Taking a Break... Kind Of

It was break from some things, but not others.
Last weekend, I got a break, mostly, from worldliness. The setting of RUF Fall Conference presented an opportunity to press pause on the worries and distractions of life and focus on knowing God and fellowshiping with His people. After a quick 3-day school week, it was off to Chicago and a weekend filled with corporate visits. I got to take a break from the worries and stresses of work and study- but not from worldliness and sin.
It was a very fun and entertaining trip, don't get me wrong. Tripping to a beautiful city, staying in a nice hotel, visiting some exceptional work environments, and breaking off to sneak in a little sight seeing was just the break I needed. But along with that came some struggles. Suffice it to say, I felt alone in my pursuit of godliness this weekend. Normally, I have friends at Mizzou who face similar struggles in life, and I can battle through those struggles with them. But in Chicago, with a group of 24 other students (none of whom know Christ, I'm fairly confident in saying), it's quite difficult. Expressing frustration, putting others first (or not), or experiencing enjoyment- there seemed to be somewhat of a lopsided dichotomy between two lifestyles this weekend. The 25 of us are supposed to be some of the hardest working, exemplary students and people in the Mizzou School of Business. I saw students act unbecoming of this expectation on multiple occasions.
The temptation to join them was strong. The (empty) promise of satisfaction and the lack of accountability made it a very hard decision.
But I have to choose to find my satisfaction in Christ, not in worldly methods or habits. Christ calls me to become more like Him, not more like others or what they want me to be. It all comes down to a value judgment- whose approval do I deem to be of more value? I might lose the respect and acceptance of my peers because I don't spend my nights the same way they do. My rationale for that might seem foolish or narrow-minded. But I want to be more like Christ, not like them. In the end, my peers and friends won't even be around to accept or reject me. 

But God will. 
That's why I choose to follow Christ. His work on the cross guarantees His acceptance of me. If others' acceptance of me is based on my performance, I'll fail every time. How much more will I fail if God's acceptance of me is based on me?
But praise the Lord it's not. Christ obeyed perfectly, even though I don't. I know for certain God sees Christ's righteousness when He looks at me, and that's all the satisfaction I need.
This weekend was a chance to press pause, but also a chance to continue. A chance to continue to be a light in a dark room, a chance to display Christ to those around me. And I got to enjoy myself along the way.