The Week That Was

Let's recap the week. Because it may have been the best ever.

Monday: I studied for a while because I actually had a test I was worried about. Borderline between a C and D so I needed to do well. So I studied for quite a while. The Silver Dollar City people called and set up a time to close out my Worker's Compensation case and told me I'd most likely be getting a check for $1,600 or so.

Tuesday: Worker's Comp conference call. Apparently when they said $1,600, they meant $5,000. Then I took the test. It was one of those where I knew I studied hard for it but honestly felt like it could have gone either way. But I walked out feeling confident about what happened, so that was that. Then I started to get ready for Wednesday, which happened to be one of the biggest days ever. I was super nervous going to bed because so much seemed to hinge on Wednesday. I spent some time reflecting on Phillipians 4:4-7:
-"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Also, I read and reflected on Jeremiah 29:10-14:
-"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me a with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

The interesting thing about these two passages is that "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "welfare" are pretty much the same thing. The original word here, at least according to my ESV study bible, is shalom. The footnote for Jer. 29:7 says that shalom covers all aspects of peace and plenty. So, as it is written here, it's like the prophet is saying "guys, I know you don't have any hope right now, but take faith in this - God has a plan, one for your future, so even though it's not looking so good right now, take heart." When the people have no reason to feel peace, God promises them He is in control, and they can take heart knowing that. That's definitely the effect it had on me.

Wednesday: Woke up, took my second test. I didn't study at all for it because all I had to do was make better than a 9 out of 105 to pass the class. I did much better than that. Then I got a job, so I get to live in Oxford for a while. Spent the afternoon and evening with some good friends, and had a GREAT night that culminated in the first ever Ole Miss flash rave in the library, which truly had to be a top 5 moment ever at Ole Miss. Top 5 in no particular order - LSU game, 2003; Ole Miss vs. LSU basketball - Valentine's Day game, 2007; Double Decker, 2009; Double Decker, 2005; flash rave, 2009.

Thursday: First day of post-college freedom. Sat around and did nothing.

Friday: See Thursday. Besides watching the most disappointing baseball game in history, it was a great day. Saw the new Star Trek, it was fantastic, and I'm not even a Trekkie. The aforementioned test that I had to do well on? 95. Officially a graduate...well, I'm not actually going to say that until the degree is in my hands. But I killed all of my classes this semester.

So all in all this has been one incredible week.