Life is hard

This has been a rough week. I worked 24 rigorous hours and tried to do my school work in-between those hours, couple with 2 2-hour classes.

It is quite difficult to balance seminary and work. As you can probably tell, Mars Hill Grad School is a community and an institution that really provides such support, depth, and life for me. I am a person that comes alive when exploring the profundity of God and creation. It has been difficult, but wonderful.

Work: I like coffee and I like people. I enjoy being a barista at the market. However, there is this corporate side to it that sneaks in. Wednesday was our new promotion launch. My manager was there all day and I felt the pressure to "upsell" (Do you want a muffin with your latte? Do you want fries with that?). I'm a barista and a seminarian, not a salesperson. Anyway, there were all these little things (and bigger things) that I'll refrain from saying that had happened that day. I was busy and had no rest.

I got off work that day at 2, went home and lied down for about ten minutes (Thank you God that I live in Belltown), and then went to school for my 3:00 class. My walk to the school was wearied, angry, and frustrated. I shot mental bullets at many passers by, especially tourists. (How dare they take up space and be in my way? How dare they look good and have a good time? I don't get such luxuries.)

When I got to school, Scott asked me how I was doing. He saw something was up. He invited me to sit down with him and I crashed in that chair in the lounge. I collapsed in tears and weariness. It was good to have him listen to me, especially since I live on my own and two of my dear friends are away.

I worked the next day, and it was hard again. That was Thursday. I spent the last half of Thursday and most of Friday recuperating: shades drawn, watching Lord of the Rings.
Hopefully I can catch up on homework today. However, my body (I think) has responded to my stress as I am fighting a sore throat.