From Sea to Shining........Pond

Thursday August 30 was Convocation, the first chapel service of the semester.  I learned that there must be an unspoken rule about backpacks during chapel for when I arrived I arrived through a sea of backpacks that had been checked at the door.  The chapel was full, almost Standing room only.  First year students, eager to participate, 2nd and third year students excited to be back on campus and among friends.  There was lots of pomp and circumstance as the faculty was ushered in wearing their best robes and hoods.  Classes had begun the day before but for many this was the first day of class with only 1 or 2 classes under their belts.  The room was full of excitement and anticipation.  Tuesday, September 4th as I approached the chapel door I noticed that the sea of backpacks had dwindled to more like a lake of backpacks.  We had been to every class at least once.  Everyone had spent the weekend trying to figure out a rhythm for getting the reading done.  Fear had set in for some as the realized the intimate nature of some of their classes and the weight of reading in others.  There was less Pomp and circumstances.  Tuesdays are a service of word and table.  We came to the table together with all of our fears and anticipations.  Thursday September 6th as I approached chapel I noticed that no longer were there a sea of backpacks or a lake of backpacks but more like a pond of backpacks.  I heard a couple of people make statements about skipping chapel, lack of sleep, the need to read.  I understood.  I was exhausted having had a written assignment due that day and our first quiz.  I had fought sleep during my first two classes that morning.  At one point I embarrassingly shook myself awake.  My classmates either didn't notice or allowed me to keep my dignity one.  I'm not sure which.  I plugged on to chapel though and I am glad I went.  For a listen into the intriguing words given by Tom Long follow this link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/tom-longs-sermon-9-6-12/id422868582?i=120320996.   Because none of my text books have an audible version the current book playing in my car is Steven Covey's 7 habits of highly effective people.  It it he quotes Martin Luther saying "There is much work to be done today, I need to spend another hour on my knees."  That resonates much.  My fellow journeymen and journeywomen, there is too much work to be done not to take the time out to feed your spirit daily.  If chapel is not your thing please make sure you take the time out in some other way during the day.  The spirit will be our lifeline over the next 3 years, let's not neglect it.