a place I had never been.

There's no doubt changes have occurred these past few months. Usually when one hears the word "change" the initial reaction is to fear it, deny it, avoid it, yadda yadda yadda. As for myself, I too, approached change in all of the wrong ways.

Don't worry, this isn't a bitter post where I continue to tell you about all of the missed opportunities in my life due to weakness. No, instead, this is where I tell you how I changed the way I confronted change and why it has made the world of a difference. It all started right here: College.

Let me tell you a little bit about me first.

I come from a small town called Festus, Missouri (Fetus, Misery is somehow a thing there). I went to school with the same people up until graduation, I was practically born in my home church and still do consider it my home church, and I've lived in the same house since I was a baby. Okay, so as far as locational changes go, I never had any exposure and I think that's usually the way it is for most kids growing up. Now focus on "big" changes that happen in one's life. Losing a loved one, graduating high school, quitting the best first job ever for college (I miss free pizza), and so on. I do hold experience in all of those areas. Most of those "big" changes are changes enforced by other people or due to the circumstances. Losing a loved one is obviously out of your control because I think we are all aware we are not God. School is required by law (and your parents), and then by the time when you can make your own decisions, well you may as well graduate (for many reasons). And then quitting a job for college... Well, you get it.

So far we have:
1) Locational changes- some move, some don't
2) Major changes- causes discomfort and throws us off

And my personal favorite,
3) Personal changes- the ones YOU control

Okay, now I'll start explaining and stop blabbing. I've always thought this cheesy analogy, "God won't tell you where to go, but He'll give you a map." Meaning? God will lead you to your destination; how you arrive there is up to you. The personal changes are what I missed. Hardly ever did I stray away from what I knew to provide comfort, security and peace. And then, BOOM. College.

When I first arrived in Columbia, I felt numb. Not in the pitiful sense, but in the I don't even know what to feel right now way. My friends and family miles away, like anyone, my only thought was, "What do I do now?" I focused on what I knew made me Madi Lee. I love coffee, books, hot sauce, the show FRIENDS, big cities and more than anything, I LOVE GOD. So I cared for my coffee station like it was my child, read, ate hot chips, watched FRIENDS and desperately wanted to find a church.

I had heard about The Rock through a family friend. Was I planning on going to that one? Sorta, kinda. I didn't know where to go or what to do.

*Enter Kirstin Schulz*

Someone I admire so dearly now was a stranger to me four short months ago. A stranger with a popsicle. Did I fill out the contact information card for a popsicle or for The Rock? Honestly, both.

The empty time slots between then and now, you can guess what happened. God placed these people in my life. Amazing people that were all on fire for God like me, yet different in so many unique ways. Spending more and more time with each and everyone of them, I felt inspired to explore and try new things:

1) Production Team: Since when was I tech-savy? Totally just went for it.
2) Constantly wanting to be artsy: I can't draw a stick figure, but I'm shooting for those Pinterest painting ideas.
3) Sunrises: "Sunrises hold far more power than sunsets." Okay, but I do not have the will-power to wake up that early every day nor do I want to. Boy, I was wrong. Is it still a struggle to wake up? Heck yes. Is it worth it? You're experiencing the world God waking the world up...YES.
4) MOVE magazine: I have written two articles now and applied for a weekly column (sadly I didn't get it). I ignored those emails with stories for the first month of school.
5) Blogging: I have wanted to have a blog for a since this past summer but I didn't act on it. By the way, this is my first blog post so don't be too hard on me.
6) Food: I still drink coffee and eat spicy food like a maniac, but HOLY CRAP. Chipotle burritos are the best thing since sliced pie (I add hot sauce on my burrito). And Café Berlin doesn't need an explanation.

7) GOD, GOD, MORE GOD: I'm closer than ever to him. I don't just sit through a service on Sunday mornings and continue on with the rest of my week until the next. I constantly surround myself with followers of Christ, I make God-time a daily priority and I have challenging conversations with my best friend (what a joy that is). 

8) Colorado LT: I'm living in Colorado during the summer of 2014. More to come about that later, but I completely rejected that opportunity when I first heard about it. 

Those are a few changes that have happened in my life in these past few months. I know some of you are still thinking what a deprived child I was for college being the first time I tried Chipotle. 

Overall, before college, I was confused why people said change was a good thing. The only changes in my life were major things, in which I had no control over. I learned what it meant to control the personal changes in my life by jumping into the unknown. 

Right outside my comfort zone was a place I had never been before. That's where I belong.