Quarter of a Century's Wisdom

Today is my b-day, as Michael Scott would say. I can't believe I am 25 years old...

On Tuesday in youth group, Pastor Burt had the teens contemplate their journey with Christ. Have they moved in their walk? Are they moving? Where are they at?

In thinking about my own journey with Christ, it seems appropriate, on this occasion, that I take a moment and assess the things I have learned in my 25 years here on earth. What have I learned? Am I growing? Do I like who I am becoming? Have I changed?

Below is a list of 25 things that I know I have learned—some are old adages that we have heard a thousand times, some are straight from the Bible. I have found all of these to be true and am still working on them:

1.) You get what you pay for.

2.) When you feel like isolating yourself, don't.

3.) The greater the risk, the greater the reward.

4.) Good is great's worst enemy.

5.) Friends are the family you make for yourself - treat them well!

6.) Stop and smell the roses - enjoy the simple things in life.

7.) If you have the opportunity to travel, do it.

8.) Don't go to college for the sake of going to college. It will always be there waiting for you.

9.) Live like Jesus - be a servant, and you will find joy in the smallest tasks.

10.) If you really want something, it's okay to splurge, just don't splurge all the time.

11.) Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth - No one likes a bragger.

12.) Make time for people, even if you aren't the best of friends...people matter.

13.) Wherever you are, be all there.

14.) No matter what you are doing, do your best.

15.) Honor your parents so your life will go well.

16.) Greedy people try to get rich quick but don't realize they're headed for poverty.

17.) Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing.

18.) Learn how to be content in all circumstances.

19.) You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you as you are to them.

20.) It's okay to indulge your guilty pleasures every now and then if they are harmless. Chocolate and showtunes - need I say more?

21.) It is not the length of life, but the depth of life.

22.) Every moment is a second chance at starting over.

23.) To have a thankful heart, a good rule of thumb is to list five things a day you are thankful for.

24.) To live a life of self is death, but the death of self is life.

25.) Life is worthless until you understand the reason for existence - Jesus.

The "Sommer" Chronicles

Summer is lurking around the corner. I know this because:

a.) For the first time this entire year, I was hot.
b.) Memorial Day is two short days away.
c.) School's out!!!

Woohoo! One more semester done - 6 more to go = 3 more years until I can wash my hands of homework...unless I decide to commit mental suicide and get a master's degree. Ahhhh!

So, what's been happening? Well, I finished up both of my English courses at the beginning of May. They were some of the best classes I have had since my time at Muskingum. I loved every second of them. Well, that might be stretching the truth, but aside from the exams and papers, the books were incredible!

After my English finals, I faced some classes that I have been dreading - my required PE activities. When I think about physical education, my mind drifts back to those years of suffering through field day at school....what horrible memories! When you are a short, chubby nerd, who would rather spend an entire summer reading than just about anything else, PE becomes your worst nightmare. You know, some people are natural born athletes--they can run fast, fly high, or swing a club like it's second nature. Then there are those who might not be natural athletes, but they have a deep appreciation for athletics, and because of that appreciation, they can hold their own when it comes to sports. And last but not least would be the category I fit into - those who have always been clutzy, uncoordinated, and suffer from feelings akin to hatred where sports are concerned. Let's just say that these past few weeks have caused me to remember why I never got involved in organized athletics.

Now that the dreaded PE courses are over, I find myself at the brink of summer, eagerly anticipating a break from school in general. This weekend I am catching up on things that have been ignored for the past 3.5 months at my house. Menial tasks like making a trip to the DMV, cleaning, filing, painting, working on the car, and trying to prepare myself for three months of warmth - warmth of friends, family, and fun!

Recently I've been reminded of the series of verses in Colossians chapter 3, where Paul reminds us to think about heaven. He warns us to not just dwell on earthly matters - our life now, but to be mindful of heaven - our true home. I am guilty of getting so caught up with things here - the day to day grind - but I am praying that this summer, God helps me - helps us - helps his bride to let heaven fill our thoughts so that we might become who He was longed for us to become.

What are you up to this summer?

Meditations on April

I believe it was Eliot
who penned of the cruelness of April--
The cruelty of April--its only flaw--
is its inability to remain fixed in time.

Call me Romantic in this Post-Modern age--
I don't care; I have seen a sun so bright
that the beams wept rays of golden caresses
on all it touched--compelling them to shine.

I have felt the comforting embrace
of morning dew, fallen from the sky,
tenderly cradle nature's children--
the tulip, daffodil, and Easter lily,
who surrender to the heavenly nectar
and come alive.

I have never tasted of anything
sweeter than April's candied offerings,
nor touched anything softer than spring's firstborns.
And most importantly, I have never heard a sweeter melody
than that of April's chorus:
the song of children's freedom echo
winter has ended and all the world's outside.

So to Eliot, I proffer this question:
"When was April cruel to you?"
"When did the morning dew forget to fall?"
"Did you not see the sun, nor embrace its children?"
"And did you not hear the most glorious sound of all--
the sound of anticipation rise in the hearts of those who long for April--
your cruelest month of all."

~Andrea J. Sommers, April 19, 2009

Need Something to do This Saturday Night?

So, I just had to post this announcement for all you Bebo fans out there in Ohio...tickets are $15 at the door - general admission. I can't wait!!

Bebo Norman, Phillip LaRue Northwest Presbyterian - Dublin, OH US April 18, 2009 07:00 PM [Doors open 06:00 PM]

For info contact: 614-799-2300 For more info Click Here

March Madness

And you thought March Madness was a basketball tournament--not for me! March, while in years past was a month of seemingly nothingness has turned into one of the busiest months of my life...

