Today's word is peace. This is something I have been searching for this semester. The joy and ease of the past year is gone. I knew seminary would be hard, but apart from a few short periods (like finals) I have been delighted to be here. I have not experienced the breaking down of beliefs that so many of my colleagues and friends experienced in their own seminary journey. Mine has been one of confirmation and discovery. I have found that although I am at an evangelical seminary, my Methodist beliefs and dedication are being strengthened. (Although I was a bit disturbed in church this past Sunday to hear someone speak on the nativity story as a parable.)

But this semester...it's been tough. Really tough. I love all my classes still but the demands of maintaining full-time classes and doubling my work schedule has been killer. My classes just didn't fit together well this semester, and it has been a struggle to stay afloat. I was really sick for about four weeks with sinusitis. I have never missed so many deadlines in my life. I have been blessed with grace from some of my professors and really my grades haven't slipped too far. It is so draining to always be behind. I'm running out of motivation, but luckily we only have two more weeks.

My songs this semester have been the update to the hymn A Mind at Perfect Peace by the Classic City Collective along with Please Be My Strength by Gungor. "Please be my strength 'cause I don't have any more...let me rest in You alone." These are the words that have gotten me through this semester. I was blessed to be able to go to the mountains for a few days over Thanksgiving and took this picture as sunset approached. A rare moment of peace indeed.