four and a half years ago i unloaded a u-haul trailer on a rainy day into a second floor apartment at county green in lynchburg, va.

i had absolutely no clue how much my life would change in the years to come.

at the time, i was a 19-year-old kid about to start my third college in seven months. i claimed to be a christian but i didn’t go to church, didn’t read my bible, and really didn’t have the best relationship with god. i was searching for a group of friends. i was trying to figure who i was on my own and decide what i wanted to become.

i was running from what god really wanted me to do.

i was all about having a good time and staying up until three in the morning doing nothing and sleeping til eleven (noon) the next day. i was eager to make an impact on this new school i was at. i was skinnier. i was hoping i didn’t make a terrible decision to leave coastal.

i thought i knew everything.

i’m sitting here writing this trying to decide what direction i want to go with this whole thing. i’m replaying scenes in my head that happened over the past four years.

the time four girls from sweet briar randomly showed up at my apartment because a friend of mine was interested in dating one of them and how they all called me “howard” for the next six months because i was wearing a howard university shirt that night.

the first football game under coach rocco when it was raining sideways and we were there throughout the entire game and had the time of our lives.

the first time i found out what love was.

the day me and a friend were walking to his dorm after class and he said the most random comment i’ve ever heard that i still laugh at to this day.

the ra that stopped me in a hallway to write me up because i was wearing a t-shirt even though we were allowed to wear the shirt i was wearing (only liberty people understand that one).

the liberty couple in my biology class that led to my only six reps during my career at liberty.

the first time we tailgated a liberty game and how that helped change the entire culture on game day at liberty.

oh, and how i gave dr. falwell a hot dog during the homecoming parade that same day.

the time i decided to grab a few friends and start a club that would become famous (infamous?) if only in our little conference.

the day i finally realized i needed to get back in church and went to brentwood for the first time and how i realized on that first sunday that this place was where i needed to be and that it would change my life.

the absolute war i had with god about what my life was going to be and what i wanted to do and what he wanted me to do.

more importantly, the time that i finally gave in and said i’d do what he wanted me to do.

i could keep listing things on here that would probably bore you even more than you already are. the point remains that i sit here on the night before i leave liberty and lynchburg and realize how much this place has changed my life. i realize that even though there were times i absolutely hated this school and this town, this is where i was supposed to be for the last four and a half years.

and i’m gonna miss it.

don’t get me wrong, i’m extremely excited to go home for a month and then to knoxville for the next year (or however long i’m there), but i’m definitely going to miss this place. i’ve met some amazing people here. i’ve experienced some amazing things. i’ve changed and grew as a person in some amazing ways and in ways i never thought possible.

but there comes a point where it’s just time to move on.

and that point for me is today.

i’m posting this at 10am. right now i’m filming my last feature for libertyflames.com. when i’m finished with that, i’m going to turn my camera and computer in and then i’m out of here. i’ll be back in a few weeks to fully move out but other than that, i have no clue when the next time i’ll be in lynchburg is.

if you’re reading this and you’re in lynchburg or from liberty, i just want to say that i’m so completely glad that i met you. even if we’re not bff’s or something like that, i’m glad that i met every single person that i met here. i’m gonna miss all of you probably more than i realize right now.

if you’re reading this and you’re in lynchburg or from liberty, i also want to say thank you. i can’t explain to you how much these last four and a half years have meant to me. i would never be the person i am now if it wasn’t for you guys and what you stand for and what you believe in.

it’s been fun.

and i love all of you.

but it’s time for me to get out of here.

say your prayers and take your vitamins.

have a nice day.

-jonathan