Thoughts from a Pretty Place

A couple of weeks ago, some of us packed up some blankets and mattresses to go sleeping under the stars one last time together before we part ways for the summer. Our favorite spot is a landmark called “Pretty Place.”

For those of you that aren’t cheering at the very mention of its name, Pretty Place is a stone chapel that was carved out the side of a mountain. We like to climb out on its ledge and sing and tell stories all night, then watch the sun rise the following morning. On my last time following through with this precious tradition, I couldn’t shake a heavy sadness that made me feel I would never have moments like these after leaving Clemson.

God has called me to move on to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and preparing for that has been scary and painful and just plain out of my comfort zone!

So there I was, waiting for the sun to rise. Now. When you are sitting on that rock in Pretty Place, let me make two things clear to you.

One. During the night, you cannot see anything but the sparkling city lights to the right, and of course the moon.

I remember sitting there almost wishing that the sun would not rise so that the last camping trip would not be over so soon. Imagine! Wishing for a sunrise never to come! I stared at the glittering town below, the stars in the sky, the moon. I didn’t want that to go away because I would never see it like this anymore. I’m moving away from Pretty Place.

I always have this creepy imposing desire to make time stand still. I told myself that I was being awkward and needed to just enjoy the morning like everyone else, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want the sun to rise! I didn’t!

Two. When the sun finally shows its first flame on the left, it illuminates the entire valley, revealing a view with tons more depth, distance, and best of all, colors! As soon as this landscape was revealed, I felt even sillier for wishing it wouldn’t come. Now I could see how high up we were. I could see all the little hills and trees, and the sky turned all kinds of beautiful!

God designed my personality to be very passionate and appreciative of every moment I spent with those I love. I know this. I come from a very emotional family and am easily the most nostalgic, sentimental girl you will ever meet. However, sometimes I think Satan uses that to make me fear the loss of the stars so much that I miss the sunrise. Arkansas is the next part of my life. For all I know, the things I’ve learned in Clemson are merely the basics. Don’t get me wrong. Stars are breathtaking, and the night lights are mesmerizing. But there’s so much depth in my life that I can’t see yet, and I know it. Perhaps God is bursting at the seams to ignite the sunrise in my life, and all I can think of is trying to freeze time. How shameful.

I don’t know if any of you struggle with “moving on,” but I fear it very much. God revealed to me at Pretty Place that life is far too beautiful to waste time on those sorts of anxieties when all He wants to do is show you a brighter, more profound exquisiteness than the one before. Class of 2009 [and Erin], let’s pwn this year! That’s what He’s saying, I bet. ^_^

This is the city to the right I was telling you about! Suzy took this photo. Well done, Sue!

 

Now imagine this. Plus INFINITY more watts of prettiness!!!Praise the Lord that the sunrises anyway.