Sadly, verbose words escape me as I try to encapsulate my thoughts for you and the impact your life has had for my entire life. How is it possible to sum up over seven decades of abundant life in the confines of these few paragraphs? I write this knowing that you cannot read this but hoping that through God, my message of immense gratitude find their way to you. I wish I could have told you this in person but I was too young back then to ever grasp the magnitude of the influence you had on my life.
Your devotion to the ministry has saved countless souls, converted thousands to a life of love instead of a life of sin. My own mother accepted Christ at a revival you lead some 40 years ago, long before she would know your name on a more personal level. I've seen her Bible given on the day of her salvation and have seen your name written just below hers along the "Pastor" line. At that time, only God knew that your last name would eventually belong to my mother as well once she married your son 7 years later.
As a father, you raised a man who I can safely say is the greatest father on earth. You showed him the meaning of fearing God, of raising spiritual children and of loving a family unconditionally. Not only did you give him life but you taught my dad lessons of fatherhood that he employed when raising my brother and me. Those same lessons have been passed on to us, lessons we both promise to give to our children such that your great legacy will continue. One day, I will sit down with my children and recount the memories I remember of you, read them the story you wrote which has brought me much comfort in life, tell them of the grandfather that spoiled me with praise yet taught me how to love like Christ.
Bailey Thompson, pastor, grandpa... Please know that even though I never said thanks in person, I mean it now more than ever.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Finally
Today marks the official beginning of my summer! As many know, my MCAT was yesterday from 1:30-6 and my organic chemistry II final was today from 2-5 (although I finished by 3:15). As of now, it feels as though a thousand pounds has been removed from my shoulders and I can finally breathe again!
Yesterday's test was unimaginably brutal although it is nearly impossible to access the damage until my scores come in during the middle of September. My honest predictions are that my range is 25-35, depending on lucky my educated guesses were. The verbal section, my bane over the past few months, came relatively easy to me and I sincerely hope that score was above 11 to help carry me because my bioscience score is going to be in the metaphoric gutter. I guess the pride of being a BIOmedical engineering (emphasis on the bio) stood in my way and those questions knocked me down a peg or two. Let's hope that my scores will at least keep me competitive and not remove all chances of medical school in my near future.
Thankfully, my final today was a confidence booster. During the first two tests, which we were alloted 2 hours to take, I usually needed about an hour and fifteen minutes; this supposedly 3 hours test took me all of an hour and change to finish and I feel confident about every answer, especially the free response. I am unaware as to why multiple choice always seems to humble me but my new goal this semester is to learn how to effectively take multiple choice exams! My A was definitely retained so my GPA will stay where it needs to be for the final push towards medical school. Now I cross my fingers and pray that my application is strong enough to at least warrant an interview.
This coming week could very well be one of the best in a long long time (excluding my trip to Europe because honestly, how do you compete with cheap French wine and amazing culture?!)! Sunday through Friday will be spent in Ft Worth with my family and a few close friends. For the first time in close to a year, the next seven days will be as lazy and unproductive as I can muster, with plenty of time lounging at a pool or cruising the mall, and very little time thinking about the future. Truly a relaxing week :)
My senior year cannot come soon enough. It is hard to believe that in less than one year's time, I will have a bachelors of science and (hopefully) begin classes at some incredible medical school. But all of this reminds me that life passes us by in a flash; all too often I find myself caught up so far in the future that I forget to enjoy the present and indulge in the wonderful gifts life has afforded me. So cheers to the next week being slow and prudent!
Yesterday's test was unimaginably brutal although it is nearly impossible to access the damage until my scores come in during the middle of September. My honest predictions are that my range is 25-35, depending on lucky my educated guesses were. The verbal section, my bane over the past few months, came relatively easy to me and I sincerely hope that score was above 11 to help carry me because my bioscience score is going to be in the metaphoric gutter. I guess the pride of being a BIOmedical engineering (emphasis on the bio) stood in my way and those questions knocked me down a peg or two. Let's hope that my scores will at least keep me competitive and not remove all chances of medical school in my near future.
Thankfully, my final today was a confidence booster. During the first two tests, which we were alloted 2 hours to take, I usually needed about an hour and fifteen minutes; this supposedly 3 hours test took me all of an hour and change to finish and I feel confident about every answer, especially the free response. I am unaware as to why multiple choice always seems to humble me but my new goal this semester is to learn how to effectively take multiple choice exams! My A was definitely retained so my GPA will stay where it needs to be for the final push towards medical school. Now I cross my fingers and pray that my application is strong enough to at least warrant an interview.
This coming week could very well be one of the best in a long long time (excluding my trip to Europe because honestly, how do you compete with cheap French wine and amazing culture?!)! Sunday through Friday will be spent in Ft Worth with my family and a few close friends. For the first time in close to a year, the next seven days will be as lazy and unproductive as I can muster, with plenty of time lounging at a pool or cruising the mall, and very little time thinking about the future. Truly a relaxing week :)
My senior year cannot come soon enough. It is hard to believe that in less than one year's time, I will have a bachelors of science and (hopefully) begin classes at some incredible medical school. But all of this reminds me that life passes us by in a flash; all too often I find myself caught up so far in the future that I forget to enjoy the present and indulge in the wonderful gifts life has afforded me. So cheers to the next week being slow and prudent!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Finding Peace
After years of searching for my lustrous pearl, I have finally found the inner peace longing to find its way to the surface. It had long been trapped under insurmountable piles of stress, pressure, anxiety, and ambition, leaving me constantly tired. My life has been easy thus far but by allowing serenity sit backseat to chaos, I have yet to truly start living.
