Weekend of Reflection

May 1, 2010

Life works in funny ways sometimes. Today, it did just that. I was invited to spend the weekend in Lebo, Kansas at Ben’s sisters house. The plan was to attend the Indy and NASCAR races in Kansas City throughout the weekend and then return home to Manhattan on Sunday. I have grown extremely close to Ben’s family over the course of my three years of college, and I knew it was going to be a fun weekend.

But today, while sitting in the bleachers at the Kansas Speedway, something clicked. I’m still not quite sure what exactly it was, but I realized something. I was gazing out past the track, towards the east, and caught a glimpse of the Kansas City water tower. Yes it was just a water tower, and nothing about the physical structure really intrigued me, but it brought back a vivid memory from over three years ago.

It was that very same water tower three years ago that my dad and I made our first trip out to Manhattan. I remember driving with him as we were leaving the airport, still not extremely sure why I was even in Kansas City to begin with. Yes, I wanted to see K-State, but I remember clearly thinking during that drive that I honestly didn’t want to really go to school here in Kansas. I remember thinking that I really only wanted to go on the trip to spend some time with my dad. That water tower and the Kansas Speedway in the background is one of the most clear and vivid memories I have of our initial drive to Manhattan.

It was incredible to sit in the bleachers of the Kansas Speedway today and think back to that initial trip to Manhattan. To think that as we drove past the speedway, that I had no plans to attend Kansas State University. It is equally as incredible to think that I was sitting there with some of the most wonderful friends I have made in my life. Friends that I would never have made if my dad and I had not made a trip to Kansas City three years earlier.

Life works in funny, but absolutely incredible ways.

I feel lucky. Why did my dad and I make that trip three years ago? Why did I agree? Looking back, it was in no way my idea to make the trip. I was set. I had made my college choice, and in no way at all did I see my self going to school in Kansas, much less succeeding and falling in love with the school and the people.

Therefore, in no other way can I describe my feelings other than blessed. My life is so incredibly blessed, and every time I try to grab the reins by myself and control the outcome I realize that fate will guide my life itself.