Sunday, August 30, 2009

Untitled

I couldn't think of anything else to call this post... so there you go.
Highlands recently began a young adult's class called "the Well." We went to the new Beagle Bagel Cafe after church today. Good times.
I've always had a different view on the Sabbath and it has definitely changed over the past few years. I used to be a lot more legalistic about it. I would miss out on opportunities to see and fellowship with people in order to follow what I feel was right. I also found myself being more judgemental of people who would do things that I didn't agree with.
In more recent years, I've started to see it as a gift. God created us, right? And he know's how we're made, right? Well, when he tells us that you can't work ALL the time, I think he knows what he's talking about. With this statement, I'm not here to draw out lines that everyone is supposed to follow. BUT... I think that He really does call us to intentionally set aside time for Himself with us and time for us to have as a rest from our labors. That may not look the same for everyone, but it is a mandate from our Maker.
The Sabbath used to be a burden to me. "I can't do ____; I can't do ____"
Now, I'm realizing it's a gift. "I don't HAVE to do ________ 24/7. This doesn't have to consume me" This has especially become more apparent and more important since beginning medical school a few weeks ago. Time has become a lot more hard to come by although it's not impossible to find time for things. I'm learning that I genuinely cannot study ALL of the time. I discovered this after staring at an anatomy book for 5 hours and nothing is sticking anymore.

Hoping to start posting more often. By the way, bloglines.com is a great way to keep up with all your favorite blogs. It lets you know when you're friends update their blogs.




Monday, August 24, 2009

A roller coaster

The past three weeks have certainly been a roller coaster. Only 5 weeks ago my daily duties included doing a daily cabin cleanup check and walking around checking on my counselors. The stress level there was preeeeettttty low. I had it good :)
I'm starting to understand why medicine is such a club. I don't consider myself a member of this club yet (and I don't mean it as a status thing. It's more of a camaraderie among people with something in common.) because I'm still at the beginning. Never have I been able to work all day long and still not really have enough time to feel like I've mastered the material. Never have I sat with a group of 6 people in the library with all of us being quiet doing our schoolwork. It's hard to stick out in a group like this.
In one sense it has been such a privilege to be able to study something in such depth that so few people get to experience. And I can admit that although I'm interested in the material, the lectures sometimes go more deeply than my interest would normally take me, but that's the nature of the beast. Do I REALLY want to know every step of the Krebs cycle? well... no not really, but it's probably a good thing that I've learned at least somewhere along the way. Ha.
Anatomy has been amazing so far. I know I'm gonna grow weary of all the hours put into gross anatomy and just as many hours sitting over a cadaver in the gross lab (which is an interesting experience!) and saturday mornings asking questions in the lab to make sure I can identify all of the structures. I know I'm gonna get tired - even the best tell me this. I pray God can give me what I need to keep going.
So far things are going fairly well. I feel kept up for the most part. I've been able to study even despite the fact that I don't have a test for a couple of weeks. Knowing how hard to study can be a battle because I'm trying to maintain some sense of sanity and balance. You really can't know everything. You can't...therefore you just do the best you can. A big adjustment for most in my class.
I know I keep blabbing, but there's just been a lot going on lately. I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of Christians in my class. UMC feels very open to the church and ministry. It's been really encouraging -especially CMDA (christian medical and dental association) which will have Pastor Wheat speaking tomorrow for lunch. I'm pumped...
Well, I think I'm gonna turn in early tonight, but I figured I'd update this thing or else I risk this blog becoming obsolete.
Hope to post more often.