Over the course of a decade, some people change a little, some people change a lot. You, my friend, became a completely different person. I remember that you were pretty worried about the future, so I wanted to ease your mind a tad and let you in on a couple of things. Just to assure you it’s gonna be fine.
IRONY:
• Everyone knows you can’t draw. You blow chow when it comes to art. Funny thing is… you’re going to have to paint and draw on an almost weekly basis… for a job.
• You’re scared of preschoolers right now, so naturally you’re going to teach them at a day care. Don’t worry, none of them will eat their own poop. THAT will happen with a school-ager.
• Mom will one day be a fan of some of the same Christian rock groups she condemns right now. When that happens, feel free to rub it in.
• You currently hate coffee. 10 years later, you hate life when you can’t have coffee.
ADVICE:
• Stop wearing all those stupid bright orange shirts. You look like a dweeb. Seriously. And lay off the hostess cakes. You won’t miss them, I promise.
• When Caleb tells you to quit twisting his arm… quit twisting his arm. Or he’ll lock you out of the house.
• Invest in deer repellent for your vehicles.
• Pay attention in Spanish. It will come in handy. Chemistry, however, will not.
• Getting your cartilage pierced at the mall isn’t wise. The worker will get the gun stuck in your ear and make you hold the gun while she takes it apart… with the needle extended through your ear the entire time.
GIRLS:
• You think you’re ready to get married right out of high school. I’m still laughing over that one.
• Long distance… never works.
• Taking a girl to see Hostel is a bad, bad idea. That movie is nothing it looks like in the previews.
• When going on a blind date, bowling doesn’t work. When you’re bowling, she’s sitting. When she’s bowling, you’re sitting. Unless she’s ugly, then it’s totally ideal.
CHURCH:
• Believe it or not, you’ll eventually work at a church that isn’t Baptist (you heretic, you).
• I know you really want to be a choir teacher, and you definitely never want to work in church. However, God has different plans. One day you're actually gonna get paid to both teach kids, and teach others how to teach kids.
SURPRISE:
• I know it's weird, but in 2 years, your hair will be curly. I swear. Strangest thing ever.
• One day you and Tammie will be best friends. No, I'm not lying. And no, she's not forcing me to say this.
• You don’t like singing alone to a crowd of 30. However, you’ll find out you enjoy teaching alone to a crowd of 3,000. Who knew?
• You write for the school newspaper merely for kicks and giggles, but writing will eventually be an integral part of your career.
FYI
• When you get to college, you’re going to randomly volunteer for the first church you get an email from. The name of that church will be Far Hills. The direction of your life will totally hinge on that decision. The foundation of who you are and where you’re going to go will be laid at that place.
• One day, you’ll think you hear God’s voice telling you to go to Israel. You’ll immediately question whether or not it is His voice. It is.
• Your little boycott of Facebook will be short lived.
• Muslims scare you right now, because you listen to the news too much. But one day God will ask you to put down the picket signs and trade in that fear for love. You’ll find a new passion in bringing Christ to them by loving and befriending them.
COMFORT
• You won’t drive the family suburban forever.
• Mom quits asking to see your report card when you hit your senior year.
• You’ll still be in contact with your two favorite HS teachers, even after college is over!
• Cooking isn’t really that hard. Just don’t leave the burner on. And remember… when you burn the chicken… there’s always Subway.
I’d share more, but I don’t want to ruin any surprises for you. Enjoy the next few years. They’re going to fly by. Seriously. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!
Blessings!
26-year-old Michael
