It's been nearly three years.

And I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Gleaning from the clever, bodacious and Jesus-loving young adults at Soul Movement Crew and, certainly, NEWD Magazine has been a sweet odyssey for me. SMC is a humbly zoetic, positively rowdy stock that continues to impact business and entertainment industries all over.

Writing for the Confessions of a Twenty-Something column has been equally precious. For whatever reason, God afforded me this place to swag my nerdiness, if you will. Here, I could escape medicinal academic essays to unabashedly marry pop culture, current events, books, music and matters of the heart with-yes-the message of Jesus Christ. My editor, Tiff, has been as patient as a Catholic nun, no doubt. I've gotten away with peppering sentences with "...well...", bigging up reality TV, taking button-pushing stances as well as leading paragraphs with "And." There's no mistaking that it's been a blast.

So have my twenties. Oh, my twenty-something years. What a sappy...zany...zestful decade! You see, I say peace out to 29 in ten days. Friends, I'm writing today to bid goodbye to both a bi-weekly column as well as a season. Two weeks from today, you'll hear from a 30-year-old Ana in a newly-minted column.

Now, I have to admit that this particular paragraph is, for me, an awkward juncture of this farewell piece. This is where a writer might show-off, but I won't take the bait. I won't rat off superfluous twenty-something accomplishments. No. I don't want to brag or cloak boasts with see-through false humility. Nor will I burden you with the details of how I've fallen from grace in my twenties. No. I won't sensationalize sin.

Truth be told, all I want to do is talk abouthow Christ has opened the eyes of my heart throughout this decade.

Christianity is not what I initially thought it would be. I first believed at 18 years old. I was broken and thirsty for togetherness. On a good note, there was nothing fly-by-night about my decision to accept the altar call that day at Evangel Church. I knew that I would then go away to school and try very passionately to remain a Christian. The sucky part was that my walk with Christ slowly mirrored my overachieving high school era. During those first few years, I was competitive, unrealistic in my babe-in-Christ expectations, and oh-so-proud of my salvation. I was largely Pharisaic in scope, easily separating people along Us/Saved versus Them/Unsaved lines. To be sure, I admired the showy, Prosperity-Gospel-hugging believers that often held the limelight. On top of it all, I lived in a Christian bubble and shunned pop culture.

Then I started to loosen up...too much. To quote a line from Don Miller's Blue Like Jazz: no one can live like a Navy Seal for Jesus. I didn't get that memo so I burned out. For several years, I attended church but wasn't plugged in. Throughout this period of reevaluation, God worked on my heart. It was humbling to be a church nobody, especially after trying deep down to be a somebody. I realized that Christianity isn't a superlative. In fact, being a Christian-like, a committed God-chaser-in today's postmodern society is probably the hardest endeavor we can sign up for. But, boy, does it pay off in the end!

During my twenties, God burned my silly motives and helped me put first things first. I discovered the basics of prayer, study and discipline. I began to thrive in the background, just as LeCrae croons, and started to trade public works for tender, one-on-one moments of meditation. So much so, that even today I often listen to the classical music radio station while riding alone in the car. The instruments provide a soundtrack as I whisper prayers while commmuting. It's the small, private habits that matter, y'all.

Throughout my twenties, the Lord's sanctified my lifestyle...taught me to behave cleanly, dress modestly, buy frugally, live clutter-free, speak cautiously, love feverishly, work diligently, laugh heartily and relate compassionately. God wants us to be Jesus in blue jeans...to redeem cultures to Him....to be gentle and give people the benefit of the doubt...to be talent, not fault, finders.

In my twenty-something season, He renewed my mind. I learned that ushering, dancing liturgically, leading worship teams and preaching were okay, but they aren't my callings. Visibility doesn't equate credibility. Serving quietly is all right. God also showed me that writing is, indeed, a noble, useful ministry. Above all, I now see global trends and tragediesthrough a Biblical lens.

In this time, God has crucified my plans. Things shriveled when His Hand wasn't upon them. Never mind agendas. He cares about the poor, homeless, ill, orphans, substance abusers,the depression-prone and other underdogs.

In this decade, the Lord showed me that Christians can, indeed, host parties and travel and read widely and be news junkies and cart wheel and....and...escape the bubble.

Friends, we can live with humble gusto. We can strive to have hearts of gold.

I'm know my future won't be heartache or problem-free but I look forward it to it nonetheless.

Here's to captivating, missional, contagious and evangelical lives for Christ and for decades to come...Cheers!

Ana Guthrie is a super cool chick with a heart for God and love for youth culture. She doubles as a not-so-naughty librarian and instructor at Florida Memorial University in Miami, Florida.