didn't just turn incredible when I gained free time. Since finals concluded, I feel I can see rightly; the sky is crisper, brighter. As I drive, I'm completely distracted by how gorgeous Arkansas summer really is. Some are too turned off by the sweltering heat and sometimes preposterous humidity, but I love it. I love those days of feeling the thick air like a blanket, the cleansing sweat, the satisfaction of cold water. I love the heat and I love the opportunity to experience air conditioning. Perhaps I just love contrast.
Contrast is lovely. I often up the contrast on my photos, sometimes to balance and sometimes because I just prefer it that way. There's contrast in summer dusk. It's so interesting that colors become more vivd right before it all fades to blackness. At the right time of day, the light this time of year seems richer, more saturated, and the resulting glow of dusk light playing on the hilly landscape is positively frabjous. Yesterday as I traveled home, I was seriously taken aback. Creation declares His goodness, and now louder than ever. Or perhaps it depends on how closely one listens.
I do pray this is a summer of listening. I'll have more solitude than usual, and I look forward to that time being rich and glorious. I'm excited for Europe, though not quite prepared. I'll be blogging regularly, so for you 3.5 people who read this, check back often!
Your glory is so beautiful.
I fall onto my knees in awe.
And the heartbeat of my life
Is to worship in Your Light...
