sooner or later

The most incredible thing happened this past weekend.


I met Mat Kearney. (And if you aren't familiar with this wonderful singer or his music, please go check him out.)

I wasn't even planning on going to the concert at first. I thought it would be cool, but wanted to save money for spring break instead (I know it was only 10 bucks, but give me a break I'm a poor college kid) Once I found out more of my friends were going and someone offered a free ticket on Facebook, you bet I changed my mind and snatched that puppy up. 

And wow. His stage presence, his crowd interactivity, his authenticity - it was magical. He cracked jokes, he made up a song on the spot about performing at Harding, and he brought up the guy in the seat behind me (RIGHT IN THE SEAT BEHIND ME) on the stage to play the drums with him.

And then, in the middle of "Runaway" (only my favorite song of his EVER) he leaps off stage and into the crowd and next thing I know he's right in front of me and I'm reaching out thinking, I need to touch this beautiful man. Something. Anything. And then my hand connected and I realized I had just accidentally touched his butt. My new claim to fame here.

After the concert we were disappointed to find out he wasn't doing a meet and greet, but got the crazy idea to run out to his tour bus and wait for him. We waited and waited and were told to please go away and we weren't allowed to take pictures, and then suddenly the man of the hour himself walked outside, saw the group of people standing by his bus and immediately came over to say hello. Wow.  I could have sat down and talked with this guy for hours, he was so friendly. It was dark, and he wasn't really smiling in the picture (he was really happy I promise, it's not like I told him I touched his butt)  but we got our picture.

But this night got me thinking...what if I pursued God the way I pursued Mat Kearney? (Okay hear me out before this gets weird.)

Those thoughts I had, I need to touch him. Something. Anything. What if that were my prayer everyday? To live each moment desperately seeking Him out and wanting His love and mercy poured over me every moment?

Psalm 105:4 says, "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"

Also, look at Philippians. The whole book. That's my new challenge, to read Philippians everyday. It's my favorite book in the Bible. It may be short, but it's got everything there - and I get something new out of it everytime I read it. 

Well I wish I had more inspirational/spiritual/thought-provoking words for you today. But that's pretty much it.


I just want you to know, future Rachel, that sooner or later you're going to get where you're going. Just keep pursuing Him along the way.

my harding bucket list

 So I go to school at Harding University.

And the thing people asked me when I first started coming here was...what do you do? I mean, you're in Arkansas. In the littlest podunk town called Searcy. Where it seems the most exciting thing to do on a Friday is make a Walmart run, stop by the Goodwill (official brand of Harding students) and hit up Sonic happy hour on the way back. All conveniently located on the main road in town, our beloved Race Street.

But there is so much more, my friends, let me tell you.

Spend a few months on campus here and you'll slowly discover the treasures that wait for you in Searcy, AR.

Here's my bucket list of the crazy/adventurous/weird/amazing things that I've been working on. Some are Harding related, others are around Searcy/Arkansas. Some are great for your body or mind, and some are just plain ole good for your soul.

1. Visit Treble the Zonkey in Kensett 
2.  Rock climb at Zion
3. Jump off the cliffs at Heber Springs
4. Thrills on Wheels roller skating. (It sounds cheesy but do it.)
5. Go to the White County Fair
6. Climb Sugarloaf...at Sunrise
7. See the Living Nativity during Christmas time
8. Go ballroom dancing in Little Rock
9. See a $2 movie at the Rialto
10. Play in a corn maze
11. Reach the top of Pinnacle Mountain
12. Hang out at local events - Get Down Downtown
13. Stay up all night for Relay for Life
14. Go camping somewhere. Anywhere.
15. Little Rock River Market
16. Run a 5k Glo-Run or Highlighter Run
17. Searcy Super Bowl. Yes, the bowling alley. 
18. Two Stepping in Heber with the precious old folk
19. Eat at KJs, Maddies, or another local dining place. Become a regular.
20. Get some puppy lovin at the Searcy Humane Society

More than this list, one of my favorite things about coming to Harding has been the opportunities it gives; for me, this means the opportunity to grow spiritually, to travel, to learn more about myself and about the world around me. I'm not the person I used to be in high school. I'm not even the same person I was when I came here, or when I went to Greece. Everyday is a learning experience. And I never imagined it would be like this. I never knew I could be so loved and find my home away from home in a place like Searcy.

Don't limit yourself here. Branch out. Say yes to new adventures, to meeting new people, to absorbing everything around here. Because sooner or later, you'll wake up to your junior year wondering where the time has flown.

never completely home again

 I once read this beautiful quote:
 

How true is that? Some days I wake up and wonder how it's possible for my heart to be in so many places and just not shatter into a million pieces. I've been so blessed with the opportunity to connect with so many people of different races, ages, religions, backgrounds, and cultures all over the world.

