Master 225: The First Week

I spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with friends down in Huntington Beach. The weekend consisted of playing lots of Xbox Kinect and other video games, visiting Long Beach at two in the morning, enjoying breakfast at an Irish pub near the pier, playing poker and other card games, and watching part of the UFC 125 Resolution. The thing that made the weekend, though, was the people I was able to share it with. That made all the difference. I so appreciate those friends of mine before whom I feel no pressure toward pretense or performance. They liberate me to try new things, to explore uncharted territory, to take risks, and even to fall flat on my face without fear or anxiety. Of course, I suspect, the number of people who are like that is actually much greater than most of us think. But as one who is predisposed to self-consciousness and feeling that kind of pressure, I am doubly grateful for those whose gracious manner and "chill" character can make even me comfortable.

On Sunday, the congregation at my church was encouraged to record and take note of the various blessings we've received--to write down, at the end of every day, what we are thankful for. This is good advice and a great way to start the new year.

Enjoying an apple fritter at Starbucks with two friends on a Sunday morning before church is such a simple thing and so easily forgotten. Yet it is just such little things that make for and constitute the finer textures in the tapestry of our lives. Discovering the inside pockets in the jacket that I got for Christmas also falls into that category. (Random, I know.)

During this winter term, I want to give more focused attention to writing my Prospectus and prepping for my Dissertation. I met with two faculty members this week and both offered very helpful advice and a lot of encouragement (both of which are very necessary for me). I'm excited about the seminars and reading groups that I'm enrolled in this term.

But even as I gear up for a lot of exciting (and interesting) work, there are still lots of opportunities to spend time with people. Watching anime with friends is great. (This week we finished a series called Samurai 7, based loosely on the 1960-film The Magnificent Seven.) I went to the (Ontario) Reign-Grizzlies hockey game yesterday. And, at the moment, I'm just very aware of how blessed I am.

As I walked home from UCR on Thursday evening, I was noticing the beauty of the sky and clouds. Toward the end of the fall term, I often would not leave campus until well after the sun had set--like 5:30 PM. The darkness of the winter months is a bit rough on me. So the fact that, this term, my Tuesday and Thursday seminars end at 4:00 PM, so that I'm walking home just at that time when the blue sky is turning pink and gold, is just wonderful and delightful to me.

And feeling well physically--that's also amazing. During much of the winter break, I was just a little under the weather. I was mildly congested for the better part of two weeks, which didn't incapacitate me but made everything just a little less pleasant. So to wake up in the morning with a clear nose and throat, to be able to eat and enjoy food without thinking about whether my stomach would accept it or not--all of that is just wonderful.

All in all, it's been a great first week of the year. I hope that your week went well and I encourage you to consider (even write down and keep a record of) the blessings in your life and the things you are thankful for. Happy New Year!

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God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.