I am becoming increasingly overwhelmed with the entire college workload. It's not that I'm worried about "keeping on top of the readings", for one would need to have even contemplated the mountain to consider being "on top". No, I'm happy to let the readings slide until I can work out a method of reading in my sleep.
Of course I will never lose sight of the enormous privilege it is to be studying God's word full-time, and let's face it; it's quite amazing that the worst thing about my day is I'm "studying God too much". And yeah, yeah I know about the importance of making the most of the focused time to study while I've got it.
But why is there just so much to do? Why? I don't know what you could leave out, but it all seems so much. Thankfully the older year students have a way of pepping me up with their assertions that, "Oh, if only I had the time available that I did in first year".
I just don't get it.
Am I supposed to burn out? Maybe I'm meant to be a workaholic? Perhaps its even a noble gesture to ensure I enter vocational ministry with realistic expectations of what I am humanly able to achieve?
Either way, I'm thankful God has blessed me with a wife who says, "I know you'd never let me spend money like this, but I don't care. I've just booked us tickets to Melbourne for three days. We'll miss two days of college but we need to have some time away together." This is the same wife who called me "stupid" for suggesting I could do part-time radiography work during the morning of our one day off each week. This is also the same wife who lovingly informed me after preaching a few weeks back, "That was by far the worst sermon I've ever heard you preach. The congregation was bored and you reflected that back to them with your uninspired delivery."
It's not that she isn't also my greatest support and encourager. But in a world of platitudes and optimists, we all need a straight talker.
And God just doesn't make many like her.
It's time for a holiday*.
*rather than a "lecture free period"
You'll get better at doing the study thing. The work will get harder but you'll learn to manage better.
ReplyDeleteThat was our experience, anyway.
Should I pep you up by telling you that in 5 years time you'll be looking back onto the 'easy' days of college?
I must admit I am not necessarily finding the content or concepts difficult (which I'm sure will change) but just the amount of work. And I think you're right, because I'm really learning to study for the first time. Somehow I got through High School and a uni degree without really studying.
ReplyDeleteThankfully College tries to be gentle on us by spacing things out, but this is being made more difficult with recent changes to semesters rather than year long subjects, as well as part-timers.
I'm of the belief that college is designed to break you. That's my reflection
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ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that they have actually cut the work load by almost one third form the time we were there five years ago.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, good on you for taking time for yourselves and your marriage. That's the best thing you can do. And you're completely right - 'lecture free' is different from a holiday. Go and enjoy yourselves.
@Seamas
ReplyDeleteWhich is both good and bad, I guess.
@rd
Yes, I hear they have decreased the workload -Greek has decreased vocab by 40% or something. And in all honesty the workload probably has decreased. But I wonder if in some sense it has in real terms increased - that is, the impossibly long reading lists that I'm told used to be given has been replaced by fewer more specific readings, but now with the understanding that they will actually be read. In the end, it's difficult to compare.
I am looking forward to my holiday.
It is a bit like ministry, Zac, in that you just do what you can **while preserving your marriage and your day off** and you just hand the rest over to God, hopefully with a smile. Or if not with a smile, then yes you need a holiday! Go for it.
ReplyDeleteOh and thanks for the lovely card BTW!
Oh, and you've got to go to Brunetti's in Faraday St.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.melbournecoffeereview.com/2006/01/brunettis-194-204-faraday-st-carlton-vic-australia.html
Just around the corner in Lygon St is Readings, a great book shop.
Cheers Gordo. We visited Readings and it was great. But as we only went up that end of town for dinner didn't make it to Brunetti's
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