This week especially has made me particularly thoughtful. Steven Shaner, my advertising teacher bumped into me in the Reynolds building (where I practically live this semester since 80% of my classes are there) and he said, "Hey Rachel! What are you doing at 4 on Tuesday? Wanna help with my Chinese class?"

The rest is history now. I went to the student center with a friend at 4pm, not really knowing what to expect. Shaner introduced all of his new students to me and they all smiled brightly and waved back. Their assignment was to walk around campus and introduce themselves to 10 new people and get their signatures, and my job was to help them out. Shaner gave me three students to walk around with, a boy and two girls named Jackie, Nicole, and Spring.

I just can't even explain how much I love hearing people talk about their passions. Even in broken English.

If you've ever heard of/read Humans of New York (HONY), you'll understand what my new dream job is. HONY captures images of everyday people around the city and just learns about them. Sometimes they ask the people questions about life, where they're going, what they're wearing. Other times they just let the people talk about themselves. They document these encounters in the most beautiful blog and share it with the world. How beautiful is that? (follow them on Facebook here)

Anyways, that's what I felt like I was doing as I walked around with Jackie, Nicole, and Spring. In the short time I was with them, I was able to learn so much about their personalities, their hopes and dreams, their ideas of American life and how similar and different we are.

Jackie, Me, Shaner (photobombing) and Nicole

Jackie: "I will be international businessman. My grandmother gave me my Chinese name because it means luck and she wants me to have a better life."

Spring: "I am studying Chemistry. I love to make explosions! I also like swimming and play the lute."

Nicole: "I study to be an accountant. That's hard, no?" *me nodding and saying I could never do that* "My father wants me to do that, because he is an accountant too. But I just really want to be a pianist."


It was really great timing that a lot of my friends were in the student center and I was able to introduce them to people that have blessed me in some way here during my time at Harding. After they got all their signatures, we joined another group and just sat and talked, which was my favorite part.

Jeff, Sharon, Thomas, Connie, Jackie, Me, Spring, Nicole, and Jessica (this picture was taken by Shaner and Jessica requested her face be cut out. She's truly a beautiful soul too.)

Chinese students LOVE the show Friends. And if you don't know me at all, my sophomore fall was dedicated to watching every episode of it. So we were instantly connected on that level.

We then asked several of them if they had boyfriends/girlfriends back home.
Jackie: I do, but Jef doesn't.
Jeff *shaking head*: Yeah I don't have one.
Jessica to me: Do you have boyfriend?
Me *laughing*: No, I don't.
Jeff  *in perfect Joey impression*: "Hey, how you doin?" (I died laughing at this point)


 Nicole also asked me if I liked the show Gossip Girl, and I squealed because I do (guilty pleasure). Then she said to me, "So you watch the Gossip Girl? Your smile is so bright and nice! You look like that girl Serena!"

I feel like that's so not true but that completely made my day and had to share it on Facebook.

Nicole and I then talked about how we wanted to cut our hair and agreed to do it together, we took a few more pictures and then they invited me to their Chinese New Years party the next weekend.

 I arrived late (more on that later) to the party on Saturday with my suitemate Alli and was super disappointed when I saw lots of people leaving. We decided to venture inside anyways and saw Shaner and most of my new friends still inside! They loaded us up Chinese dishes and rice and dumplings and drinks and hugged on me and Alli. So much love.

Nicole, me, Alli, and Sharon. Turns out Sharon was a TV host of some sort back in China. Also you can't tell in the pic, but Nicole's leggings have cats on them. We're going to be best friends.

I was late to the party because I went to the Searcy Humane Society for the first time and just fell in love. We walked dogs, played with puppies, teased the cats. Purrrrrfect.

I've missed some puppy lovin in my life without my weenie dog and Sugar! Hopefully I'll be able to go again soon. How can you resist these beautiful faces?!

Anyways, this post has turned way longer than I planned, but hey. The blog demands and I give it what it wants. Hopefully as I write more I'll figure out how I want the layout.

Moral of the story: this weekend my heart stretched out so much more. I'm definitely never going to be completely at home again. And I don't want to be.

I may not be in Greece anymore, but I still hold the pieces of the Artemis with me; the boys next door I played soccer with, Yianna our laundry lady,  Vicki our Greek teacher, the cute old guys in the Plakka.

And I may not be in Nemo, Texas anymore, but I still treasure the memories I made at Steven's Ranch; late hammock nights and Sonic runs with other counselors, leading songs on the hearth, crying with my kids when they said they would remember me forever and miss me.

I pray that God keeps challenging me to reach out to others and that He takes me out of my comfort zone. Where He goes I'll go, where He stays I'll stay.

xoxo,
gossip girl Rachel ;)