Long overdue update

I'm home at my parent's house for Christmas and New Years having a wonderful visit. We just returned to Annapolis after a couple of days visiting relatives in Pennsylvania. After talking to my aunts and uncles who are not social media users I realized how much I've been neglecting my blog. I have reached the halfway point of my seminary education (semester-wise) and this last one really kept me busy. This post will mostly be an article that I wrote for our school paper. It was published in the November 21st issue of Kairos.

The Middler Lament

NEWS FLASH – Middler year is kicking my butt. This isn't a cry for help though (yet). You don't need to start worry about me (yet). I just need to lament a little bit, and based on an informal survey of my classmates, they do too. I remember a similar article from Brittany last year and apparently there was one the year before as well, so I am just following the "cloud of witnesses" that have gone before us. There is comfort for me in that and I hope my classmates recognize this as well. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!

As Juniors, we certainly had our challenges, but the crunch times seemed to be more spread out and clumped together last year. Right before Fall Break last year there were major tests or papers due in each of our four classes and I don't remember getting much sleep that week. I was also riding high on the honeymoon phase of my seminary experience and got to go back east for all of Fall Break to recharge my batteries.

This year, however, it seems like I've got major assignments due each and every week. I couldn't afford (either financially or time-wise) to leave Austin for Fall Break. I took my Sabbath time, but I spent a good bit of break this semester working on papers and getting caught up on reading. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and will be going back to Maryland to spend the holiday with my family and friends. I will however be taking several books with me and working on a funeral sermon for our Intro to Preaching class, and probably another paper or two as well.

The other thing that is starting to sink in is that come December, the Middlers will be exactly at the halfway point of our seminary experience. This is going way too fast. I still feel a bit like I just got here and just started. Even with all the deadlines, papers, exams, committee meetings, and stress that this year has brought so far, I am not anxious for my time at APTS to be over. I am feeling a bit like a petulant child who is flopping on the floor and dragging my feet to slow down my exit. I do not want this to end. I love my classmates. I love the faculty and staff. I love the entire seminary community. I love this whole experience.

And I know this will come as a shock to most, but I really love Austin too. Perhaps part of why I'm feeling so stressed this semester is I'm also having a lot of fun too. There is a delicate balance between keeping up with obligations and taking time for yourself so you don't burn out. Perhaps I dance on that line a bit precariously, but I consider this to be an unofficial part of my seminary education. When I am in a parish (or a hospital, or whatever ministry I end up doing when I graduate), I think it will be extremely important to develop a support community and have activities and interests that are not church/work related (at least not directly) too. I have developed a great group of friends outside the seminary community. We have had cookouts, built a giant Jenga set, become the Cornhole (bean bag toss game) champions of the Local, participated in a fabulous scavenger hunt, went to ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival), played disc golf, gorged ourselves on shrimp at Red Lobster's all-you-can-eat shrimp fest, and of course our weekly trivia which combines my seminary friends with my non-seminary friends.

Like almost everything else this semester, I am submitting this article to Brittany late. So I should wrap this up. Besides I have reading to do for section tomorrow, thank you letters to write for my financial aid, my SPM (supervised practice of ministry - internship) paperwork to submit to David Johnson, my World Religions film project to work on, the bulletin for the Advent Vespers service to finish with Allie, and a book to read and write a review for Christian Education, not to mention laundry, dishes, my annual car inspection and bills to pay….AGGHHHHHHHHH!!! Hang in there Middlers! We can do this!!!

The classes that I took this semester were - Introduction to Preaching (my favorite), Mark Exegesis, World Religions, and Christian Education. I was again in the choir and also served as one of the student representatives to the Worship Committee. We had a great group of students join our community in September and they have been a wonderful addition to both APTS and my circle of friends.

I've grown even more fond of the Local (my own personal Cheers) and have developed some wonderful friendships as I mentioned in the article shared above. Here's a sampling of the fun that I mentioned in that article -

In costume for the FFF Scavenger Hunt with Jayson, Chase, Nikki, and Jason

Brandon and Jayson playing giant Jenga at the Local

My fellow Redskin fans at the Local that I watch the game with every Sunday - Mark, Mo, and Jeff.

Seminarians and spouses celebrating Greg's birthday at the Allen-Pickett's house. Lisa & Tim, Greg, Andrew, Josh, Tara, baby Kellen, Lindsay, Jordan, Me, Allie, Jessica and Ester

Some amazing eats on the grill at Brandon and Michelle's house.
Lynn and I playing some cornhole with Taylor and Taylor looking on.