Weekly Update #3: Starting to Feel Like Normal...Maybe
- Matthew Quick
- Aug 27, 2018
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 28, 2018
Woot woot! Two weeks in! Although, I have to say that I can't believe its only been two weeks. I truly feel like I've been here three months already. There has been so much going on, so much studying to do, and so many friends to make. It certainly does not feel like "home" yet, but it's at least starting to feel like normal...maybe.
I'm finally fully moved into my dorm! Although I probably should have been fully moved in two weeks ago, those of you who know me well know that I have to have everything perfect! After two weeks of rearranging and buying new and exciting accessories, I can officially say that my dorm room feels like my new bedroom (see picture below). Also, the view from my dorm room is amazing, and totally worth the four flights of stairs I have to climb each day to get to it (see picture below). My dorm room situation is truly starting to feel like normal.
My class load this past week was certainly rough, but amidst it all I was able to continue to set a rhythm. I've found that it works best for me if I take an hour or so on Sunday night to look at each of my class schedules and plan out what homework I'm going to do each day of the week so that I'm not overwhelmed (see picture below). This way, I can schedule more time for homework on days I'm free, and on days like Tuesdays when I have four classes in one day, I can schedule no time for homework. It may sound overly-organized, but trust me, its not. For those of you reading this who have been through college, you know that this kind of organization is essential! I'm starting to set patterns for my study habits, and as far as acedemics go, it is truly starting to feel like normal.
I've also been developing deeper friendships with those who I was already friends with, as well as making new friends as well! Thank you to those who were praying for that. Although I certainly don't have friends that were as close to me as those who were at home, I trust that God will build those relationships over time. Best friends aren't made overnight. Nevertheless, my suitemates and I went bowling on Friday night, I've been running with my buddy Cody, and studying greek with a guy named Dolbee. Friends are forming, and my social life is at least starting to feel like normal.
However, I have to be honest: there is one aspect of all of this that has not yet began to feel like normal. I've been able to get used to being away from my family and friends, making new friends, enduring hard class loads, and much more. All of those things, after two weeks, have started to feel like normal as I have gotten used to them. Yet, there's one thing that certainly is not starting to feel like normal yet: not being at Calvary Community Church. I have to be honest with you all: although I truly miss my family and my best friends, I miss my church the most. I cannot describe in words how hard it is to be away from the church that has been a part of my life for the past eighteen years. Since before I could remember, I have been attending Calvary. This is the first time in my life where I haven't been able to attend on a consistent basis, and it is truly one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through. The encouragement, support, love, care, and fellowship from those at Calvary have been so hard to be without. Not being able to attend Calvary on Saturday nights, not going to youth group on Wednesday (or Sunday) nights, and not leading small group on Saturday nights has been a difficult burden for me to bear. Calvary will always be my home church, and it is truly where my heart is, and it has taken so much trust in the Lord to be content with not being able to physically be there with you all. Thank you all for your concerns and your prayers. I long to be with with you in the flesh, but praise to be to God that I can be with you in Christ (as well as in social media...).
Prayer Requests (I'll try to keep them shorter than last week)...
Contentment. Pastor Yorgey always tells me that "contentment is something that must be learned." Be praying that I might learn contentment. Being way from my home and my home church, as described above, is not easy. Be praying that I might be content in all circumstances, as Paul was.
Starfish Opportunities. (See last week's update.)
Patience. My heart desires to have the same level of relationships that I had at home, but those relationships come with time. Pray that I might be patient as I build new friendships.
Wisdom. Sooner or later, I will need both a new job and a new church to attend regularly. Be praying that God will give me wisdom in making these decisions.
New Friends.
What I've been learning...
In my personal devotions, I have been learning how we are all sinners in need of a Savior (see my daily devotions). Also, I have been reading a book called The Secret Jewel of Christian Contentment and I have been learning what contentment truly is, where it is truly found, and how to truly have it. In the last chapter I read, Jeremiah Burroughs (the author) spoke of how contentment can be found when we "realize the glorious things of heaven."
In History of the Bible, we are discussing if we can truly trust the Bible, and if so, how? Don't worry...you can trust the Bible! But there are many questions that critics raise that demand an answer. For instance: many of the stories in the Bible took place before a written language was even created. Since these stories were all transmitted orally, can we really trust them?
In Greek, we have been memorizing the 32 noun ending and article forms. In English, we have the word "the," but in Greek (just like in Spanish) you need to have the article agree with both the number and the gender of the noun. Furthermore, in Greek you have four different cases of nouns, and therfore 32 different articles total. (Maybe I should have put that as a prayer request...haha!)
In Ethics, we are learning about different ideas of the good life. What does it look like to truly live a good life? Is pleasure the highest good? And what abour morality? How can we know what is morally good?
In English, we are learning how to write a thesis and have three main points in a formal paper...AKA, I'm bored in English class.
In Christian Education (my favorite class, I woud have to say), we are learning about how not only does everyone have a worldview, but also a gospel and a discipleship. Every person has a gospel (a life-defining truth that they live by), a worldview (a life-informing framework that they live by), and a discipleship (a life-giving practice that they live by).
Thank you all for your prayers. Please do not be afraid to contact me (and if you don't know how, look at the giant button on the top of this page that says "Contact Matthew"). I miss you all.
Peace be with you.
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