iCarli

One of my biggest blessings I had on the trip was the friends that turned into family. Spending non-stop time together forced close bonds that we were all very grateful for. Being away from normalcy and family can be very difficult. While being in such amazing places, I still felt homesick. My friends on the trip always made me feel comfortable and safe no matter where I went. I was also able to create some of my greatest memories with some of the greatest people in some of the most beautiful cities. Being able to share experiences with people you love makes the experience a thousand times better.

Reflecting back on my trip abroad, one of the most impactful places we visited was Mars Hill. There were many sites on our trip that were historically significant, and I purposefully made sure that I soaked in the moment and cherished it. So when I stood on Mars Hill, I was able to stand there and realize how significant that moment was. I was able to gaze at the beautiful view that surrounded me on that mountain top and still look at where my feet stood. However, listening to Dr. Edwards give a lesson on Paul made everything seem surreal. I was in a beautiful and historic site, but also, in a place significant to my faith. Studying the life of Paul and being able to see his faith in action, made my faith grow as well. Faith is not what you see, but the sight of Mars Hill gave me encouragement in my faith.

The idea of Heaven is a comforting thing. Humans find comfort in thinking of the “next life” and thinking of a “good place.” A place where they are free from the troubles of this world and they can leave it all behind. However, Hell is seldomly thought about; it’s a scary thought and people choose to ignore the thought of it. The thought of an eternal place of punishment is not something that individuals enjoy to reflect on. People do not like to think of the repercussions of their actions. However, in the play No Exit, three individuals are faced with the consequences of their actions. The question is: what were their actions? Did they receive the just punishment? Someone can try as they might to deceive others, but can someone truly deceive himself?  What is self-deception? It is when an individual allows oneself to believe in something that is false to make them feel better. The characters in this play have all committed sins or wrongdoings that led them to where they ...

One thing constant in our lives is change. Sadly we have had so much change happening in the world during this time. For me, I was on my trip of a lifetime and suddenly, packed my bags to return home sooner than expected. I went from traveling all over Italy to quarantined in and RV in my parent's driveway. During the time we are in, many people have had their plans changed. One thing I have realized during this confusing time is how lucky I really am. Most of the time, we see our blessings as big vacations we get to take, our nice cars, or new phones. However, our blessings are found in the little things: hugging friends, going out to eat dinner, and sitting in a crowded church. My change of scenery is difficult, but I choose to focus on my changing of mindset and focus on counting my blessings.