exhausted

 

I have been completely swamped for the past few weeks. This weekend, our high school drama club’s production of Twelfth Night finally opens—something I, along with thirteen other kids, have been working on since the beginning of September. It’s been awesome to watch it come together and a blast to build new friendships, but wow, when I think about actually performing it in two days, I want to take the first flight to Honolulu.



If it were just the play, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But somehow all three of my college professors have collaborated to beef up my homework load massively this week. So it’s not just remembering 118 lines and cues and countless tones, inflections, costume changes, and gestures; it’s remembering to turn in my final draft on time, to figure out the least common denominator before adding like terms in the numerator, to find half an hour to exercise somewhere in my week, and to eat and sleep once in awhile as well.



Odd as it sounds, though, there’s something invigorating about being emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically exhausted. It brings me to a place of total surrender to God—a place I should be way more often than I am. And it reminds me to appreciate the moments I can rest, the moments I can enjoy without stressing about a deadline or a grade or a play performance.



Some of the best moments of my week occur between 11:50AM and 2:00PM on Mondays. That’s when I’ve just gotten out of health class and get to spend a couple of hours with my amazing best friend, Amanda. We find a cheap place to eat, catch up on each other’s weeks, and laugh abundantly. Some days we find a spot to take pictures—my senior portraits, pictures of her for my portfolio, or even just the scenery.

Yeah, I could do without the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. I’m not really a fan of the undertow sensation, being dragged deeper and deeper down against my will. But when I’m in that place, too tired to fight my way to the surface and knowing there is no escape, I realize that whatever happens, God is in control. Knowing that gives me strength to get through the impossible. I even have some energy left over for some fun and laughter at the end of the day. :)

Now that I’ve sermonized you to death, my friends, I need some advice. The same day I took all the pictures in this post, Amanda took several senior pictures for me. I love the following, but can’t decide which one is my favorite variation! Your votes would be most welcome!

Thank you in advance!