Learning Curves

Phew!

That's the best word to describe the past couple of months.  In that time, I've been on a steep learning curve with three different things...

1. Starting a doctoral program.  This felt (for most of us in the cohort) like being thrown into the deep end to see if we can swim. Just this past week, I finally felt like I was getting a full grasp of what's ahead, and find myself looking forward to it, not being overwhelmed by it. "Swimming" is reading and writing and commenting and thinking and exploring.  I'm no longer feeling like I'm barely keeping my head above water, but I'm swimming in a direction.  It's going to be a long (but hopefully enjoyable) swim!

2. Chairing a committee within my denominational structure.  This one wasn't planned for...but when someone needed to step out of the position for health reasons, I was asked to step in.  Thankfully, there have been others who have been helping me get quickly up to speed.

3. Trades of Hope.  To help finance upcoming travel for my doctorate, I've picked up a "side business" selling fair trade products made by micro-enterprise artisans around the globe.  I love the mission of this business, and love that's it's connecting me with people in my community (I don't want to be a hermit!), but yes, it's one more learning curve...  (www.mytradesofhope.com/PamBraman).

So where is God in all this?  All over the place...

1.  In learnings.  My mind is being stretched in ways it hasn't in awhile.  And in the midst of each new learning, there's the question: how does this learning intersect with the work of God in me and around me?  I'll be processing that question often...but for now, it's safe to say that I'm gaining clarity on both the past and the future.

2. I've found a new rhythm faster than I'd anticipated.  I'm organized and ready.  I even have a feeling of spaciousness allowing for other possibilities in my schedule (national novel writing month anyone?).  I don't think there is ANY way I could have gotten to this centered place this quickly, were it not for the Lord.

If you find yourself in the midst of a steep learning curve?  Hold on tight to Jesus.  It might be a wild ride...