Do what you love; love what you do.

Yesterday I woke up at 8:30a.m. I got ready for school and left earlier than usual to get to the library so I could reprint my paper, and Ryan's paper, because I had messed up on something the night before. I hurriedly got it done, then headed to my first class. Introduction to Behavioral Statistics. Woo. I halfway listened to the exact same thing I'd heard since my Freshman year - "To get onto a database you go to the library website..." - and I Facebooked. After that class was over I scadoodled over to my next class, Peer Counseling. I listened. I took notes. I participated- somewhat. And then I left. Taco Bell was my next destination where I obtained a #5, chicken, hard taco with no lettuce, large Pepsi and a 10% discount. Thanks Coker. I ate it alone and quite quickly. After all, it was 12:30 and I had to be in my next class at 1. I got back to Coker and went to my Counseling Children class. I took more notes. I participated. I spent a good amount of time slyly texting. The professor hates texting. But I was so bored. It was keeping me awake. After class got out I went to Sonic and got a lemon berry slush because it was happy hour. Then I went to work. I was the only person in my class, so it was a bit hectic, but nothing too bad. I had to be at a cookout for BCM at 4, but I couldn't leave work since I was the only person in my class. I left at 6:10 and got there around 6:20. The cookout only lasted until 7. I got a quick bite to eat, literally, and then it was basically over. I left Coker after cleaning up and got home around 8. Since I had gotten up that morning I had been wanting to ride Shorty. So, even though I was about to pass out from going, going, going, I got my horse and we went riding. I rode him for about 40 minutes. I loved it.

What was wrong with that day? Well, nothing I guess. Except there was no passion anywhere. No love... until I got on my horse. I like going to Coker. It's an awesome school. But I hate how much time it takes up. I feel like I never have time for God and that in and of itself is a ridiculous statement. It's like everything I do is busy work. There's no love in it. I feel like I'm learning things just for tests, and not learning them for the long run. I look forward to going to class because the professors are nice and sometimes we have fun... but I'm not passionate about it.

I prayed while I rode Shorty. Riding him was very calming. Lately my life has been go, go, go... and all I want to do sometimes is sit and read my Bible. Or sit in silence. Or just ride my horse for an hour. I just have to find the hour to do that. My mind is constantly going with money problems, family probelms, school problems. And all of the chaoticness in my mind causes me to push God further away in my schedule.

While I prayed, God began speaking to me. I began questioning whether or not psychology was what He has for me. I love horses. I love barrel racing. I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be when I'm on the back of a horse, watching a rodeo, or hanging out with friends who share those interests.

I have two friends that are passionate about two things. Kevin Thigpen is intensely passionate about music. God did not tell him, "Hey Kevin, it's great you love music... but I'd like you to be a dentist." Kevin is playing music, and as far as I know planning on having a career in music. And he's doing it for God. Emily Dornburg is very passionate about art. God did not say to her "Emily, you know, I'm glad you like art and expressing yourself... but could you either be a secretary or only paint crosses?"

When I first became a Christian, I thought that my career had to be focused only on Christians. To serve God you had to be a pastor, be a missionary, work at a church, or teach at a Christian school. I mean, I didn't see anything wrong with other professions... it was just that's what I thought I had to do. Well, God is now showing me otherwise. God gave me the desire to love horses and do things with horses. And instead of seeing that as a selfish thing, I'm beginning to see it as an inspiring thing. He put the want and the love inside of me. He knows that those things are what make me feel alive. None of my friends, besides Taylor Bell, ride horses, so I thought that that was God's way of showing me that's not what He wants for me. But I don't think anymore that it was Him holding me back.

So last night, as I rode my horse off into the sunset (literally), I decided I am going to break horses and train horses to the barrel pattern. I felt that for once, I was going to be doing what I was meant to do. I'm still going to finish my Psychology degree through Coker. I can be a counselor at a school or church or something of the sort until everything else falls into place. But I do not believe any longer that my focus in life is going to be placed on counseling. And I'm okay with that. I believe God's okay with that. I can still serve Him through horses. I will have so much contact with people. And I'll be active in other areas of ministry. I'll be doing what I love, and loving what I do. For God.