Today's collect:
Grant, Lord, that we may pass this day in gladness
without stumbling and without sin:
that reaching the evening victorious over all temptation,
we may praise you, eternal and blessed God,
who govern all things,
now and forever. Amen.
The last few weeks have been stressful. Graduate school is starting soon which I'm excited about. As I mentioned before, I'mveregistered for two classes for this fall. On top of getting all my paperwork finalized for financial aid, class registration, etc., work has been absolutely crazy. I've worked several hours of OT this week already and am a long way from having a project finished that I'm under a deadline for (think massive Excel spreadsheets). So, with work being so crazy and demanding so much time, it's easy for things to feel a bit overwhelming. It's also harder to keep the spiritual practices that keep me balanced and centered.
As Fr. Michael mentioned on my last trip to Gethsemani, the hours of prayer are times of day when we can stop what we're doing and get refocused and recentered. Monks live a life that supports and undergirds that kind of structured prayer life. The bells ring and remind the monks to stop every few hours all throughout the day to gather in the Abbey church and pray. As the divine office begins with the words O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me they are once again reminded to stop and seek God in the midst of their work. For us lay people, it's much easier to get caught up in our work life and to not stop and focus our thoughts and heart on God alone. I begin to feel a bit scattered and more susceptible to stress when I neglect keeping the office.
I realize that work and prayer are closely connected. My work, approached with the right attitude, should be prayer. I think I'm still figuring that out. My personality tends to send me into "gotta get it done" mode which in turn makes it much harder to see my work as prayer. What sounds so simple isn't simple at all.
What's next? Moving forward. Failing often. Starting over. Again and again.
Pax.
I just finished registering for my first two classes at Drexel for my graduate program. This term I'll be taking INFO 510: Info. Resources and Services along with INFO 515: Action Research and Statistics. Should be interesting! Here are the course descriptions:
INFO 510: Presents applied information retrieval as the foundation for information services. Provides an overview of the present-day online resources and their printed counterparts. Focuses on the design and structure of tools used for answering questions and satisfying subject interests for clienteles. Emphasizes techniques for building effective strategies for searching large-scale retrieval systems, including the Internet. Gives opportunities to compare search engines and to evaluate retrievals.
INFO 515: Surveys the basic statistical, tabular, and graphic methods as applied to decision making, requirements analyses, user studies, and implementation of change in information organizations when generalizability of results beyond the organization is not a primary concern. Focuses on formulating researchable problems, sampling, data gathering, and computer-assisted analysis of data. Develops skills for preparing reports and presentations and for reading research literatures.
I start classes on Monday, September 22. I'm looking forward to learning new things and the challenge of grad school. I'll keep you posted as things progress.
Pax.
I was driving back from the Abbey of Gethsemani yesterday and passed a Baptist Church which had the following sentence displayed on their church sign: "Stop, drop and roll doesn't work in hell."
It's no wonder people today stay away from the Church - we share such good news. What was that pastor thinking?
I got the news today - I've been accepted into Drexel University's graduate program for Library Science and Information Technology! Hooray!
I was reading the ESV blog yesterday and they had a pretty interesting link to an interview of Dr. Leen Ritmeyer. He is the archaeological and architectural reconstruction editor for the ESV Study Bible. As Justin Taylor notes, Dr. Ritmeyer is "widely considered the world’s leading authority on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount." I found the drawings of the Temple Mount and Jesus' tomb very interesting. You may want to read part 1 of the interview that focuses on Golgotha and part 2 which looks at Jesus' tomb.
It rained last night in Lexington and made quite a difference in morning temperatures. I was happy about the rain – we need it. Things are getting pretty dry around here. I'm sure the local farmers appreciated the rain that fell overnight too.
Speaking of farmers . . . Heather and I joined a local CSA this year. Each week, we purchase a basket of fresh vegetables raised over in Beattyville, KY. I keep meaning to take a photo of the basket because it looks so great filled to the top with vegetables. I realize what it is like to eat as people did before the advent of commercial grocery stores. Each week, my basket is full of whatever vegetables happen to be "in season." So far, summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, basil, pearl onions, green beans, green peppers, beets, and red potatoes have all been a part of our weekly vegetables. I'm looking forward to sweet corn and heirloom tomatoes.
The CSA has been interesting for us because it's forced us to cook things we may not usually fix (like zucchini!) and to be more aware of what is actually in season. Of course, we're pretty happy to help out a local farmer by buying his produce each week. It gives us a connection back to the earth and is by far a better and more fulfilling way to spend our money than by shopping at the local big chain grocery store. It's nice to know the farmer who grew my food!
Pax.
I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.