auburn football and new moon.

yesterday, i finally began to understand this emotional love for auburn football. i also began to understand this obsession with the twilight saga.

i'll start with football.

first of all, i had never been to an iron bowl before... i sold my ticket sophomore year in order to spend more time with my family and well, make a good bit of money. this year, i had to force myself to go knowing i would regret it if i did not. yes, i would have regretted it, indeed. it was the most fantastic football game i have ever attended. for the first time, i understood why millions of people get so involved in this seemingly simple game of football. i was a nervous wreck the entire game. i screamed when they were successful and nearly cried when having been victorious the whole game, lost it in the end. then, i really fell in love with auburn when all the students remained in the stands after the game was over, cheered on the Auburn Tigers, and sang our fight song. wow. i am so thankful that i get to say for the rest of my life that i attended Auburn University and i can continue to cheer on the Auburn tigers.

here is a photo recap of the day...

the Auburn Tigers prepare to fight hard against Alabama and we prepare to cheer them on...

halfway there... still in the lead.

you fought hard, Tigers, and i was so proud of all the fans.

well, after the game... i went to see the movie, New Moon. again, i have sat in wonderment over this nation wide infatuation. well... it got me hooked. at first, i was a little annoyed by "you are my reason for life, i have no meaning without you, i will die before you die, i can't go on without you". this was maybe the first 30 minutes. then, an abrupt "i don't love you anymore". but, then the story got interesting and i truly was sitting on the edge of my seat and wishing, if only a vampire and a werewolf loved me! don't worry... once i left the theater i got things back into perspective :) but, truly in the end it is a fascinating love story. and i am going to get the third book because i can not stand not to know what is going to happen next.

it just amazes me to see how God has created us. we truly are creatures who long for Him. we long for things bigger than ourselves, things that transcend us from this day-to-day life. we long for Him. and that longing takes place in football, a phenomena that allows us to be a part of something so much greater than just ourselves. it makes us long for the ultimate love story even if it involves monsters! bella talked about a deep hole that was left in her when edward cullen (the vampire) left her. she was empty for so long... so cheesy, yes. but, its true. without our ultimate love, we are left with a huge hole in our hearts. i know i have felt it when i have served other gods and they let me down. He is it. He is in football, He is even in a love story about vampires. He is in Thanksgiving with the family and in Christmas lights. because we all know that there is something missing, something else. He created romance in order to show us a picture of His love for us. therefore, we long for it. the sad thing is, there are so many who have no idea what they are longing for. that's why He has called us as believers to share His Gospel. not to shy away from this world and isolate ourselves, but to be a part of it. to speak through triumph and defeat, through romance and silly love stories. because it is all a reflection of who He has created us to be. that is why millions of people spend hundreds of dollars to watch auburn play alabama, and the movie, new moon, is making billions of dollars and teenage girls are passing out at the site of these actors. isn't there a saying, "the proof is in the pudding?" as Christians, we ought to point the glory back to Christ.

"For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and let your glory be over all the earth."

- Psalm 108:4-5