You ever wonder how things could have turned out in your life had you made a different choice somewhere down the line? Do you wonder if life could have been different, for better or for worse? Would you be a better person with better circumstances? This is what I woke up thinking about this Saturday morning. Though I got up at 8:30am, I had actually lay in bed for a few hours just thinking about that very question that morning. I thought back on my past, on decisions made, opportunities taken, and opportunities lost. I considered how I would be different had I not gone to Johns Hopkins, had I still been at BAE SYSTEMS, or if I had even gone to medical school!

To be honest, I pondered on how I could have been married, engaged or even courting at this point. Yet the present reality of singleness confuses me on occasion. Could I have done something different in the past? Of course, my thoughts were not limited to relationships, but also included school. These days I find myself working my butt off trying to meet these deadlines, study for exams, and continue my research in the lab. This past week I've wanted to hurry up and get outta here. I actually had an interview for a job up in Boston which was pretty exciting (more on that later). But the point is, could my life be different right now had it not been for certain circumstances? I don't know the answer to that and I don't write this to throw a pity-party for myself, but God reminded me this weekend that the point is not changing the past, but living differently in the present.

This Sunday I skipped out on EV Free and went to ACC for church. I wouldn't have done so usually, but this week was Pastor Gaylord's first week back from his sabbatical. Since the man is a good friend to me, I wanted to show my support for him by coming to ACC this week. Although he did'nt preach, I was very encouraged by Walton's sermon on 2 Peter. To be reminded that Jesus is coming back soon helped me to keep an eternal perspective on life. Peter's second letter reminds the reader of some of the same things over and over. Since I so often forget about Christ in my life, Peter's words struck home to me.

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness."

Wow. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise". I had forgotten that God was the one orchestrating my life. That he has promised plans to prosper and not to harm me. I wish I could remember this always. Nice to know that there's a reason why I went to JHU, why I'm in grad school now, why I'm single, amongst many other circumstances in my life now.

Once again, humbled.