Current Situation

Whoa dang. It's been over two months since my last update. Some friends recently remarked that I never blog anymore, so here are the deets on what's going on.

I came to the conclusion tonight that I must prioritize.

Before when I was working full-time as a Microsoft contractor and also putting in 10-20 hours a week at the tutoring center, I used work as an excuse to put things off. I also used bad traffic, dating, church duties, etc., as excuses.

Some of you know that last fall I started writing a novel. I quit my job last summer to travel and, while abroad, the "idea" sort of fell into my head. I spent all of October-January writing full-time and living off of my savings.

Then I got rehired by the software company around the same time I started tutoring and practically overnight had no time to write. I didn't want to quit tutoring because I also toyed with the idea of getting a Master's in Teaching from UW and wanted the experience.

So I put the novel on hold indefinitely.

I also started dating and going out more.

So in addition to work, boys took a lot of my time.

Nothing was ever too serious; nothing lasted more than a month or two. And deep down, I knew I wasn't ready to commit since my whole life was sort of in transition. I didn't (and still don't) know who I am. Consequently, how in the heck am I supposed to know what to look for in a potential mate?

Most significantly, my spiritual life took a downturn, as well.

Literally the Monday after the weekend of GODencounters back in January, I started working again.

And to be quite honest, planning GODencounters sort of took its toll on my spiritual life. Ironic, right?

One would imagine that putting together such a successful event for God would be beneficial to my relationship with Him. But instead, I got burned out.

Very, very gradually, and without notice on my part, I started spending less and less time with God. And I started to relinquish my church duties onto others, at least where the UW ministry is concerned.

So for the last 6 months, my life has consisted solely of work, tutoring, dating, and socializing.

Hardly any time was allotted to my novel, or to God.

And today one of my good friends outside of church called me on his break and we had a heart-to-heart. He knows that I've been struggling spiritually. He knows about all the guys I've dated the past 6 months. He knows about my novel and how important it is to me that I complete it.

He's younger, just 19, but very wise.

And he put it so simply. He said, "Steph. You need to prioritize."

So that's what I'm trying to do.

Time was scarce because I made time my own.

But time belongs to Him.

I know that if I reconnect with Him and make him the center of my life, that time will be ample once again, and I will, once again, have time to do what's important.

Pray for me.