Recent events: Returned from Guatemala, had a great long break at home, got back to Michigan 4 days late because of the "Snowmageddon" that hit the Midwest and cancelled thousands of flights (and also left people all over Michigan and surrounding areas with no power), finished my Old Testament class (interim class--only lasted for 2.5 weeks), and started semester numero 6 yesterday (5 down, 3 to go!).
This has been a major change for me this month, so I'll start with it. Spiritually, I've been very frustrated with my literal addiction to the computer (see post here). I don't know what's so ridiculously gratifying about it, I don't do anything actually addictive like porn or gaming or something, I just waste time reading articles and browsing facebook and watching buzzfeed videos. I've wanted to do something drastic, and I've tried several times and several ways to change my habits (including giving it to God, which worked in Guatemala). But I kept falling back into old habits. When I had a few free minutes, I would hop on the comp and see what was new (let me just say, nothing new ever happens in 30 minutes). I could have spent that time reading, or talking to someone, or WITH GOD.
One of the resident life staff at my school, Jeff, has a very unique personality. I can't really describe him adequately, so I'll just say that he's really awesome, wise, easygoing, and hilarious (so you'll know that he's unique in a completely positive way). Anyway, certain people who work with him start to talk in a manner like his and say things that he commonly says (my roommate included). It's obvious they've spent time working and talking together because of how his student res life staff emulates him (unintentionally). I once read something along the lines of "You become like whatever it is you spend the most time with." I want to be more like God--but that requires spending lots of time with Him. Unfortunately, I spend a lot more time on the computer than I do with God.
All that to say, on January 21 I just couldn't take it anymore and I decided to severely limit my computer time. Incidentally, that Sunday sermon happened to be about being good stewards of time (which is NOT ours, by the way). I knew I needed a mindset change, and my computer dependence wasn't going to go away unless I did something major. I can't spent more than 30 minutes on the computer in a day, not including schoolwork or email. It has been SO good. I've finished two books, started knitting and crocheting again, and have been spending more time with God (though still not enough--more on that later).
I've been thinking a lot about my options in the next few years: grad school, classes, housing, etc. I won't bore you with the details now, but feel free to call me sometime and I'll be happy to oblige you!
Though there are many choices to make, there is so much to be excited for and thankful about. The last couple days have been filled with thoughts of all the joys my life is filled with. First of all, I just LOVE our science department. It really is a family. Professors don't just teach classes, they are friends. We (fellow sudents and I) will frequently stop by a professor's office and just chat, about a science question or just life. Yesterday my friend Lydia handed a wedding save-the-date to our microbiology/genetics/plant-related-things prof, and he wrote it on his calendar right then. I house-sat for one of my professors during spring break a couple years ago, and if one of his students needs a place to crash for the night, he's willing. I often hang out in the science building and study or socialize, and many other fellow science majors are there too. I'm sure many other small schools have a similar family dynamic, but no one else has the profs we do--and they are awesome. I have several prof friends in other departments too, and they're great.
Secondly, I am living in an apartment, in a dorm. It is pretty much the ideal living situation because I'm close to everything (literally in the center of campus) and part of the dorm community (at least to an extent), but I have a kitchen, washer & dryer, dishwasher, bathroom, etc that I don't have to share (except with my roommate). It is SO NICE. I love cooking, and Steph and I have people over for dinner every week. Being able to host and be hospitable is just so much fun. My sister made me an apron for Christmas, and I wear it every time I cook and clean up. I love feeling like a homemaker, cooking and cleaning.
Third, this semester is going to be SO GOOD. (I was going to say awesome, but I use that word too much and really it should only describe something that is actually awe-inspiring, like aurora borealis or miracles or pregnancy.) I started classes today, and I am so excited. I'm taking microbiology, human physiology, spiritual formation, and learning & thinking psychology. Oh and I'm the lab assistant for intro to chem (basic organic chemistry for non-science majors... poor them). Guys, all of my classes are going to be fantastic. (Hey, there's a good superlative that actually just means really really good!) Micro and phys are not only fascinating subjects, but are also a little taste of what PA school will be like. Science that is applicable to the practice of medicine, and the study of the human body. I can't even explain how good it is to be in those classes. At last. I also had my first spiritual formation class today, and it's a small section with a great prof that I'm excited to get to know, and only 9 other students, all of whom are my friends. That class will be so good.
And that leads me to my final point. I've been feeling a little spiritually dry in the past couple months. Guatemala was good because I had so much free time, and no computer to distract me, so God and I had some good times together. But once I got back home, I fell into old habits. Once I heard in someone's testimony "God didn't abandon me, I abandoned Him," and that's always stuck with me. If I'm only spending half an hour a few times a week with Him (and hours upon hours doing other things), of course we're going to feel distant! As a part of my computer restriction agreement, I want to spend at least 30 minutes a day with the One who's lending me time in the first place. I'm not doing it. It's way easier to cut something out (like computer time) than it is to implement something in (like regular time with God). So that's my current challenge--and will be forever, though hopefully someday soon daily time with Him will become a habit.
I'll end with a picture of Stephanie (who's currently making spaghetti for our dinner guests du jour) and me wearing the apron that my lovely wonderful sister handcrafted (and probably without a pattern too because she's a sewing genius).
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| Yay for cooking! :) |
