Checking Away the Checkbox

I survived the first week of my Spiritual Disciplines class and I managed to submit the weekly milestone paper about 6 hours before the Sunday midnight deadline. The two toughest parts of the week were trying to get back into the habit of consistent homework and writing a bibliography. I struggled a little finding at least four nights a week to read, comment on the online discussion threads and write the reflection papers, but the structure of an online course is pretty rigid that you comment a certain number of times throughout a week. Bibliographies are not my strong suit. I reference the works I'm quoting or pulling ideas from within the paper but putting the author, title, publisher, date, etc in the right order was always a bit of a challenge.

We are exploring the disciplines of solitude, silence and sabbath and how intertwined they are. It has been interesting, challenging and a little intimidating. I have a hard time being in silence and being in complete solitude with God. Even studying or writing this blog, I have the tv on, my phone dings to let me know I have a text and I can only stay focused for so long before I need a break...oh ya did I mention the cat that feels like she has to be in my lap as much as possible.

I'll take some time here soon to do some reflecting and sharing publicly  but for now, I've done my allotted reading and responding for the day so I'm off to watch  little tv and head to bed.

I'm going back to school...sort of!

So it's been a while, a long while, since I've posted a blog entry. I can make a bunch of excuses but really, it comes down to I lost motivation and I got lazy.  If it's a true passion, which I believe writing is for me, then I need to do it, no ifs, ands or buts.

So here goes it...

I am challenging myself starting today. I work full-time as a mortgage loan processor and 3 weeks ago I started with a new company. The details of why I moved companies are mute. They aren't worth my writing time or your reading time. What's done is done.

Even before the job change I knew I wasn't living life to the fullest. I was struggling to find joy and passion in the every day. I became complacent, complaining, lazy and probably a little depressed. When compared to the grand scheme of things, I shouldn't have been feeling any of those things but I was and am.

I needed something outside of work to really focus on, to push me to become better and stronger in my faith. So I decided to join the Working Professional Internship through Hope International University and Gold Creek Community Church. I'm a student again!

I love learning but need the structure of a classroom setting, with homework and deadlines. So today marks the start of journaling the journey.

I'm 26 and spending the next 9 months take 4 classes that will hopefully ignite a deeper level of Faith and relationship with God. Along with classes, the internship requires significant volunteering at church in a certain area. So I expect to be busy but hope to not let that excuse deter me from spending time cultivating my friendships, relaxing and enjoy the life I get to live here on earth.

I don't know what this journal will turn into, I'm not writing it for you but for me and if you happen to read along, fantastic. Maybe this journal will have a larger impact than just my ramblings at the moment. Like I said, life is sort of a jumbled mess right now so I guess it's appropriate this blog entry feels a bit like a jumbled mess.

With that, I'm signing off after doing a 3rd of the required reading for the week. Here goes nothing and everything all at once!