I have been running into a ton of people from my middle and high school days. At first I was bitter. I could easily hate a lot of these people for how I was treated by them in school. They may feel no remorse or even think they did anything wrong, but it would inevitably be my choice of what to do. Facebook, such a great place for that. A simple way for me to test the waters. I mean, I know that the likelihood of me becoming super close friends with these people is slim to none, but at least some of them could become friends instead of begrudged enemies. So I took the plunge...when I saw a familiar name on the "People you might know.." side of facebook, I'd think for a moment...wonder if I actually want to say hi to this person, and then if I did then I would click "add as friend" If they added me back, then I'd see where it would go.
I have forgiven all of the people from my school years. Maybe not to their faces, but that is not the point. In church I get told to forgive not once, not twice but seventy times seven times. I may not forget what happened in high school, but I have freed myself from carrying the burdens of what others thought of me. I feel secure in who I am and I wont let a single person change that in me. One specific person gave me hope on this matter. I don't know if she will read this, but Stephanie Bethel, if you do read this, I want to say thank you. I don't know if you realized how much it meant, but when you told me that you never hated me in school, it gave me hope for others. I may not have seen you since high school, but the fact that you take time to comment on things going on in my life is wonderful, and I greatly appreciate it. Your words helped me cross a bridge that took me years to face.
Next I'll bring up Job Corps. Those eleven months out of my life were so short yet held so much of my life. I met a lot of people, but I was in a very insecure part of my life. Friends that I could have been much closer to slipped away because of my attitude about life. i realize that now, but I am grateful for those that stuck with me, didn't chastise me or leave me. Again this has been a door that facebook has helped to keep open. Lately I have been looking back at my time at Job Corps and I miss it. I wouldn't go back to the rules again, I like my freedom, but I miss the things I learned there, I miss the people and the adventures.
I had Amy and Kasia there with me. They were my strength to stand up for myself. We had Bible studies together, wrote stories together, and had many geeky moments together. I could share anything with these girls, and still could if I saw them again. I miss them dearly. Our friendship truly lasts the test of time, we don't see each other often, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is how much we still matter to each other. I will soon take a road trip to see Kasia and hopefully Amy as well. Aisak, Furby, and Skittles together again at last.
Mariona has been another friend to last the test of time. Now we are in close proximity to each other and are hanging out again. I really treasure her friendship and cant wait to see where our Heavenly Father takes us upon the path He has set out before us. I think we will have a ton of fun together, having fun adventures and great stories to tell =]
As I add more friends on facebook from Job Corps, I get reminded of all the great memories I have. The holiday with Shawn and his sisters, mud wrestling and almost getting kicked out for it, duct taping my roommate, fat kid parties, watching the Green Mile and RENT a bazillion times....it was all fun, and I'll never forget it. The lessons I learned there are still coming back to teach me.
There are more people I could mention here, but I don't want to make this into another novel.
I'll part with a picture. One thing I miss from Job Corps is the sunset I would get to see....The coast had such beautiful sunsets.
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