Recap on first grad school audition (Maryland)

Hello all,
This past weekend I went to my first audition for graduate school at U of Maryland at College Park. I drove onto the campus friday night to look around and to soak it all in. As everyone knows the school is very large. What really caught my attention first was how laid out the campus is. The performing arts complex contains three performance halls, practice rooms (obviously), and its music library is connected to the building. Beautiful facilities all around. The best part is the football stadium is directly across the street from the music complex. (yes, this will affect my decision if accepted).
I was fortunate to stay with a friend who attends Washington Bible College which is about 10 minutes from Maryland's campus. On Saturday, I had my audition at 11:00, and it went well. I was pleased with how I did (though, you always can do better). But the biggest thing was, I felt a peace with how I did because it is all in God's hands.
I had a "talk" with my Father up above the night before, and committed my playing and even the pieces all over to him. And I was reminded of one of my favorite movies, Chariots of Fire, here are some statements from it that really struck me and helped me. Here they are below:

1. You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.
2. I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.

I am reminded of Isaiah 40:31 which says those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they will be lifted up with wings as Eagles... (paraphrase). This encouragement gave me confidence to know that however well I do, God knows what will be best. So, in a sense, I have nothing to worry about. I just need to do my personal best.

All in all, it was a great time at Maryland. I really really liked the school and the area. BUT there are two more auditions to go. It's gonna be hard to wait to know if I am accepted or not. But that allows time for prayer and for God's will to work in my life :)

Next stop?!? An audition this Saturday (1/23) at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Can't wait for that one either!!

From
J-man (Hebrews 13:21)