Be Present

Be present where you are. Don't be constantly looking forward or backward with longing, but rather live life right now, today, with the people that are with you now.

This is a huge theme in my life right now. Huge. It seems like everywhere I go, being present is the topic. Chapel: Live your life where God has placed you now, instead of constantly waiting for some thing to happen that makes your life significant. Senior chapel: enjoy senior year and the time you have left at APU! A random song in a friend's car: Sieze the day! UCO: Make an effort to get to know the people you are in this group with! Be intentional! A conference I went to: Invest in the relationships around you, in Jesus' name!

Ok, ok, I get it. Now what does it look like? God has been drilling this into my head ever-so-gently since I have been back at school, and I think I understand why. I am CONSTANTLY looking back at some time that was great and comparing right now with back then. The most obvious thing in my life I could do this with right now is Heidelberg. I could just live my life this year dreaming about my time there and thinking about what I can do to get back, instead of leaving dream-world and forming relationships with the people next to me and enjoying the things in my life right now. I am also CONSTANTLY looking forward to some other time... When I'm older I'll be/things will be this way or that way. I'll take action when things get to be that way. No. That's a terrible way to live, because life passes by faster that way, and then things never get to be "that way." Anticipation isn't all bad, but if it is distracting you from life at hand, it can be dangerous.

So that's where I am. Taking on this task that God has apparently appointed me: to BE PRESENT.

Grace and Peace!
Suzannah

Getting Into a Rhythm

Today is the end of our second full week of classes, and I think I am finally finding a rhythm for the semester. My petition to add a 19th unit was approved, and I got the class approved and added the day before the add/drop date. Talk about getting down to the wire. I know there are other people who were trying to add classes up to that last day, so I appreciate that I at least got it done that Thursday. It never ceases to amaze me how helpful people are. Even when they do the same thing all day over and over, and the process becomes obvious to them, and they sometimes deal with people who are rude and ungrateful... They are still patient and gracious! It's such a blessing.

This week has been pretty nonstop. Well, the beginning was. I may have found a rhythm, but it's a bit choppy still, and often it depends upon variables I can't always control, like a productive weekend or less reading than I had anticipated. I have a rhythm, but I still don't quite have everything well balanced. I have a couple of classes that are only once a week, so I have to remember to balance those in with classes I have two or three times a week. I'm getting there, but I'm not on top of it quite yet. Actually, I got behind the first weekend of classes, and then last weekend I was still trying to catch up. I didn't get as caught up as I needed to, causing a bit of a scramble at the beginning of the week. I should have more time this weekend, and I think I have a bit less to do.

This morning was beautiful. It was cool, about 66º, and overcast. Actually, I guess it was closer to foggy than overcast. It was a perfect tea day. In fact, I got out of class a bit early and didn't have to go to chapel, so I walked home and had a nice brew. Even though I got my first Organic Chemistry test back and did much worse than I should have, I've still had quite a lovely day. Tea does that. And a good attitude, even though my test grade could have ruined my day and weekend. Instead, I'm looking forward to a nice evening and productive, enjoyable evening. :)

Grace and Peace!
Suz :)