Jack Soule - Chosen #3

CNU Campus is a sacred place for me. It is the place where I came to faith in Jesus Christ and where I continue to grow in Him everyday with the utmost support from my brothers and sisters in Christ and the incredible community fostered here by ministries such as Intervarsity, Younglife, and Campus Crusade. CNU is a spiritual safe haven for me - home is more like Hell. I was raised in an atheist/agnostic home that had many voiced problems with the church. It was at home, in Northern Virginia, growing up that I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction along with many other problems. But I was saved by the power of the Cross. But let me explain with CNU is a sacred place with Lane's axioms. For the first axiom it couldn't get more clear than this: I applied to CNU, had no say over whether or not I would be accepted, got in, and after being rejected from JMU decided to come here. Personally, I believe that it was God's plan and He meant for me to come here, which would further validate the first axiom. CNU is most certainly a place that can be trod upon without being entered in my mind. Many people tour this campus daily completely unaware of what has happened in my life here and what God has done through me while on this campus. It is, for me, essentially like the Promised Land was to the Israelites. CNU is just an ordinary college campus - nothing special or spiritual about it. But because of the rituals I take part in here, it has become sacred. I go to Intervarsity every Thursday night to Worship Jesus, I lead a small group Bible study every Monday night, I get discipled by the Intervarsity staff worker, Eric Gambardella every Tuesday at 11, I meet with two of my small group guys going onto IV leadership next year every Thursday at 1. CNU, being my perceived spiritual safe haven, always draws me back - sometimes I just never want to think about the idea of leaving this campus - it is terrifying to me. Yet, I am also fully aware that the LORD is not limited to such a small place - He is not limited at all, and so when the time comes, I will be obedient and go where the LORD wills me to go. For example, though home is a place of spiritual death and discomfort to me (nobody in my family knows Christ), I am going home for the summer to spend time with them and hope to share the love of God with them. I know that no matter where I am and no matter how awesome I may think CNU is, God is much more awesome and He will work in me wherever I am.