I think that it's safe to assume that one of the first words that pop into people's heads when they think of college is "stress." This is especially true when one is involved in things outside of class. Calendars start to fill up and “to-do” lists have more bullet points than waking hours in a day. In the midst of homework and exams, performances and competitions, small groups, and, well, trying to get just enough sleep to keep you functioning for the next day, we find ourselves counting the hours until the days are over.
We count the days until the weekend, the weeks until the summer, and, without realizing, we spend most of our lives looking forward to another moment. Things that you started doing out of love become just another chore or another few hours to “get through” before you’re on to the next task.
Don’t get me wrong, I think that it is important to be involved, to find things that you love and work towards them, and to dedicate yourself, but when you sit down to write on your devotional, are you truly devoting yourself if you’re just routinely scribbling something down just to fill that day’s page? You must invest your heart into it and truly understand what it means to be dedicated.
One of my favorite bible verses is 1 Corinthians 16:14. “Let all that you do be done in love”
This, to me, doesn’t just mean “treat others in a kind and loving manner”--although it is definitely part of it. It means that, whatever you do, you must do it with love and righteousness in mind. It seems simple enough when you're thinking about doing things with your friends and doing things that we consider fun. It is not as clear, however, when applying it to school and the other daily activities that consume our schedules.
It’s not about loving every step that it takes to get there, it’s about giving it the necessary amount of time, doing it to your full potential, and making sure that the final outcome is something that you will be proud of. Sure, you may not love your weekly problem sets or all of the readings that you have to do.
Sometimes homework assignments are a little rushed and books are skimmed through. Sometimes you don’t do as well as you probably could have in a class or two. To do something in love is to study what you feel passionate about and what you feel called to do.
The learning process may be tedious or hard and there will always be “gen-ed” classes to get out of the way, but try to take a step back from the due dates and deadlines and remember that you are filled with the potential and love to accomplish this calling. If you still haven’t found your calling, that’s OK.
The truth is that it’s not just about your major and academic life. It can be a slow, tentative process, but approaching things with charity and love will not only make for a better experience, but also help to lead you down the right path.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Prov. 16:3)
