"Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord"  Psalm 119:1

As I look back on my summer in DC, this scripture really speaks to me.  As I come nearer and nearer to the end of the summer, I have a heart full of happiness.  Part of it is because I am leaving DC and returning home to my family and friends.  Part of it is because I have had  a great summer and had a chance to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones.  But a greater part of it is because I leave here with a greater sense of who I am as a person, or more importantly, who I want to be.

I realize that in the first few weeks of summer, I was not a happy person.  Sure I had a full social calendar.  Every weekend was planned and most week nights included some form of event.  Sadly though, almost every weekend lacked time for worship.  And basically every night passed by without me reading scripture.  While I won't go into the sordid details, I realized at one point this summer that what I was doing with my life was completely against God's will, and a total violation of God's law.  I was focusing too much time on my happiness here on earth, very little time on my eternal happiness, and as a result, was living a miserable existence.  So how then did I make this change, and how do we change ourselves from spiritually lacking to fulfilled people?  By remaining pure to God's word and following his law.

"How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word and following its rule."

-Psalm 119:9

I realize now I was not following God's law.  And as a result of lacking God in part of my life, Iw as lacking God in all of my life.  You may be a better person at this than me, but for me, it's all or nothing.  I either have to live a life that exemplifies my faith all of the time, or none of the time.  Anything less just drives me crazy!  Now I will admit, I sin, quite a bit in fact.  But the great thing is God offers us forgiveness.  I know that I am not full of only pure thoughts and actions, but by making a conscious effort to be a person of purity, we come closer to mirroring God's love and hope for the world.

This summer I have had my own personal problems.  Missing home, having a rocky relationship with a friend, learning my way around a big city, looking temptation in the eye and saying no.  But I've also had some of my greatest triumphs.  And more than anything, I am truly blessed to have been able to grow as a person and as a Christian.  I leave DC in two weeks.  I leave with a greater understanding of myself.  I leave with a greater understanding of how our country works.  I leave with a greater understanding of God's will.  And I leave reborn in a sense in terms of my faith in God and in people, my hope that all will know and follow God's plans he has made for us, and my love for my family, my friends, and my all powerful God who is always there.