Before Rachel had moved to Haiti, she attended UNT and lived at my house off and on for almost two years. When she got the job at Mission of Hope, it was hard to say goodbye however, I knew she was off to do amazing things!
This Christmas, Rachel flew in from Haiti to surprise me and my sister. She came to my Christmas Choir concert and when I saw her I ran up to her and started crying right before I had to go on stage. She spent Christmas Eve Dinner with me and my family where we had a candlelit worship service and read the story of the birth of Jesus.
When my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins left to go home, she took me to look at Christmas lights. I was relieved to finally get to spend some quality time with her again and that I had been “robbed” of the three years that I hadn’t been able to see her every day. However, little did I know that it wasn’t just getting to spend time together that made us close friends, but it was the journey of figuring out life, learning who we have become, and making each moment count no matter what had created an unbreakable bond between us not only as close friends but as sisters.
This Christmas, Rachel flew in from Haiti to surprise me and my sister. She came to my Christmas Choir concert and when I saw her I ran up to her and started crying right before I had to go on stage. She spent Christmas Eve Dinner with me and my family where we had a candlelit worship service and read the story of the birth of Jesus.
When my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins left to go home, she took me to look at Christmas lights. I was relieved to finally get to spend some quality time with her again and that I had been “robbed” of the three years that I hadn’t been able to see her every day. However, little did I know that it wasn’t just getting to spend time together that made us close friends, but it was the journey of figuring out life, learning who we have become, and making each moment count no matter what had created an unbreakable bond between us not only as close friends but as sisters.
From getting to spend more time with Rachel, it’s evident in her lifestyle and, especially relevant in today’s society, that being confident in yourself and making life meaningful no matter the circumstances makes your relationships with family and friends and experiences in life ten times better. In her blog, Rachel wrote that “life may be crazy sometimes & it might not always look like what I would have planned, but I’m unbelievably grateful for the journey & the Lord’s faithfulness in every step” (notice how she loves to use the ampersand and it makes her writing that much more unique). Sarah Mead, a blogger who I am recently following along with Rachel doesn’t write about religion however, she mentions in one of her blogs that “self-reflection is essential”. She describes that today, it is important to be willing to accept and admit weaknesses because only then will it improve your self-confidence and allow you to be comfortable with who you are and your role in life.
The idea of self-reflection is useful by being able to get in touch with your true feelings and grow closer to the people around you as they help you to become a better ”you”. Ideas like being confident in who you are definitely challenges society today because most people, especially young adults and teenagers are dependent on the thought of being self-made and making your own rules and society can’t judge you. However, this is not the case.
How I see it is that God put us on this earth for a reason and we all have dreams about who we want to be but if we don’t take a step back and figure out what our intended role is, we will never be content with ourselves and never be able to live up to our full potential. Religion isn’t rules it’s just God wanting to protect us while we live out the purpose he chose for us. Because religion is so controversial, it is hard to accept self-reflection and living out your purpose in a Godly way because not everyone has the same beliefs and is allowed to choose what they want to believe.
To me, Rachel Durban, and Sarah Mead, it’s important to be in tune with yourself, reflect on your past and, emerge stronger from past challenges in order to move forward. Relating this to the beginning, as I have grown up around Rachel, I’ve realized how it enhances your relationships with people and yourself. She has become a lot more outgoing and exceptionally wise. It’s through experiences like learning wisdom from Rachel that I will be able to tell more people about how it helps to understand God’s plan for your life and realize that understanding who you are and why things happen for a reason makes you a stronger person and allows you to live your life to the fullest according to his plan.
- Alanna
Citations:
Sarah Mead's blog
Rachel Durban's blog
The idea of self-reflection is useful by being able to get in touch with your true feelings and grow closer to the people around you as they help you to become a better ”you”. Ideas like being confident in who you are definitely challenges society today because most people, especially young adults and teenagers are dependent on the thought of being self-made and making your own rules and society can’t judge you. However, this is not the case.
How I see it is that God put us on this earth for a reason and we all have dreams about who we want to be but if we don’t take a step back and figure out what our intended role is, we will never be content with ourselves and never be able to live up to our full potential. Religion isn’t rules it’s just God wanting to protect us while we live out the purpose he chose for us. Because religion is so controversial, it is hard to accept self-reflection and living out your purpose in a Godly way because not everyone has the same beliefs and is allowed to choose what they want to believe.
To me, Rachel Durban, and Sarah Mead, it’s important to be in tune with yourself, reflect on your past and, emerge stronger from past challenges in order to move forward. Relating this to the beginning, as I have grown up around Rachel, I’ve realized how it enhances your relationships with people and yourself. She has become a lot more outgoing and exceptionally wise. It’s through experiences like learning wisdom from Rachel that I will be able to tell more people about how it helps to understand God’s plan for your life and realize that understanding who you are and why things happen for a reason makes you a stronger person and allows you to live your life to the fullest according to his plan.
- Alanna
Citations:
Sarah Mead's blog
Rachel Durban's blog