The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I guess in reality every day matches that description, but some days seem to do it a little more profoundly than others. Today is one of those days. Today I went and sat down in a classroom at UAH. That in itself is not unusual. I've given up hope of ever figuring out how many thousands of times I've gotten out of my car, checked to make sure that I had all the books that I needed and then headed into a classroom just hoping that I would be able to stay awake for the next hour or so. It's something that I've grown quite accustomed to over the last 11 years.

But today was different. Today I got out of my car a little lighter than usual. I hadn't spent a lot of time studying for the Western Civ final exam I had to take, but that didn't seem to matter as much as it once had. I found a seat in the classroom that I had never sat in before and I looked over my notes while waiting for the professor to show up. I answered the multiple choice questions quickly and efficiently, only pausing slightly at the few I didn't know. I read over the essay questions, realizing (with a sigh of relief) that I would be able to write about something I actually knew. It didn't take long to fill up six pages comparing and contrasting the rise of Christianity and Islam. And then it was over.

My last exam - my last class - as a college undergrad was over.

I walked out of the classroom and towards the elevator of Roberts Hall savoring every step - every smell - every peaceful moment. A journey that had started 11 years before had finally come to an end. No more sitting in a classroom wishing I was at home with my wife and children... No more putting children to bed and staying up until 1:00 or 2:00 AM trying to finish my homework... I'm done. It's one of those moments of realization that you just want to grab onto of not let go of for a while.

And so now I'm going to do just that. I'm going to go home and hug and kiss my wife and my son and my daughter and just rest. In this particular marathon of life I may not have finished in the top five, but, by the grace of God and the encouragement of my family, I have finally crossed the finish line.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..." Philippians 4:13