and exhale

Silly me thought the end the my fourth semester would bring an abundance of time and relaxation. I assumed I would simply fill the evenings I typically spent studying with far more leisurely activities. I would catch up on pleasure reading, play my guitar, write, make social plans, and maybe pick up one of the many television shows everyone always talks about. Well almost one month removed from the end of the semester I have not done any of those things (except for the occasional social activity).

The last month taught me two things. First, I am still busy even though school has ended. My busyness has simply transferred from one thing to another. I work forty hours again, which took an period of adjustment for my body. I coach swimming again, which will really start taking off Wednesday and last until the end of July. My internship at church requires my attention as well. And being the sports nut that I am, the current championship run of the San Antonio Spurs has also occupied a number of my evenings and brought with it angst and excitement at the same time.

Second, my schedule has completely changed. This has probably been one of the tougher aspects of my summer transition. Gone are the forty-five minute commutes to class, which served as my time for prayer each morning. Gone are the evenings of study, which would often transition me into times of reading through and meditating over the Word of God. Gone is the relative ease it took to build intimacy with my Savior. Now I have to work...hard.

I have to (sometimes forcefully) insert time for prayer and reading. I cannot wait around for those moments, because they either never come or I am too distracted to take advantage of them. I have to be far more intentional.

One aspect of the Bible-reading plan I am in the midst of is reading through Proverbs each month. Every day I read one chapter, so by the end of the year I will have read the book roughly twelve times. Honestly, the book is not always the most engaging. It is very repetitive and almost (dare I say) too practical. And yet the book remains a great blessing. It holds out my remaining folly which I cannot ignore. It holds out true wisdom which I often times look for in other places. It 

For instance, take Proverbs 4:20-23. It is far from extravagant, but simple and to the point. The Word of God brings life and healing, and who is without the need for those things?

My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.