Friday Frenzy

A bit of an update is in order as some of my friends have reminded me. I have started a new part-time job in place of working at Subway, which was short-lived. I am currently working at House of James, the Christian bookstore in Abbotsford, BC. The store has a coffee shop and I work there about fifteen hours per week. It's a pretty good job; the girls that I work with are super and it's a great environment. And, yes, for all those who know my bald bookworm, he's very excited that I get a staff discount.
As for the other major time and energy investment in my life, I am finishing up my degree via distance education this year. I am currently taking three courses and will be taking my last three courses next semester, so that I can graduate in April with my class. I am very excited at this prospect and hope that everything goes along as planned. As much as I love school, I'm looking forward to having it completed and having a degree to hang on my wall. I'm also looking forward to having the time to put my education into practice, which is the goal I would think. But for now, I plug away at my papers, readings, lectures and exams. I miss the folks at Heritage and wish that I could just pop in now and then; I also miss 'my' little room in the library where I could hole away when I needed a higher level of focus. Needing that space, I carved out a little room at home where I can study and write my papers. I'm thankful for where God's led us and I'm looking forward to the road ahead.

A Cup of Christmas Apathy

As the beginning of the Christmas holidays are inaugurated by the decorations at any given retail establishment, I find my Christmas spirit lacking the luster of so many other years. I can't remember a time when I've felt so apathetic toward holiday preparations. I'm not sure why I feel this way; perhaps it is being so far away from home and knowing that I won't be there with my family for the first time in my life. Perhaps it's the weight of so much school work still ahead of me that's grinding off the sparkle. I think that much of it has to do with the conviction of meaning. I think that I'm struggling to balance tinsel and trappings with a King who set aside his kingdom to be born in barn to save us from sin. I say balance because I think that presents and festivities are important parts of holidays; when God institutes a festival, He goes all out and often the people party for a week! But I also think that our traditions require evaluation and scrutiny if they are to remain holy unto the Lord. Why do we do what we do? I think that we need to ask this question and be prepared to trim the trimmings that take away from our worship of God. What this looks like in my own life I haven't figured out yet, but I will ponder as I wander through the advent of our Lord.