A Study in Balance

Warning: L O N G post ahead...feel free to skip it entirely or to grab a snack before you dive in.

You may have noticed a sparseness in my posting since school began. The reason is that the fullness of our lives makes it hard to keep up, much less take a step back and process all that is happening.

Rusty is leading a thriving ministry at church. Sometimes I just step back and consider all that he is doing with awe. One of the amazing things about being married to a man that you started dating when you were fifteen is the ability to look back and see the incredible ways in which he's grown.

These days, when I hear him preach (which he's doing often in the absence of a senior pastor) with insight and humor, when I see the conviction, love and grace with which he offers pastoral care to families in need, when I see him with the teens we've come to love more than I can describe, I am simply amazed at the journey he's walked and the work God has done in his heart and life. He has truly grown into his ministry, and I am incredibly proud and humbled to be his partner in it.

And if that weren't enough, he's also working crazy hours preparing his dissertation for his defense on November 10. His discipline is truly inspiring. It's hard to believe these years of work and sacrifice are quickly moving to the culminating point, but they are...they really are. God willing on May 13, 2011 he will walk that stage and receive his PhD, and I cannot wait to celebrate.

As for me...life these days is a mix of ministry partnering, teaching 2nd grade, running (sort of), gardening (also sort of), and seminary.

I am truly loving our work at the church. Our teens are great, our church family is loving and supportive, and I am part of a team of folks who've just started a new Young Adult Class. That being said, church activities keep us BUSY. I always enjoy them, but sometimes I have to rally myself to get there!

Teaching so far this year has brought me great joy. There will always be days when I get totally overwhelmed and stressed, but I truly wake up and want to go to work (*almost*) every day. I have a wonderful class of students who are eager to learn, make me laugh, and they all seem to have incredibly helpful parents. My principal is supportive (he came in and cleaned my whiteboard last week), and my colleagues are helpful and friendly.

And then there's seminary...this may be the start of the most humbling journey of my life. I have no doubt this is a road I want and need to walk, but let's just say that I'm not off to a running start. Don't get me wrong, so far every assignment has been done on time, and I've even enjoyed some of them, but they have not all been without tears. I feel like I've got a good grip on "Critical Developments in the History of Christianity" but "Introduction to Christian Languages" is literally Greek to me. I'm just hanging on for the ride, and if any of it sticks, I'll be amazed. I guess that's all I can ask of myself at this point, right?

So yes, life is very busy and full. My house isn't as clean as I'd like it to be and I'm not getting as much couch time as I'd like. It would be easy to go crazy, but to quote Project Runway's Tim Gunn, "It's a make it work moment." Thankfully these moments are infused with the love and grace of a good, good God and a husband who couldn't be more helpful and supportive. A few weeks ago in church, a friend said that life's impossible situations are gifts to see God's strength, faithfulness, and goodness amidst our weakness. My reply is a hearty Amen.