So this week is my last ever Christian Union as a student at Oxford Brookes. And those who have seen me in the last few weeks know that I've been a little emotional about this, so I wanted to take the time to explain why this is. Although I do have a blog, I wanted to share with people what Christian Union means to me and Facebook felt like a much bigger forum for that.
Being a Christian doesn't mean that your life is easy. Having a personal relationship with God doesn't mean that you therefore follow a bunch of rules and you become a goody-two-shoes and nothing bad happens. Life isn't always good and you need people around you to lean on during that time.
University is a huge time of transition and change. For me it included having panic-attacks in halls, learning how to be a student whilst still living at home, it involved multiple placements both good and bad for a course that by nature is very hard emotionally, learning to leave the world of social work behind at the end of a work day.
It has also been a time of discovering what an amazing support Christian Union can be.
In my first year I had a small group of friends within CU, friends that I'm still incredibly close to now, and as I learnt to stand on my own two feet at uni there were some great older members in the CU who guided me and supported me.In second year my friendship group widened and I made an effort to pass on the guidance to the new freshers. I also joined the exec committee which was exciting.
In third year I made new friends still. I worked hard to try and bring glory to God by helping to organise events and pastorally support the CU, before handing over to a brilliant new exec who I know will continue to serve God through this work. I learnt alot and had a good time doing it.
Throughout it all I have gained some wonderful friends. Friends who were there every Wednesday and lots of days in between, who I knew would be there any time I needed to talk, who I could debate big questions with and go for drinks with and would be there and accept me no matter what.
Friends who were there to laugh with me, friends who backed me up when I was trying to talk to non-christians about God, friends who held my hand and hugged me when I cried...friends who held me up when I could not hold myself.
I hope my friends, old and new, know how much I value them and how incredibly grateful I am for their unwavering friendship.
Churches are there for teaching and guiding, Christian Union is there for friendship, support and doing mission together.
Oxford Brookes Christian Union is great. They have more members every year, their mission is growing and their faith is astounding. If you aren't part of this family then please let me encourage you to find out about it for yourself.
Christian Union is a group of christians who share the same faith as I do, who are there to support each other and socialise with each other. I am so grateful for the group I have known- they are genuine, kind, generous and loyal, and that is why I am sad to leave them.
They have encouraged me, held me accountable, and loved me unconditionally.
I LOVE Christian Union and I will never forget them.
No comments:
Post a Comment