Let's see... This week's reading schedule...
- Pastoral theology (Monday 9:00 A.M.): 70 pages and exercises
- Church history (Tuesday 8:00 A.M.): 32 pages
- Educational ministry (Tuesday 2:00 P.M.): 45 pages and an exercise
- Constructive theology (Thursday 9:00 A.M.): 250 pages, quiz
I need to work on my big history paper at some point--I don't want to be doing it at the last minute. There are also many other things I'm trying to juggle:
- Basic housekeeping
- Routes with Alexis
- Take advantage of seminary chaplain availability/mentorship opportunities
- Getting a small group going at church
- Launching transportation ministry at church
- Extra 300 pages required for educational ministry
- Doctor appointments
- Eat reasonably healthy
- Time for journaling
- Occasional CEU credit because it's a cheaper way to get some of the courses independently that I would like to take as electives and I can do them at my pace
- A bit of songwriting here and there because it matters to me
- Keep up with friends
- Get enough sleep
Welcome to my life. This is roughly prioritized. I have left out things I enjoy, like singing in the church choir. I don't see how I can do it right now. I told someone the other day that I don't remember what sleep is and I have gotten very familiar with chocolate and coffee. She emailed me back and said, "Hey, sign me up!" However, when you almost fall off a bench while waiting for your taxi because you are too tired to sit there for 20 minutes and the coffee didn't do the trick, it is time to call a time-out. I'm trying to stick to my 24-oz/day limit because what I don't need is to be living on coffee; and I do need to watch the chocolate if I want to keep off the weight I worked so hard for three years to lose. So I need a new survival strategy. I have a long four years ahead. M.Div. is a 90-hour program as opposed to the average master's program, which is about 48 hours. When I talked with professors about graduate school in the past, I was told that nine hours was considered a full load. Here, twelve is a full load; and some people take fifteen and call it "suicide." I understand why they do it. There is a financial advantage. The tuition caps out at twelve. So getting that extra three hours in, if possible, can knock off an entire semester if done enough times.
I have read about 130 pages in the past 24 hours. That is insane!
