Vanderbilt + Lately

My last few months have been deeply contemplative. Coming out of a professional work environment back into academia with people from all over the country/world has lent itself to 1.2 billion opinions and philosophies.

One might suggest that I struggle the most with my beliefs (I am pro-life, against euthanasia, and I believe the context of marriage from God is only between a man and a woman) among this liberal environment, which is true. However, my greatest struggle is found in the "rat race" and land of privilege I find myself in.

Recently, my pastor at Trinity Church Nashville has been preaching out of Isaiah. Many times we have discussed idolatry and often he has pushed us to consider idols in the world and most specifically in our lives. Mine: comfort. This little thing that I have worked SO hard for-from relationships, materialism, even what I do everyday has manifested itself in deep and ugly places. I came back to school to truly help people in their time of need and develop skills to take across the world to people who have no healthcare. However, when coming to this place and working hard, I also knew the implications of my salary, the people I would get to know, the circles I could "run in", etc. 

My pursuits here at Vanderbilt aren't wrong. However, I have been looking so intently at what I get or what I can do. The Lord is gently calling "it is not about you or your comfort." What a refreshing load off my shoulders. No matter how great (or really bad) my grades are, no matter how few or many times I get asked out (or truly what a desert of relationships I live in), or where I have practicum placement, I was not brought to the world for my comfort. Thank God for grace and mercy, for that is all we are promised. 

May my heart learn this and follow that total surrender and direction from Him are life, not a new red Volvo, tall husband, six figure salary with vacations to Tahiti. Not in gaining a PhD or becoming a professor. Not in (hopefully) adopting 6 kids and looking like an A+ mom. In in God and His sanctification. May I become "un-Vanderbilted" and open to where God leads...comfortable or not.