This is a very interesting article which I thought I would share, since I've been feeling a little bit guilty about the absurd amount of downtime I suddenly find myself with now that I've graduated from ND:
It makes me think about our culture and how we are afraid of downtime, of leisure, of relaxation, and mere enjoyment of one another's company. Matthew Kelly wrote that intimacy doesn't thrive in busy-ness, but rather, in carefree timelessness spent in each other's presence, with no agenda or to-do list.
I'd like to live more like some of the European countries and less like the Rat Race of America.
So after 15 job applications and 1 rejection letter, I'm beginning to feel the post-graduation anxiety levels rise.
Right now I have no where to live (I mean, I'm not homeless, but I might be (couch surfing?) in a few days if I don't figure things out soon) as of this coming Tuesday.
I also do not have a job.
I've been working slowly but surely over the past few weeks to figure out both of these, and so far, it seems like things aren't coming through the way I had hoped.
I know I have to just be patient, but patience is not a virtue of mine.
The reading for both our Graduation Mass (Friday Night) and this Sunday were from John 14:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be."
I hear Jesus say: "Have faith in me. I am going to prepare a place for you, and I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may also be... Rachel, I am preparing just the right place for you to serve in. I am removing the obstacles from your path, and I will lead you along the right path. Follow me, for I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..."
God has a plan for my life. He's working out the details of my future. Right now I can't see where the future is going to take me, but God knows.
So I thought I had posted this yesterday, but I apparently went to edit the post and accidentally deleted it! So when I checked my blog, the post wasn't there....
Anyway, I'm glad to be back! Now that I'm finished with my MDiv, I will have (hopefully!) more time to blog.
That being said, being finished with school means that I need to start attending to the requirements of "Real Life" in the "REAL WORLD." Part of that includes figuring out what I'm doing with my life for the next few years. Other than moving to Chicago and looking for work, my plans aren't very clear right now.
That being said, I'm happy to report that I managed to save 85% of my savings goal for this year! While not the full amount, I must say that I am delighted with my progress, and I believe this accomplishment is worth celebrating! I am grateful because this means that I will have a significant chunk of change to live on in the event that I don't secure employment in the immediate future.
Lately I've been doing some research into saving money, living cheaply. Given that I'm going to be living on a ministry salary for potentially the rest of my life, I figure now is as good a time as ever to start learning more ways to be thrifty.
I recently stumbled across a new TV show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing," and I have to say, I'm hooked. If you haven't seen this show yet, you NEED TO! It's flipping amazing! Even if I don't take it to the extremes that these folks do- I'm determined to learn how to use coupons to my advantage to save money.
I've found some awesome resources which I'll post later about how to do this in real life... Stay Tuned!
