Busy = Teaching + Studies + Ministry + Clubs + Friends

My life is full.

Packed to the brim.

HELP!!

Somehow, these last few weeks have started to seem really crammed to me. For one, this week was the start of tutorials, so now I have to actually spend more time preparing for each class and marking afterwards. Then there’s the graduate studies, where I have to compile a reading list of research material and actually get around to reading it. Which takes up another big chunk of time – not to mention that I’m considering changing my topic, which could potentially double my workload as I read a little of both and decide whether it’s worthwhile to change or stay. Then there’s ministry, which is starting to ramp up as the Young Adults Zone is getting its’ act together under a new pastor and I’m being tapped for more involvement in church activities, plus ministry training and preparation. Then there’s the NUS Games Development Group, which I’m also trying to help and train. Then there are a bunch of friends that I’m trying to spend time and hang out with.

All of these add up to a huge amount of time.

Surprisingly, even though it’s exhausting and I occasionally find myself just blanking out at my desk… I like the sensation of being able to live life fully. And I still find little pockets of time to rest. But I’m well aware that I can’t maintain this pace indefinitely. Sooner or later, something’s going to crack. And when it does – when I fall down exhausted from running the Red Queen’s race, I’ll be left behind and struggling to catch up, in even more of a rush than before. I think it’s only by the grace of God that I’ll be able to stand this pace. What’s more if I start to follow the inklings of my heart and pursue romance once more.

Which is why, before that happens, I must must MUST discipline myself to spend time in prayer. Martin Luther once said (and this is one of my favourite quotes):

Work, work, from morning until late at night.  In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer.

I don’t know if I have the stamina to spend three hours in prayer like he did, but I’m coming to understand that prayer IS a very vital component to sustainable spiritual life. And so, it is important to pray. Now it’s just a matter of actually doing it.