Introit

And so we begin...

Ever notice how easy it is to talk about something, or even actually start it--yet never finish? Will the real procrastinator please stand up? please stand up? (Yes, I just said that...) I was given a journaling assignment for a seminary class and decided to start and maintain a blog in lieu of handwritten journaling--which I love--but my hands cannot quite keep up with the requisite hours of writing. The physical act of writing however, adds to the experience of journaling and I am convinced that manuscripts, books, journals--all written media has a different feel based on hand written or typed/word processed. Even typewriters are different than computers. The finality of the ink, the breathless waiting for the hand to catch up with the head--I delight in these things and only with resignation and a promise of calligraphic self-indulgence at a later date do I give them up in favor of the connect-to-the-world-in-an-instant-blog/journal-o-matic!

On to the main event: For our journal we are to 1.) give the date (see blog date), then 2.) share the main theme, idea, scripture, meditation, etc. from our devotional time. 3. )A proposed schedule/to-do list is then scripted and one heads off into one's day. Later (i.e. 9:46PM) we 4.) recount our actual day (why does this feel like a departmental budget analysis?), followed by 5.) a "HEAD" evaluation--thinking through and analytically reviewing what happened in day/relationships/spiritual journey; 6.)a "HEART" evaluation--how did we feel about the day or events of the day with a final 7.) theological reflection. Now that I have done the classic teacher routine of telling you what I'm going to teach you...

I thought today would begin earlier, but sleep does have benefits. I wonder what time I have gotten up each January 27th of my life. I think the average must be close to 6:00AM. I remember as a child I would wake up with the roosters and draw, shivering--my room was the furthest from the furnace--until 7:30, at which time we were allowed to come down for breakfast. My father always prayed in the living room and was not to be disturbed until that time. Some of my favorite memories as a small boy include the times I would come down and, pajama clad, worm my way under his chest as he knelt at the couch. The smells of his leather Bible, open before me, and Listermint mouthwash from his closing prayers, along with the tickle of whiskers from his yet-to-be-shaven face are just a vivid now as they were then.

Today, however--after just getting the Crest and shampoo routine over and done with (I'm not a Listermint man myself...) it was well later than my normal departure time. And that can mean only one thing: TRAFFIC. I logged an hour and a half on the highways and byways of Marin and Sonoma--arriving at the seminary well into the morning. I had hopes of practicing one or two hours, several hours of work on a professors research project, some paperwork and balancing my department budget--along with quality time spent preparing for some of my private music students. I did get some work done on the budget, the research project, and the music preparation. But the rest did not get done.

As I look back and analyze this--my day needed to begin earlier, and I should have outlined my time better.
The time spent with students was rewarding and they are making good progress, but more time needs to be invested in my preparation for their lessons. Dinner was a crazy task, as my wife was off to lead a ladies Bible study and I had the children--but the rest of the evening was rewarding--bottle and cuddling for the baby, pajamas and potty, followed by stories and prayers for the older girls. Then on to nailing down some business loose ends and now this.

Emotionally, I am overwhelmed. Between my private music students, my commitments and prayer burden as assistant pastor, my positions as chapel coordinator and administrative assistant to a department of a seminary, concertmaster to the philharmonic, the upcoming mission's conference, new student orientation, HUSBAND, FATHER, and supposedly--CHRISTIAN--I am beat. I need a really good game plan and a clone or two.

As I look at this theologically I see the impact that too much everything has on a spiritual leader: I am doing what I can to make it through to the next appointment--and I need to mention that I am running on fumes--but it's almost like I can't even open my Bible--although I want to and I know it's needed. The baby is crying and I must go, but hopefully tomorrow will show growth! Thanks be to God for another day!