Different from Our Expectations

At the regional speech and debate tournament in May the tournament director read a letter from a person who had judged at the tournament. In the letter the judge had written (among other things) that he had come to the tournament expecting a bunch of unruly teenagers, and been surprised by the professionalism and maturity that the competitors had.

Sometimes in life we expect one thing, wish for one thing or want one thing and God gives us something completely different. At the beginning of this year I wasn't expecting to go to nationals, and if I went to nationals I figured would probably go in debate because I hadn't a chance in speech. Well, whadya know, I made it to nationals. Three guesses what I qualified in. Yup, speech and my dramatic interp at that. Me, the girl who was not meant to do well in all types of speech, especially the interps. God sure has a sense of humor, and He is also very good.

But apart from just debate, there have been other areas in my life where I have expected or wanted a particular thing and God has surprised me with something else. Something that I have realized is better. One area of this is my college. This year I applied for two colleges, Hillsdale and the UNO. I really really wanted to go to Hillsdale. It was a good college, I knew I would be challenged there, I could get a good scholarship and I already knew a bunch of people going there. I didn't get in, I got into UNO instead. A college I only applied to after I found out I wasn't going to Hillsdale so that I wouldn't be stuck taking classes at a community college.

But looking at things now, I am very glad I'm not going to Hillsdale this year. Yes the school is good, but the classes are hard, and I don't know if I would have been ready for them. Yes there was a good scholarship, but I'm able to go to UNO pretty much for free and I won't have to take out any loans. Yes I have friends going there, but I now get to stay home with my family and friends here. I can still work with the debate club, judge tournaments and get used to taking college classes without having to go so far from home. I still want to try and transfer to Hillsdale after I finish this year at UNO and I really hope I get in. But I know if I don't, it will be for the best.

So yes, sometimes in life we get what we don't expect and because God is in control it is often better. The judge who wrote the letter had gone to the tournament expecting normal teenagers, and he was surprised for the better. He also wrote that he had gone simply expecting to judge a couple of rounds, but he came away with a conviction to go back to church and re-explore the Christianity he had abandoned. Sometimes what is better, is different from our expectations.

-Nat