Just Go

Let me take you back just a little bit through my college career leading up to where I am now as I am getting ready to go to Rome. Ever since I visited Geneva and heard about the Semester in Rome Program, I knew that I wanted to go. To me it was a no-brainer. Traveling to a culturally rich place, earning core credit, playing soccer, and eating pasta - what could be better! So, I took the prerequisite Humanities 103 class as a Freshman and enjoyed it because it made me think about life and what it means to be "human." For how much that first semester Humanities class stretched me, I knew that studying and traveling in Rome would make my Humanities experience even more enriching, and it was something I was looking forward to since day one.

Fast forward two years and here I am, on the cusp of finally going to Rome. I can almost taste it, but it still seems surreal. Over these past few weeks I've done a lot of thinking, I've asked for people's best travel advice, and I've done a lot of emotional reflection. Here's kinda where I'm at going into the trip:

Without a doubt, I'm excited. There's nothing muddled about that feeling. So what if I don't know the language, or if my best friends aren't going on the trip, or if I have to leave behind my comfortable niche at college. I'm going to Rome. Instead of just learning facts or reading from the great writers or about the architecture, I'm going to experience it. There is an inherent link between knowing and being. I am absolutely stoked about being in Rome because I know that it will be a transformative time in my life. God is going to use our group, class discussion and travel experience to open my eyes to how big His world is and all of the majesty that He's filled it with.

I have to confess that I'm a little anxious, I'm a home body and I'm hesitant to change. I like to be settled, have a schedule, and know how my week is going to go. Not that it's going to be hard to go to Rome (I mean really, it's going to be sweet), but the adjustment at first to the everyday idiosyncrasies of a non-American college lifestyle is going to be different. Growing in wisdom and knowledge often involves the unknown and often involves some element of risk. Even before I get into Rome, I'm sure there are going to be things that don't go exactly to plan, and when I'm over there, I can almost guarantee that I'll get lost or will have to throw my plan for the day out the window.

Even as I'm writing this I'm becoming less anxious and realize that I'll need to be flexible and depend on our leaders and God to take care of us. In my futile attempts to have all my bases covered, I've asked advice from my friends who have done the same program and friends who have traveled to Europe. I have greatly appreciated every single one of their words of encouragement, and I have written them down to remember for later. I've tried to "learn" as much as I could before I went, but in doing that, I've underestimated my faith and ability to learn by being immersed in the culture.

Now, I'm just ready to go. I mean...as ready as I'll be to go. I know that this is going to be an experience of a lifetime, but I have no idea of the incredible things that God has in store for me and how He's going to mold me. One of my friends told me to "forget everything, cling to God, and just go." So that's what I'm doing. I've said my goodbyes. My bags are packed. My passport is open. Rome awaits.

Jeremiah 33:3 - 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'