In starting this update, it's compulsory that I remark on just how quickly this year is going. "I can't believe it's February already" will suffice because I can't, actually, believe it is February. Christmas seemed to whizz pass, particularly the time that was spent with just mum, dad, Charlotte & Ellie. The snow meant my final weeks were fairly uneventful but there's something about the snow which meant that it could be forgiven for having caused the cancellation of my plans. When you live in a society which strives for efficiency & amongst people hypersensitive about time-saving, it is quite refreshing when something out of our control forces us to stop. Roads unsafe, plane schedules compromised, meetings averted, school cancelled & suddenly, people stopped. We had time. We had to walk places & we interacted because we were no longer speeding past one another at 30mph. The whole experience was quite profound & deeply impacting. Everyone affected by the weather had a nation wide excuse which, although legitimate to varying degrees, meant life as we know it was on hold & it was divine.
However, it's unrealistic to expect life could continue in that way & indeed, it didn't. I was back to Swansea on Sunday 10th January for an exam on the 11th and thus began two hetic weeks. That Sunday evening I was confronted with the full consequences of a life lived with Facebook & following a frank e-mail to my mum at 1am about my frustrations with the cycle of procrastination, I decided to delete my Facebook profile. Impulsive decisions are not always regrettable, as I first thought, because the day after, I found myself justifying the reasons why it was surely necessary to have a profile. Friends overseas, friends birthdays, general interest, ease of communication. The list is endless. Yet, in deleting my facebook, I was not discrediting it as such. I still believe it's highly effective in what it sets out to do, but for me, it was simply doing more harm than good. It made me nosey, shallow, impatient, lazy in my friendships & unproductive. Indeed, I would bet good money that this very blog would not have been written if I still had an account. Following the exam, I then had exactly a week to revise for an exam the following Monday, write an essay for the Tuesday & write another essay for the Wednesday. All which were completed with time to spare all because, I am convinced, of my decision to leave FB.
Since the final essay was handed in, I have been home twice (!) for various reasons, one being the wedding of Mike & Lauren Horswell. The day went without a glitch; Lauren looked breath-takingly beautiful, Louise did the decorations amazingly, Sarah's cake was a work of art & Stefanie sucessfully pulled off what will no doubt be the biggest surprise of 2010! She made her way from Indiana to Oxford, via Basingstoke, completely undetected, except by the few who were in the know. To say it was amazing to be amongst everyone again on such a joyous occasion is an understatement. I spent the full day basking in the glory of people who know me &, as Paula eloquently put it, although I didn't catch up with many, "just seeing them is enough". The time was short & sweet, as it will no doubt be always be with people who I could spend hours upon hours with.
So, it was back to Swansea which is where I find myself now as I write this. I am, as they say, "in the thick of it", with "it" being lectures, friends, required reading, Christian Union, Church &, when I get the chance, family. Commitments have grown considerably & on Thursday evening, after finding that I was voted in to the CU committee, was officially prayed in as prayer secretary. A role which I am so excited to start & really get to grips with, with the help of friends & prayer itself. Yet I do not allow myself to get too excited just yet, not until missions week is out the way in two weeks time. I have to stifle my thoughts surrounding prayer for fear that I might just mentally self-combust with excitement, apprehension & sheer desire. Whilst not wanting to wish missions week to be over, I cannot wait till I can "dream" again & just go nuts, filling my head with ideas & throwing them around with people. Bring on missions week & whatever comes after.
Well, this just about brings everyone up to speed, I believe. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Much, much love.
xx
