HALLELUJAH

Summer is here. I am so excited for summer to finally arrive for me. For those of you who truly know me, you know that for me Summer is not so much a period of sunny days and relaxation, but rather a much more meaningful experience that is more metaphorical and dramatic than a simply vacation from school.

To me, the summer is a celebration of life. A celebration of friendship. To sum everything together, to me: summer is a celebration of community that strives towards the actualization of our mortality and of our immanent life in Christ.

Summer, that celebration of our youth, has started.

I spent yesterday night in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd beneath the Hollywood sign as my roommate Kellen played guitar at Rainbow Bar and Grille (fortunately not a gay club as I had worried when I first heard of it), a sweet little venue next to the Roxy. As he played guitar and all our friends were gathered around I couldn’t help but feel alive in that moment. How fortunate we all are to have life abundant, life that is powerful and wonderfully strong. I love my friends, I love community, and I celebrate life in Christ. When we are aware of our mortality and the gift of eternal life that Christ offers us, our lives take on a sweeter taste. We live better--with more courage and boldness to be alive than ever before.

And the only word that can cross my mind is the hebrew word that means ‘God be praised.’

Hallelujah.