A Summer Beyond

I wanted to take a moment to explain my blog's title and web address: "A Summer Beyond."

I decided to name it that because I think it fits my summer very well, since I will be spending my summer "beyond."

Beyond. Most obviously, beyond refers to the location of where I'm spending my summer. California's a long ways away from home, way beyond where I've traveled before. Beyond the Mississippi Rive and Rocky Mountains. Beyond the place I've called home for so long, and away from my friends and familiar faces.

Beyond. I'm definitely going to be pushed beyond my limits this summer. Working in the Food Service business isn't an easy job. It's long, hard hours, and sometimes stressful work. I'll be pushed to work and do things beyond my usual routine. Beyond what I'm used to doing. Beyond the familiarity of the work I've done before. But in that I also find comfort. It's nice knowing that I'll be expected to expand my knowledge under the instruction of a very well organized and experienced Registered Dietitian.

Beyond. This last one is more of a goal I've set for myself. Being that I'm not in a Christian environment this summer, I'm going to have to be personally motivated to spend time with the Lord in solitude. It's not built into my schedule like it has been in the past. If I want to continue to grow in my faith it's all on me this summer. I'm hoping to go above and beyond when it comes to learning about God and the Bible this summer. But what will be unique about this experience is the fact that I'm not submersed in a Christian atmosphere where you naturally get the opportunity to learn about God. At home and at school those are things that naturally happen. I get to go to church regularly. I get to go to bible study. I get to be surrounded by lots of encouraging Christians. But not here. And it's not that I'm in a bad environment, I'm surrounded by good people who love to work together and serve others, but without Christ being the center of the atmosphere, it's just a different feel.

So that's a little bit of insight into how I feel my summer's journey will be:

A Sumer Beyond.