The Stages of Daring to Be Lutheran By Alayna Brandt
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en years ago, I was 15 and attending my first Higher Things Given conference as a junior in high school. I was nervous and excited to be at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. I had never been away from home for longer than a few days and here I was, ready to sleep in a dorm room and eat cafeteria food. I had no idea of the impact that week would have on my future.
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Seven years ago, I was 18 and standing in front of the Wartburg residence hall at Concordia University Wisconsin, unsure if the butterflies in my stomach were caused by nerves, fear, or too much Kopp’s ice cream. I was a freshman in college, ready to establish a name for myself in the real world. I was excited to make new friends, experience community bathrooms, and not have to make my bed if I didn’t want to. (Sorry, Mom!) These two situations were similar not only because they created an excitement and fear of the unknown, but also in how God used each experience to deepen my faith and grow in my understanding of His Word. Now at the end of this year’s HT Concordia conference season, I can’t help but reflect on the similar impact attending both Higher Things conferences and Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) has had on my life. During my very first Higher Things conference, after
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realizing that just because you CAN eat five servings of ice cream at dinner doesn’t mean you SHOULD, what really amazed me was the comfort of the Gospel that was communicated in each sermon and by every presenter and plenary speaker. In a stage of life where it was easy to feel isolated and forgotten, being surrounded by hundreds of like-minded kids my age who shared my same beliefs in the Bible made me realize I was not alone. I met people from different states who are still friends of mine. My experiences attending Higher Things conferences as a high schooler made me realize that in college, I wanted to be among people who shared those same Biblical values. This led me to attend Concordia Wisconsin where I pursued an elementary education degree in 2015. Now, as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher, the same Gospel message I learned and took comfort in during my time attending Higher Things
