Be anxious for nothing

March 15, 2020

Be anxious for nothing

“What have you got out of your Redmond course, Anne?” murmured Priscilla aside.

“”I think.” said Anne slowly, “that I really have learned to look upon each little hindrance as a jest and each great one as the foreshadowing of victory. Summing up, I think that is what Redmond has given me.”

-Anne of the Island

So many things have happened this week. I officially finished 8^th week, which means my demise as an “official” Oxford student. It was bittersweet to say the least, however I have to admit- there is also great relief that has followed.

Before I recount my week in detail I would like to put any worries concerning the coronavirus to rest: I am safe. These past 8 weeks have gone so fast/slow, and I've been anxious whether I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. Anxiety is a huge problem for people and with the virus fears combined we can easily shut down. However, this past week I've been reminded that God has each one of us in places for a reason. Amidst the virus fears I can trust that He is in control, and that while I may not know what I'm doing past May 1st (or if I will still be going home on May 1st), I don't have to be anxious as He has it planed already. That all being said, there are some precautions that we all are taking across the world. As this week is Spring Holiday and news and government suggestions change daily, I cannot say for certain how this will effect my intensive part of my school term, or the travel plans my parents and I had. Nevertheless, my Spring Holiday and World View intensive class that starts on the 23^rd is supposed to commence as usual. Granted, we may transition to an online platform for some days during our intensive. Again, at this point there is no clear answer.

As far as how my 8^th and final week as and “official” Oxford student went, I can say with great confidence that my Monday and Tuesday morning was spent in complete agony as I tried to finish my essay before the due date. This essay as you may remember was for the “woman” as my flatmates and I like to call her. The essay was on the Arch of Constantine, and while Kevin my world view tutor was unable to proofread it before I submitted it, the essay and tutorial wasn’t horrible! Meaning, she didn’t try to get me expelled! (It really is the simple things in life) I wouldn’t say the tutorial was great, however I wouldn’t say it was bad. I’m just glad to be done!

The rest of the week was packed to brim of trying to do everything our ‘Bod’ card allowed us to do (it expired on the 14^th, and it would be 50£ a week to extend it!). Thus, as you will see in my pictures, a lot of time was spent in the Bod, Rad, and we even managed to get into the Divinity School (yes, the Divinity School, was used as the infirmary in Harry Potter)! I also order myself an early birthday present from my parents (yes, they know about it! Also mom reads my blog, “Hi mom!”). Every Oxford Uni student struts around the city wearing a black puffer jacket that has their College Crest and their name on it. It was a bit pricey for my taste, but it is pretty fun to think that I’ll be the only one in Ligonier strutting around in my Oxford Uni puffer. I’m supposed to be able to pick it up in the store in a couple weeks. They also had to special order mine...as when I tried on the store model size, it went down to my knees!

Yesterday was the start of my Spring Holiday, and I took the train by myself (I was a nervous wreck the entire time, especially since there was a half hour delay at the station in which I need to change trains, but I made it!) to Staines, to stay with and visit my friend Yasmin in Staines, as well as lead worship at the church I went to in July. Yasmin and her husband Simon are lovely people and its been really nice to see a familiar face. I was really nervous about leading worship at church, as I haven’t played guitar for 2 months, and I also haven’t ever led worship by myself! However, everyone was extremely welcoming and grateful to have live worship. Also there were no massive mess ups thankfully! However, my fingers are killing me now.

On Wednesday, I will then make my way to the “other place” (Cambridge) to meet and visit my friends Laura and Rob. Laura works with Beyond Ministries. Beyond, is a missions organization and she is their communications expert. It was through mutual connections that we got connected. Laura is American, and her husband is British. I am looking forward to meeting them, though I will be sporting my Oxford Blue! If I get stoned to death while at Cambridge, you know why:P

Again, with the world changing everyday I have no idea what the outcome for the rest of my time here will be. However, on Friday when my flatmates and I met with our tutor and programme director, Kevin. We concluded that after talking to our parents, that we all would like to stay as long as possible. If we went home now, we would have to be isolated for 2 weeks, so we might as well stay here and finish out the term rather then go home and do nothing.

I would like to finish off my blog post with encouragement for everyone reading (myself included).

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?… But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
— Jesus (Matthew 6:25-26, 33-34)

As usual, here are some pictures from my week

Cheers!