I’ve been at school now for just over a full week and I’m grateful for that on its own. I’m at UBC five days a week and, while some people prefer to have Tuesdays and Thursday off, I made a deliberate decision to be there every weekday so that I got back into waking up everyday and getting into a routine. If I didn’t have work or service in my days without school, I’d get up whenever I felt like it. Trying to get into a routine is something that, I hope, will help with my adjustment to school life. My schedule is relatively light: three classes. I’m at school from 1-2pm on Mondays and Friday, 9:30-11am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9am-2pm on Wednesdays. 

I’m happy to say that I haven’t skipped a class. One of my major issues with school the last time I had a go at it was not showing up. The degree of freedom given to us is immense; the temptation to skip classes is just as big. I’m doing my readings and enjoying my classes so I don’t think there’s are any incentives for me to skip class. I’ve come to the point where I regret what I’ve done before, I’ve learned from it, and I’m striving to improve on those failures. The sooner I ingrain that within myself, the sooner I can push on towards graduation.

My choice of classes has really helped with the historical and societal context of early Christianity. I’m taking three religious studies courses this semester to 1) fill up my electives and 2) enrich my understanding of my faith. I’ve come to a point where I understand that it is necessary, and good, to be practising my faith in the ways that I do but I’ve also come to understand that it is not enough. Finishing Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”, starting Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy”, and getting to know brothers who are very, very well informed in theological, catechetical, and apologetic matters has been a means of impetus. The door to knowledge and Truth is just off to the wayside; it is up to me to walk towards and through it for greater application to my faith. I understand that I’m not going to find much in the way of theological truth in these courses—that’s a given—but to preclude the possibility of finding greater knowledge in places unexpected would be foolish.

I think it’s going to be a good year. I just have to sustain the push I’ve given myself, be mindful of the mistakes of the past, and press on towards the goal (as Philippians 3:14 says).

(September 18 for August 20, 2012)

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