{"id":2157,"date":"2011-10-27T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2011-10-27T10:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mamamonk.com\/?p=2157"},"modified":"2011-10-27T06:00:55","modified_gmt":"2011-10-27T10:00:55","slug":"college-thankful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/michaboyett\/2011\/10\/college-thankful\/","title":{"rendered":"College Thankful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Welcome to Thankful Tuesday on a Thursday. I hope that\u2019s not terribly confusing<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

I spent the weekend at my college\u2019s Homecoming for my ten-year reunion. Now, let me explain something to you. I did not go to a school known for its academic rigor, though I learned plenty. I didn\u2019t go to a school that anyone has ever heard of, even in Texas, and especially not in the parts of the country I\u2019ve been living in for the past decade.<\/p>\n

But I went to the perfect school, the place where I was most able to be myself, where I was most loved and embraced and challenged to think and create. I went to a college that was kind and silly and small and full of music.<\/p>\n

I could write something long about the ways that being in a Southern Baptist university brought me to a point of frustration and doubt and discouragement at the state of Christianity in our culture. But I can just as quick recount the rich kindness of my professors, the sweetness of the culture of the students, the safety I felt in that place.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve taken Chris (Mr. Ivy League) to my campus before, but both times it was during the winter break, no students around, buildings locked. This past weekend I was thrilled at what he was going to see: my dearest college friends gathered in one room, my chance to serve as co-emcee for our reunion dinner. My emcee partner, Lex, and I were passionate (and ridiculous) karaokers in our former collegiate life so we made great plans to perform \u201cReunited<\/a>\u201d to kick off the class dinner. My husband was more than concerned. Every time I talked about it, he said, \u201cI\u2019m just not sure that\u2019s a good idea,\u201d while his eyes took on the look he saves for wanting to protect me from life\u2019s scariest people. He just knew that when we sang our former classmates would stare back quietly in disgust and horror.<\/p>\n

He had no idea that my college experience was a lot more like youth group than like college. His concern was brought up many times and I did my best to alleviate his fears. But I still saw it in his eyes Saturday night\u2026until Lex and I began to sing \u201cReunited and it feels so good!\u201d There\u2019s something about that place that allows for silliness. It was a wonderful night and my husband was all kinds of relieved.<\/p>\n

So, here\u2019s my list. Homecoming weekend thankful:<\/p>\n