This morning, I had the distinct pleasure of writing a midterm with last night’s beer still sitting in my stomach. Just like with most other things, having something sit in your belly for a good eight hours is pretty gross. The residual taste in my mouth didn’t help much either. Remind me not to do that again!

It has been quite an eventful 16 hours or so…

This morning, I get up to go to church, which starts at 10:30. My alarm doesn’t sound until 9, but I don’t actually roll out of bed until around 9:50 or so. After I mutter some of my frustrations to myself, I very hastily get dressed to bike.

I’m zipping along Columbia down a hill, heading against traffic since the lane is slightly wider there. All of a sudden, I clip the side of the pavement (as I had been biking on gravel beforehand), and I totally wipe out. I am very fortunate that no cars were heading my way! Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as I helplessly embraced the road. I mutter many more frustrations to myself and pick myself up off of the road as soon as I could. I do a quick inspection on the sidewalk and count a good number of cuts and scrapes. Garbage. I really should get a helmet… Oh well, off to church!

After the service, the Steering Committee held a Town Hall meeting. They informed us about some of the upcoming issues that they are considering, and updated us on a number of issues including, but not limited to, finances, events, and procedural changes. The big news, though, was that Embassy/Elevation has hired a new full-time pastor!!! I’ve been in the know for months now, but it’s so good to be able to say it! I’ve met the new guy (Dom) and I think that he’ll be a great fit for our church. I’m really looking forward to working with him!

I decided to spend the evening at St. Paul’s. After visiting Meat Club for dinner (which is such a staple for Sundays during the Spring/Summer term), I sit down and start on my readings and assignments. I was surprisingly productive, and I’ll credit Patrudel for some handy tips for my assignment. At the end of it all, I made out further ahead than I had anticipated. Sweet deal!

Late in the evening, I went to the prayer group at St. Paul’s. I’m told that only three people attend regularly, which was a little saddening to me. At least three is a bit more manageable than the eight or nine or ten that we used to have.

Since it was my first time there this term, I filled them in on the Embassy issues that I’ve been handling, and about my little (or huge) dilemma that I mentioned at the end of my last post. It was great to hear how things were going in some of my friends’ lives (although some news were not all that great) and participate in a spiritual event with them again.

We took turns praying for the person on our right. Laura (sister of Carolyn/Lucas/Jessica/Rachel/Hannah, for those of you who might know some of them) was to my right. Now, Jessica and Rachel were over last weekend and we chatted about how things were going with their family. If you recall, they lost their dad to cancer a couple of months back. It was still all so real to them (and who would expect otherwise?), while it had moved towards the back of my mind.

I felt bad because I sorta gave up on them. I was certainly willing to support them, but I don’t think that they knew it. So I prayed for Laura and her family tonight. I was scared because I didn’t want to cross any lines or reopen any old wounds, but it felt like the right thing to do. After she closed, we sat there in awkward silence for around five minutes.

I waited around to talk to her again, hoping that I didn’t do something that was unwanted or anything. We chatted for a little bit and I became even more convinced that her loss – their loss – is just as painful now as it was before. It totally sucks, and I feel for them so much. What would be worse is if they had to deal with it alone. I hope that they all know that I, and many other friends, are still there for them.