Down On The Corner
For every issue of the Wesley Foundation's newsletter The Flame this year, I get to write an article under the President's Corner. I just finished the latest edition (several days late -- sorry Tom!) and I thought I'd post parts of it here. It actually feels great to write every once in a while. Makes me wonder why I don't do it more. At any rate, the article touches on why I haven't been posting all the time, and why the photo galleries aren't popping up at lightning-fast rates.
"Well, here we are. The fall semester is already beginning to wind down, and to use a cliché the time has flown by! While Ive been co-opping this semester, Ive certainly had some days that have dragged on and on, and some evenings when the only thing Ive felt like doing is go home, eat dinner, and go straight to bed. However, I have to say that this semester has gone by comparably well to any of my past falls in Blacksburg. I actually find myself missing class, oddly enough, except on a few windy days when I rejoice in not having to walk across the Drillfield in the morning. So while everyone whos taking classes this semester is gearing up for the gauntlet of finals, Im riding out the end of my work term and looking forward to the break and paid vacation days. Im still getting into the holiday spirit, but Im seeing it from a no-exams perspective. This is a first for me. Its an odd situation, something to which Im sure the Wesley alumnus will attest.
"Despite the lack of professors and morning Drillfield walks, however,
I still manage to maintain my fair level of stress. I commute to Salem, put in eight hours, and make the 45-minute drive back to Blacksburg every day. I still have to find time to hold Wesley officer meetings, socialize with my girlfriend and friends, attend Wesley events, and still have time to myself with some eating and sleeping thrown in there somewhere.
"But I dont want to sound like Im complaining. So far Ive survived the challenges this semester has brought, and Ive learned many lessonssans textbooksthat Ill take with me through the rest of this year. Ive made new friends and deepened relationships with people Id already known. And most importantly, the stress though I still have to deal with a lot hasnt gotten the better of me.
"Why? As Psalm 27:1 says, 'The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?' And another of my personal favorites, from Proverbs 3:5-6, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.' The Bible, as always, is a great source of comfort. A quick search online or in a concordance will yield a multitude of verses applicable to stress. I dont always remember these words, just as I occasionally have a day when I think all of my responsibilities are too much to bear, but the important thing is to remember that God is always there to help you through your hard times. We may not always listen to this advice, and we may end up pulling out our hair anyway, but somehow or another we survive that big test, project, or paper, and come out on the other side all the better for it. Like my mom always says, 'Everything is a learning experience! What doesnt kill you can only make you stronger.' She would always say that right before I would have to go onstage for a horrifying spelling bee or go on some long trip away from home for the first time. But she was right.
"So try to balance your time as the wind gets colder and the days get shorter. School and work are definitely important, but stress relief is crucial to maintaining your sanity. A quick prayer or taking fifteen minutes to do something you love can make a world of difference for that next hour of studying. Keep working hard; were all here to help you through it. And God, as always, has got your back:
"'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' (Exodus 33:14)
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