Session 1. Hudson Journal: My Education

| |my education I am in a place that will allow me to learn as much as |

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending

So If you ask others have I struggled well, they would probably tell you yes. Looking at my life from the outside, I seems to have it pretty together. I take on many task a father, a youth leader, a surgeon, an administrator (and now student) and remarkably get it all done. If you ask me, have I struggled well, I’d have to say, “ I am not so sure” I have many doubts and question. Sometimes God and I have some talks and they are not so nice from my end. But what does it mean to struggle well? I think of Corrie Ten Boone, what an amazing woman. She struggled well. She was a Christian survivor of the Concentration camps (read the Hiding Place to know more about her story) She wasn’t perfect. She certainly saw life in the concentration camps different than her sister Betsy who was much more accepting of God's will. In the end though she came to the realization that God was in control of all things and she was able to trust in him. While my life and struggles pail in comparison, I believe that life is a journey and it the struggles of life that help us to ultimately bring us around to full obedience and trust in God. Why did James in verse 2 of chapter one say to “count it Joy when you face trial of many kinds.” It is no because they are fun or enjoyable, but because of what the outcome will be. In the following verses. He goes on to say that trials develope patients and through patients we are made complete. It is when we realize this that we then can

To finally know peace and not all chaos equals happiness. I also hope to gain a closer relationship with God throughout this journey. I am close with him now, but as a Christian the Lord wants us all to grow in his word. He wants us to strive to be like Jesus. No, no one will ever be perfect like Jesus and God knows that, but he knows our hearts and knows just what we are trying to become. And most importantly, I hope to gain the self-confidence I have lost. After the college process comes to an end and I am well aware of how I will begin my future. I am sure everything will begin to fall in place. What if I do not achieve my goals ? I will continue to have faith because through my journey having faith was the main point, and because I do not accomplish my goals does not mean I will lose all that I have gained

My education offered me many amazing opportunities. Because of this, I plan to continue on with further studies. Above all, I have a drive to succeed and I truly value learning. Thank you for your

even struggle at time, but I never let my prayer and faith stop. As the months progressed, so did

Many things that we face in this life are just a testing of our faith and we must be willing and able to go through the challenges just like we would an obstacle course to reach the other side of it.

So Jesus declared to those who trusted in him, If you obey my teaching, you are really my followers ; and you may know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John

Walking this journey this week has driven me back to probably one of the best known passages of scripture in

Critical thought and popular culture taught me a lot about who I am. These realizations came from class discussions, learning my strengths, and even a little bit from reading Unlikely Disciple. For one, I didn’t know my strengths so that was super interesting and eye

life. I just want my life to be full of passion and understanding. I plan to be very nurturing in my

my lord and savior. Things in the past for me turned out not so good or should I say not as planned. Now

I believe that my future is reliant upon my education. I am confident that my future needs the skills gained by an education. I know

people in my life supporting me. Today I found strength though in how proud my parents