Let's Go Fly A Kite...

    My first thought when I walked (well, really it was ran because I was late for work by five minutes), was, it's a perfect day to fly kites. Now, the everyday college student wouldn't fly a kite on campus on their day off, but for me and my friends, we do it all the time. A few months ago, I bought two kites off Amazon for the sole purpose of creating spectacles and new trends. And so, because I now had kites in my possession, I decided, for the third time this year, we were going to fly them today. 

   Now, the wind here was gustier than the average wind on the noble, holy hill, which was great for instant air. We were testing out the new spool of string that gives 500 feet of distance when I handed the kite over to an amateur kite flyer. Every so often I would hear him freak out about how he didn't know what to do and I simply told him to let it roll out. Finally, he got the hang of it. When I looked up after trying to get the other kite in the air, the kite was flying straight over the building. Our other friend casually mentioned, "If that kite gets stuck in Mary's halo, I'm running away." I agreed. Any tomfoolery with Mary on the dome is like a mortal sin. Instant expulsion or instant graduation, I'm not too sure. But anyway, we laughed it off. 

   Next thing I know, our friend with the 500 feet of string is freaking out. The kite just dipped behind the other side of the building. So, I took it and started rolling it back in. But then, it got stuck. Stuck on what? We couldn't tell. It was on the other side of the building. So, he ran around the building to find it stuck on the tree, NOT Mary's halo (PRAISE GOD!). So after fighting with it and fighting with it, we decided to just cut the string and let the little kite remain perched up in the tree while the string remains draped over the roof of Villa East. Within minutes the news spread and we have officially made history. Now let's hope that our President doesn't find out it was us.....

    It made me think though, how does this apply to my life? It's like Adam and Eve were the kite and the string was the connection to God. However, at the fall (getting stuck in the tree), they cut themselves off from God who held the spool. While we aren't puppets or kites on strings that God maneuvers according to His desire, we so often cut ourselves off the spool. We cut ourselves off the lifeline to God. All because got stuck in a tree. I'm hoping that next time I get stuck in a tree, I'll remember my metaphor and remember not to cut the string but instead allow God to keep pulling at me until I untangle from the branches. 

Charters, Kites and Creeks OH MY!

   If there was one thing that I miss most from being away from home besides the sisters and my family, it's the water. Yes, the dirty Delaware River. I miss it. Truth is, I would go there all the time when I needed space; it's my outdoor Chapel. Something about the steady waves and the wind blowing across my face simply makes me feel so loved by God. While at school, whenever I need that "me" time, I simply go for a walk around campus and take in the beauty of it. But no matter how much "me" time I take, there's always something missing; the water. 

    This past weekend, despite being swamped by homework and the need to clean my room, one of my best friends steered me away from it. And let me tell you how worth it it was. WE FINALLY FOUND WATER!!!!!!!!!!! And mud and swamp and foxes and WATER! Yes, our shoes were covered in mud and swamp life, and yes, I did fall and busted up my chin and knee and YES, we did see a fox. But all of it was so worth it, because literally right down the road there's a creek, that used to be Mary's Lake where residents of our school used to sun bathe on the afternoons off, and I can finally find my solace. 

    The day of adventuring wasn't complete, however. Being on a "mountain" of sorts provides much wind and a few weeks ago, after for the first time flying a kite with one of my best sister friends, bought two of my own kites. Together, my friend and I, after cleaning up all the mud, flew our kites for a good two hours. Having just found the WATER and now having the wind blow across my face, I felt nothing more than pure love for my JC, the one who probably made the day just to spoil me. I can't tell you how much the day of pure, kiddie, freedom set my heart and soul on fire. 

    We all need "me" time with JC, and for me that "me and JC" time is spent in quiet, silent moments being in nature. Yes, it's NORMAL for college students to be walking around the campus, enjoying the Fall weather. But for me, I make it a prayer. Flying kites, was a prayer. Finding the water, definitely a prayer. Everything NORMAL about being a college student is changed when I add the word discernment to my repertoire. And it's only changed very slightly by the mere fact that I find GOD in everything. Especially these beautiful, Fall moments during which, I am simply a CHILD of GOD. Enjoy the adventure photos!