bittersweet.

"what are you supposed to say about something

that you've dedicated your time and heart to for four whole years?"

^ first practice. gamma year.
^ clippers game. delta year.
^ vibe. epsilon year.
^ first practice. zeta year.

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this weekend was my fourth and final mcia retreat. for most of the time, i was feeling rather numb. it was surreal. i was in denial. i didn't know what to feel. i wasn't exactly sad because i'll still be around next year. i wasn't exactly overjoyed because of the realization that my time as a member of the team was coming to an end. i think the primary feeling i had was contentment. i was content with the experiences i gained, what i gave back, the lessons i learned, the friendships i made. im so undeserving and blessed that i had the chance to dance among passionate, wonderful people. mcia has been 4/5 of my college years.
mcia really has changed my life.

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our team motto "all love" often gets thrown around. i really hope by now you all understand what that implies and you are able to appropriately apply it. it's not just something we get stitched into our sweaters every year. love is so much deeper. all love = to..love..all. it surpasses circumstances, emotions, conflicts or situations. it's a love that doesn't make sense at times, but really... it's the only kind of love that has meaning.

i can't help but think about this kind of crazy unconditional love in God's unfailing love through the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus gave up his life in love and obedience to God and for the forgiveness of sins for all mankind. because we have sinned, we don't deserve that love. nonetheless, God gives us love, He allows us to love and provides us with those opportunities and people to share our love. because of Him, i've been able to face abundant trials and enjoy many blessings during my time with mcia. and without Him in my life, i would not even be able to recognize how unique and precious being on the team truly is. so thank you God for blessing me with this mcia family. i don't deserve them and, yet, through these four years, i have observed Your abundant goodness and grace through all the blessings i have encountered with them.

marlo's video message was on point
when he referenced from the Word of God:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[1 Corinthians 13:4-7]

now that's love.

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i actually made several drafts of what i wanted to write about regarding my experiences and current feelings about our beloved mcia, so these snipits of ideas are just a little preview. im just frazzled. (hopefully i'll be able to gather my thoughts and better articulate my feelings by the time i contribute to The Book). although i have a 1000001 things i wanted to talk about, it really kept coming down to these three things:

1) mcia, i am so proud of you.
2) mcia, thank you for everything.
3) mcia, i love you.

all love forealzies,
merody