Jacob B.
If you’re reading this, pause- and look up.
I’m a busybody. Always doing something, thinking about doing something, or convincing myself I am doing nothing while doing something (like staring a hole through my phone screen). It has gotten out of hand; just the other day, I found myself watching LinkedIn Reels. LinkedIn. Reels. I didn’t even know they had such a thing.
You might not be watching reels on your favorite networking app, but I doubt I’m the only one caught in the noise. With a world full of things constantly shouting for our attention, it is easy for us to get swept up in the motion. Too often, we forget to pause and notice where we are, who we are, and who’s right beside us.
As a college student, I wore productivity like a badge- chasing grades, money, friendships, and experiences that would one day make me proud. But the grind didn’t just wear me down; it unraveled me. I reached the end of myself- depleted, anxious, and unsure of my worth. Even the smallest tasks felt impossible. I had fallen into a pit, and for a while, I couldn’t see a way out.
Here, I felt like I had nowhere left to look but up.
When I stopped and looked, I saw someone who had been there all along, waiting patiently and lovingly for me to lift my eyes.
When we pause, just for a moment, we begin to see the world around us that we regularly miss: The smile of someone as they pass. The quiet brilliance of a friend working nearby. The birds of the sky. The rhythm of our own heartbeat.
In this moment, our perspective shifts. We pivot from the blur of anxiety and busyness to a clearer picture of life within us and all around us.
Looking up doesn’t just help us see the present moment; it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the road we’ve traveled thus far. The twists, turns, and detours that we didn’t expect have shaped us. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are or who we are. We are people crafted wonderfully, designed to grow, change, and be refined through challenges. You have been. You are magnificent, dynamic, and becoming more winsome with every step forward.
And when we take a moment to look up, we remember we are not alone. There are people who have been placed in our lives for this very moment. There is a God with us- to bear your burdens, carry you through the valleys, and delight in each breath you take. We lift our eyes to see the unconditional love that helps us and waits to be gracious to us.
So, my friend, if you’re reading this, look up. Let gratitude fill your view. See just how far you’ve come. And know, without a doubt, you are loved and never alone.
Jacob B., Clemson University
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