On the Schedule

This was originally written at 4 am today.
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I keep learning (and sometimes forgetting) that each season of life prepares us for what God has next on the schedule, though I often don’t understand at the time how my circumstances could possibly be necessary to the big picture or to the plans for me specifically. I wandered around before grad school because I “didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” and I often felt purposeless or directionless even when I was content where I was at the moment. Now I am so grateful for those years. I collected several albums full of beautiful photos, a crazy random resume, some wonderful friends, a few bumps and bruises that I am (mostly) able to laugh about now, and lots of great stories.

“On the schedule” is a fantastic phrase given particular significance in its usage by my dear friend Johanna and as adopted/adapted by me and several others in our college circle. I continue to use it probably oftener than necessary considering the fact that most people are not familiar with its nuanced range of meanings. But when better words for a concept are not to be found, might as well use what you’ve got. All language was someone’s invention at some point.

It can be a simple indication that something is more or less planned or intended by the speaker, as in “grocery shopping is on the schedule for this afternoon.” It can carry a stronger connotation of desire or necessity, whether or not said occurrence is actually going to happen. “Ice cream is definitely on the schedule right now,” “A nap is really on the schedule.” Then there is the usage of light-hearted exasperation with inevitabilities. “We were supposed to go to the beach this afternoon but of course a thunderstorm was on the schedule.”

Love it.

In the negative, “not on the schedule” is a usually stoical acceptance of circumstances which went contrary to one’s expectations of what was or ought to be, but also can express frustration or sarcasm. “I meant to go running this afternoon but it wasn’t on the schedule,” “Too bad having a reasonable conversation with him is never on the schedule.”

Apparently sleeping well was not “on the schedule” tonight so I’m typing this three hours after I tried to go to bed, and I have to get up in just over four more. Sad.

Parallel Universe

Welcome, whoever you are, to little snapshots of what is going on inside my head. I started a Xanga site a while ago and I'm feeling a little lonely over there. I actually have more friends on Blogger, and this format isn't quite as exclusive because one can post comments without being a cyberspace diarist oneself. Maybe by duplicating my writings through the wonders of cut-and-paste technology I'll increase my readership several hundred percent - from the present 1 to a whole 3 or 4. If you would like to catch up on the handful of posts that happened between May 25 and today, check out my other site via the link on my profile. Right now the intention is to keep them identical from here on out, but we'll see. I guess it depends on what sort of conversations I get into.

I am never quite sure how I feel about blogging, but here I am. I do enjoy unwinding after work by plopping down in front of my computer to browse for wisdom, encouragement, and amusement supplied my first- and second-degree friends. It's a great deal more worthwhile than watching TV, I figure. I am also in the bad habit of being stark wide awake in the middle of the night against my will sometimes. What better time to contemplate the joys, complications, and mysteries of life and then type them up for the whole world to read?