Last week, at the suggestion of a close friend, I began spending 30 minutes a day quietly sitting in my room with relaxing music washing its tides over my mind. At first, my mind was unaware of how to cope with the calming sensation the waters of quiet brought with their surf; I sat in quiet as my mind raced to find images, thoughts, ideas, equations to fill the void. Unsatisfied with the first few minutes, I desired to turn the lights back on, boot up my computer and allow my normal routine eek its stressful way back into my life, but I persisted a few minutes longer.
Then it happened... The gears slowed, the thoughts cleared and I focused on a singularity of darkness in my mind. As I began to adapt to the serenity, everything began to achieve an order in my head and I was able to process my thoughts one by one. I meditated on my emotional extremes of the day and found their origins and solutions to prevent them from occurring again. The knowledge I had gained from studying that day solidified and became permanent; it sounds weird but I could see these events much like I see the computer screen now, only with my 'mind's eye' inside my psyche. When I came to some 45 minutes later, this peace that was once so distant had come closer and was in my grasp!
Over the past week, I have achieved a calm every day, usually just before going to bed and I believe that it has allowed God to place a hand over my anxiety and snuff it out. These two tests looming ahead no longer seem impossible; I believe in my skills, abilities, and knowledge now more than ever! It is a difficult concept to explain but the results are as clear to me as anything I've read in textbooks: for the first time in my life, I have found peace!
From here, I hope my life changes in positive ways. I long to obtain more control on my emotional whims to prevent them from dominating every facet of my life. My decisions should be more pointed, with a greater purpose; my goals are solid and will give me a firm foundation to trek over in the coming years. Everything tastes better now, down to the water and bread I have consumed almost every day for years. Smells are more vivid, colors have a brighter hue... Truly this must be what life is about!
God has given me a new edge but with it comes new responsibilities. Now more than ever, I am accountable for the consequences my emotional decisions bring. I must control my jealousy (especially with certain friends) such that I may take action to allow for their happiness, not my own. My blind ambition needs to help me reach goals to help people without hurting any along the way for the end cannot always justify the means. And I will do everything I can to insure that my knew-found joy in life through Christ and peace outwardly shows to my friends to allow me to love them more with each passing minute!
So I ask you to give it a try... meditate on the joys of life. Spend a few minutes in peace each day focusing your mind on the light within the dark recesses of your mind. Through that, I hope you may find the peace and joy that has been given to me!
Last week, at the suggestion of a close friend, I began spending 30 minutes a day quietly sitting in my room with relaxing music washing its tides over my mind. At first, my mind was unaware of how to cope with the calming sensation the waters of quiet brought with their surf; I sat in quiet as my mind raced to find images, thoughts, ideas, equations to fill the void. Unsatisfied with the first few minutes, I desired to turn the lights back on, boot up my computer and allow my normal routine eek its stressful way back into my life, but I persisted a few minutes longer.
Then it happened... The gears slowed, the thoughts cleared and I focused on a singularity of darkness in my mind. As I began to adapt to the serenity, everything began to achieve an order in my head and I was able to process my thoughts one by one. I meditated on my emotional extremes of the day and found their origins and solutions to prevent them from occurring again. The knowledge I had gained from studying that day solidified and became permanent; it sounds weird but I could see these events much like I see the computer screen now, only with my 'mind's eye' inside my psyche. When I came to some 45 minutes later, this peace that was once so distant had come closer and was in my grasp!
Over the past week, I have achieved a calm every day, usually just before going to bed and I believe that it has allowed God to place a hand over my anxiety and snuff it out. These two tests looming ahead no longer seem impossible; I believe in my skills, abilities, and knowledge now more than ever! It is a difficult concept to explain but the results are as clear to me as anything I've read in textbooks: for the first time in my life, I have found peace!
From here, I hope my life changes in positive ways. I long to obtain more control on my emotional whims to prevent them from dominating every facet of my life. My decisions should be more pointed, with a greater purpose; my goals are solid and will give me a firm foundation to trek over in the coming years. Everything tastes better now, down to the water and bread I have consumed almost every day for years. Smells are more vivid, colors have a brighter hue... Truly this must be what life is about!
God has given me a new edge but with it comes new responsibilities. Now more than ever, I am accountable for the consequences my emotional decisions bring. I must control my jealousy (especially with certain friends) such that I may take action to allow for their happiness, not my own. My blind ambition needs to help me reach goals to help people without hurting any along the way for the end cannot always justify the means. And I will do everything I can to insure that my knew-found joy in life through Christ and peace outwardly shows to my friends to allow me to love them more with each passing minute!
So I ask you to give it a try... meditate on the joys of life. Spend a few minutes in peace each day focusing your mind on the light within the dark recesses of your mind. Through that, I hope you may find the peace and joy that has been given to me!
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