I get to go to work every morning. I have motivation to get up in the morning and incredible coworkers. I have a boss who looks after his employees and who takes the flak when we screw up. I work at a company that is expanding quickly and becoming a strong competitor in its field.
I’ve talked to so many people in the last few months who wish they had jobs- who search and search but can’t find one. So they go on unemployment insurance, or welfare; they eat a soup-kitchens because they really can’t afford to do much else once they’ve paid rent, and they continue searching for work.
Yes, I did my time in University and graduated with a degree in a field that is bustling with jobs, but that was only because I could, not because I earned the ability to think in the way I do, or decided to enjoy sitting at a computer all day. I’m thankful, because most people can’t will themself to have a job like I do - to have the money for a costly university education, to like computer science, to understand math (enough), to like a desk job. I have only God to thank for those things, and I hope that I can honour him in using the earnings from my job for his glory.

To be honest, I really wasn’t sure I would make it. In fact, there were times I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it, and not sure I really wanted to either. Times when I questioned how what I was learning in school was actually going to apply (Calculus?? Really?) and times when my priorities may have leaned a little too heavily in favour of hanging out and playing games and chatting till far too late. I suppose I did a lot of things wrong, and yet, by some miracle I’m here. Sure I worked hard and I just worked later into the night to make up for my social gallivanting, but there was far more grace in my undergraduate journey than I tend to commonly acknowledge. Having taken a bunch of online credits and a choir during co-op in my first few terms for no particular reason, I ended up failing two credits later on in my undergrad. Initially thinking this would set me back a year I was disappointed but had learned my lesson. Then, a year later, looking at the courses I had yet to take and realizing I had a few credits already stored up, I was amazed to discover I still could graduate with my friends, and even take 4 courses instead of 5 for all but my final term. Then, right before my final term I realized I miscalculated, and actually needed 5.5 credits for my last term - my highest course load ever with a 4th and 3rd year computer science course (which aren’t easy btw). Switching out of a course I knew I would hate into a different 3rd year CS course also was a first for me but definitely a matter of grace, because although the User Interfaces course I ended up taking was A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF WORK (20 hours a week on top of class), I could do the work and feel good about it and I learned a TON. So, you might ask, why is it such a big deal that I graduate with my friends this term? Well, 1) I’ve known them since first year and it was INCREDIBLE to share that experience with them today, and 2) There just happened to be an opening (actually 3) in my department at Desire2Learn where me and two of my good friends will now be working upon graduation. Why? Cause I’m an incredible life planner and am a pretty exceptional stude… WRONG!!!! I don’t deserve anything that I’ve been blessed with (did I mention my grandparents and my girlfriend came to my graduation), not perseverence, motivation, friends, Grebel, supporting family, daily food, a place to live, a job, good profs, safety, peace, forgiveness, love. None of it! And yet, by God’s extravagant grace and mercy I have not received the death I deserved, nor the separation from God, but instead I’ve been given life, and life to the fullest thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross 2000 years ago. He paid the price so that God no longer looks upon me as the disgrace that I am, but sees one of his children who is blameless in His sight, who’s wrongs have been so far removed and ignored, that bringing them to His attention is ridiculous to Him. And so, basking in this undeserved … EVERYTHING, I praise God, and thank Him for guiding me here, and not abandoning me, but journeying with me, and teaching me far more lessons along the way than my profs could ever hope to give me. Thanks Jesus.

The other night I wanted groceries at 11:30pm, so I went to Zehrs. It was incredible. I felt like a rat sneaking into the store after hours, only, I couldn’t just eat what I wanted and leave. But still, it was awesome… and we had milk for our cereal the next morning.

Just when I think life without a printer is hard, the electricity goes out. Couldn’t shower (no lights), get on the internet, and consequently could not read assignments. It was actually good as it forced me to get out. Glad it’s back though. As if a printer was a big deal - silly me.

Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. Never been so true. Try writing out lyrics and chords for a group of 15 people to sing for a house dedication in Alabama. The church we were staying at had no printer or photocopier (to my knowledge) so I realized just how wonderful printers are this reading week. It also gave me an appreciation for the monks who copied the Bible out for their entire lives. Thankyou God for printers. Amen.