Here we go again...

So today concludes my first full week as a graduate student at Boston University School of Theology. Now, by "first full week" I mean two days of class, and three days of doing a fat lot of nothing. Since I just got my last syllabus yesterday, and one of my classes hasn't actually started yet, I don't feel quite like the fat, lazy slacker that I probably should, but I do have this lovely sinking feeling that I have gotten myself into something that might be undoing.

Sitting in class did, however, feel very right. It's the first time in about 2 to 2 1/2 years that I have really felt like I was at a place in life that was where I was supposed to be. Then I came home and looked at my assignments, and looked at the application deadlines for my PhD programs, and my heart sank again. As a student in the Master of Sacred Theology (STM) program, I am going to be called upon to do quite a bit more work in some of my courses than the other students. I don't begrudge the extra work; in the end it will be worth it. But 16 credit hours, plus extra course requirements, along with 12 hours of work per week (I hope, I still haven't been able to get in touch with my boss about my schedule) is probably going to lead to a nervous breakdown. I have the distinct feeling that I am about to crawl into a hole and not emerge until classes are over. At least I won't be spending money.

On a mostly unrelated note, Wednesday chapel services are going to be interesting. The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church have entered into "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" (whatever that means). I think I came to the BU School of Theology not a moment too soon. We've got some liturgical work to do with the next generation of UMC ministers... ;^)