Letter from the editor: Embracing the busy schedule and remembering the reason

By Courtney Warren

I am tired. Even as I write this, my left eye is twitching and my planner is exploding with sticky notes, while my phone is also ringing from the table across the room. The holiday season is so dang busy. From class Christmas, birthdays, conferences, progress reports, and publishing this newspaper, it feels like the minute November 1 hits, we don’t stop running. 

So normally, you’d be expecting a column about the importance of slowing down and taking a minute. I’ve written those before. I’ve talked about putting the cell phone down and leaning into the moment, and I still absolutely think that way. Don’t miss a moment because you watched it through your cell phone screen. 

However, something else has been on my mind recently. As I walked through my to-do list this morning while our faculty prepped for an incredible conference that has been long in the making, I reminded myself to once again lean into the moment. I have Christmas gifts to purchase, Angel trees to complete, and my first grader has at least four parties between now and Christmas Day. On top of this, she is performing in a Christmas play with two hour play rehearsals each night. 

However, I know that things won’t always go this fast. Christmas won’t always include Santa. It won’t alway have unicorn wrapping paper…or will it?
Either way, I am working to make a conscious decision to love the business and the chaos. I’ll still cherish those quiet moments in the morning to ground myself and prepare for the day, but rather than looking at my to-do list and feeling my throat close up, I’m going to try to look at it through a lens of excitement. How blessed that we are getting invited to these parties! How blessed that weget to provide Christmas for someone else!

How wonderful it is to be at a school surrounded by positive coworkers who also lean into the busy and make these crazy schedules so that we can all stay on track!  How wonderful that our community has so many events and beautiful Christmas lights for us to enjoy each evening during this holiday season!
As you work through that Christmas list, whether it be big or small, remember those small blessings. Lean into the chaos. Remember the reason for the season. Which, by the way, is not Jesus. We say that–Jesus is the reason for the season. 

Actually, it’s you. You are the reason for the season. You are the reason He came, He died, and He rose. You are the reason. How cool is that? You are His reason. 

Do things with purpose. Do things with grace. Maybe carry a few sticky notes to help. Merry Christmas. I am so grateful to be your editor.