Where to begin....I started the month with spring break and a trip to visit one of my very best friends and favorite people--Misty Rose! It was an amazingly, refreshing trip with many moments of sheer bliss. The week flew by much quicker than I wished it had.

Andrea & Misty on the Flint River

My return home was filled with writing papers, reading Great Expectations and Billy Budd, Sailor, writing more papers, and somewhere in there, studying and taking mid-terms (let's not forget the work that piled up on my desk at the office while I was away for a week : - } ).

This past weekend was another busy weekend. I served as a chaperone for the youth group at our winter youth retreat - Blizzard. It was an amazing weekend--it always is. And like most years, I left feeling encouraged, strengthened, and blessed to have the chance to be a part of something so cool.

The speaker this year mentioned the verse that says without a vision the people perish and how God gives us small glimpses of that vision, but we never get to see the whole picture because we would not be able to comprehend the things He has prepared for us. Then, today at church, we were privileged to have missionaries from Tijuana, Mexico share with us. I was so touched by their story....basically they had believed God had called them to full-time missions, but it took 10 years for them to see that vision come to fruition. They also mentioned the same verse about vision that our speaker at Blizzard talked about, with many of the same ideas.

This weekend I was once again reminded that God keeps His promises. If He has given you a dream, it will come to pass--in His time. This was a message that I felt like God has been speaking to me for some time, and it was confirmed this weekend in every way. I am so grateful, and thankful that I know I can trust God...He knows my heart's desire, and I know that I am where I need to be until that day comes when I can see my vision (and your vision) fulfilled.

American Idol Recap

I realize that my last post was rather lengthy... I'll try to keep this brief! :)

So, American Idol. I confess. It is my guilty pleasure. Although, I don't know why I have to say it's a guilty pleasure. I am not ashamed that I like a show that offers people with talent a chance to make something of themselves. I think it's pretty cool.

So, at first I was kind of annoyed with the change in format this year. It seemed unfair that people basically got one shot in front of America to impress them; however, after tonight's results, I can say that I am proud of the American public. In my humble opinion, the three most deserving people made it through tonight.

****SPOILER ALERT***** Read no further if you have yet to watch the results show.

The first three of the top twelve:

1.) Alexis Grace - for sure, the only deserving girl of the night.

2.) Michael Sarver - maybe not his best performance, but this guy has heart!

3.) And my current favorite contestant, Danny Gokey. Gotta love this guy's voice and his story...

Not quite sure how this wild card thing is going to go, but if I had to pick from the remaining contestants of this group of twelve, my vote goes for Ricky Braddy - great voice - nailed his song.

Congrats, and may all of the top twelve be as deserving as these three.

Valentine's Day Revisited

So, I have a dear friend, who will at times, find a letter that she wrote to me months ago, and will still send it even though the news might be old...and I love it! That's how I feel about this post. However, it is only about a week old, but I wanted to post it anyway...

I have had some memorable Valentine's Day moments, not by choice, but what do you do. It has been an up and down day in my life, but here are some thoughts and memories:

Looking back on my life, I remember being about 15 or 16. It was Valentine's Day morning, and I heard a knock on the door. It was a flower delivery man with a beautiful bouquet of flowers-I can't remember exactly what they looked like, but I do remember thinking, "How cool. A secret admirer!" Obviously, I had been reading too many chick lit books! You can imagine how an uncool, shy kid like myself would be pretty stoked about the idea. However, that dream was quickly shot down when the flower man said, "Are you Jessy?" That was when I realized that the flowers were not for me, but for my gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed best friend (at the time)/neighbor. "Of course," I thought to myself...it all made sense!

After that Valentine's Day, I normally spent the day in depression with Pride & Prejudice playing on a loop, non-stop.... okay, maybe it wasn't that bad, but you get the picture.

A few years of that went by, when I felt like God really spoke to me about Valentine's Day. He reminded me that it was a day He made... I'm supposed to rejoice and be glad in it regardless if I got flowers or if I spent the day alone watching Pride & Prejudice. What mattered then, and what still matters, is our love for Him and His love for us. We have a daily choice to make, will we love Him? Will we rejoice no matter our circumstances?

After that epoch/epiphany, I made a choice to enjoy my Valentine's Day regardless of how I spend it....

Last year after my epiphany, my embarrassment level reached an all-time high when the men's music fraternity at Muskingum came to our office to sing for the President. Much to my chagrin, she was not there, but I was. The guys then asked if they could sing for me instead. What could I say? As all six of them proceeded to get down on their knees, hand me a rose, and basically see me turn multiple shades of red, I would have to say that was one of the most memorable Valentine's Day experiences I have ever had. Thankfully, this year the President was in the office!!

This year was probably the best V-Day I have had in awhile...one of my friends has been down in the dumps lately...so we went to the movies, saw a chick-flick, laughed our heads off, enjoyed delicious food at the Forum, and found some great clothes on sale!!! Granted, I have done similar things with other friends on Valentine's Day, but what made this day special was the chance to participate in something that Pastor Burt just talked to us about on Sunday--fellowship. In Ecclesiastes, we are reminded to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and to mourn with those who are mourning, and I think that is all a part of fellowship. I was able to share in my dear friend's sadness, and hopefully, was able to help her turn her mourning into rejoicing--at least for the day.

Here's to another Valentine's Day--may they live long and be as prosperous as the one we just shared.