When Every World Converges

There are times in our lives when every sector, everything in which we are involved, decides to host some major project or suddenly demand extra attention. For me, it happens once or twice a year. Its not anything you see coming and could have scheduled differently. Its usually something you have absolutely no control over.

This week is one of those times. I started classes for seminary which required dedicating a day to a retreat and kicking off the reading regimen. PrayerSong had its debut concert at Roswell Cancer Clinic, requiring a longer dress rehearsal. Church is hosting the Roberts Gospel Choir for service, requiring extra time to plan and organize. Its pivot week at the college, that time when everyone suddenly realizes graduation is mere weeks away and you have to get serious about papers and class, requiring me to teach extra sessions of "how to find the articles you need to write your paper" [8 in one week]. Drew has a bake sale, carpool runs are more often since after school activities are mostly over and everyone is coming home. There are recitals and presentations by students that I attend (they do, after all, work for me!). We are planning the graduation party for our student workers who are leaving us.

I look at my daytimer, and the whole thing is blocked off for one commitment or another. Its impossible. When can I actually get anything done! And its common that when there is the least wiggle room, that's when you most need to wiggle. Well, these are times when you just move along as directed and stop thinking about the "how am I gonna's". I find my breath prayer (you know, those words you repeat to yourself to help you remember that you are not alone and God really is in charge and this will all pass) for the week has been

"Grace of God [on breathing in], Peace of Christ [on breathing out]".

It sustains me to connect in this way, helps me maintain my equilibrium even in the face of a crisis when I don't know what to do. God does. And He provides. Thank goodness. Once the convergence has passed and things are back to a normal sustainable routine and I am breathing easily again, I will remember to thank God for His grace and peace that makes the pressing places not so painful.