Patience

The past week and a half have not been too eventful. Last week I had the regular 2 papers due along with the readings, Kevin Bywater readings, and mini adventures I find myself in when looking for a library that has a book I need to read. It is amazing how large this campus  is, I only thought Minnesota was big! The university is clearly  spread out across the city. I think  it is nice when you have the time to walk around and discover different areas, but when in a time crunch- not so much.

It is surprising at the amount of libraries there are. Each college has a library, but also every department. Yesterday as I was looking for the Sciences and Continuing Education Library for a book about Russia during the 1910-20s, I came across three other libraries that looked like they were in a house. I also ran into a running store and had a peek of what they were selling.   ;-)

About running, so last Wednesday I must have pulled a ligament in my foot because Thursday, while I was walking, I had a pain on the bottom of my foot. I did not think too much about the pain because I had done so much walking that day. Friday morning, went for a run and hated it. My foot killed! Rested the foot as much as I could-everyday there is a 10-25 minute walk to the library or anywhere-but it did not get better. I tried orthopedic cushions and they made it feel worse. So I decided to go to the General Practitioner (there is no way to see a Podiatrist without seeing the GP first) and they had nothing new to tell me. I paid 30 pounds for 10 minutes of what I was already doing and aware of, but they did give me the order of not running for a MONTH! I am not sure if I am more mad about the money I feel like I wasted or the news they told me which did not surprise me.  What is done is done and I am just trying to think of this as another lesson for me to learn from. This past year I have had three leg or foot injuries and now I am beginning to wonder why. It is a little frustrating because I truly love running because of the peace and challenge it gives me. Around Oxford there are a lot of trails and some in the pasture with the horses. I guess I will just have to wait until I am strong again. 

-Patience

If anyone knows more about foot injuries, let me know. It has not felt any better since last week and I am not sure how I can strengthen it!

Other than running, this week I have been learning a lot  about Russia's history. It is really sad how the leaders of Russia have tortured and killed their own people. A lot of people might think of Stalin-who is responsible for about 70 million deaths IN THE 20th CENTURY- but turmoil and strife run far into their past with Ivan the 'Terrible' and Peter the Great. I have never been drawn to the Russian history or people probably because I did not want to face the facts of their history. In some ways, I feel like that is how a lot of life is in general. Why read or look for hurt in the news or in history if it makes you feel bad? Maybe because it is a duty as human beings to realize that the world is chaos and before you know it, it might be in your own backyard! Or so that you do not repeat history.

But how do you deal with the news today? I am not quite sure, but what I am trying to do is ask God for wisdom. He holds the moral standards of man and eternity, why would he not know how to guide us in our everyday walk? I hate hearing about the desperate and the inhumane treatment of people, especially innocent people. Yet, God sees our actions and suffers with us today, yesterday, all of history and into the future. How much longer will we wait for the second coming?

-Patience