My New Baby

I've given birth four times so far.

Or at least that's what it feels like. This is the new baby; just arrived today. \/


There's something invigorating about this endless cycle called news. Just because last night I was working on this until 1:30 in the morning, and just because I spent my entire morning traipsing across campus (or rather, puttering across campus in a beefy, clumsy and crash-prone electric cart) doesn't mean anything is over and done with.

Because I am already late on the draw in assigning new stories to a bevy of beginner writers. I'm already behind in writing a dozen detailed emails listing contacts and offering suggestions. And what about critiquing my writers for their work this week?

Ha. Ha.

And then there's designing the page. Working on stories of my own. Nagging people about their deadlines. And then when Wednesday rolls around, it's editemaileditwritereportcallconfirmohmygoshnobody'spickingupihaveaclassinfiveminutes craziness. And screaming, and freaking out, and crumbling under the pressure of the deadline until finally, in one fell swoop, I click save for the last time and all there is is quiet.

Aaah.

Now what about next week?

So I'm not really sure what to call it this neverending production cycle, but exhilarating seems to fit pretty well. Let's just see if that sticks a few more months, or if I'll start to hate it all.

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Fun Fact:
I just subscribed to the New York Times and the LA Times.
I am in journalistic heaven.

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In light of my monomania regarding the Chimes, as pointed out by a friend, I was prompted to check out some other, non-journalistic opportunities on campus. For the past few days, the school hosted a ministry fair, which showcased dozens of school-sanctioned ministries. Simultaneously, a club fair promoted oodles of other groups.

Now, it may have been just "Michelle-in-the-zone" syndrome, which sets in around Wednesday of every week thanks to the paper, but I had absolutely zero desire to check any of these ministries out (well, with the exception of Best Buddies ministry, which was doling out homemade cookies).

But I noticed a sign around campus the other day and just knew that THIS ministry was the ONE.

It's called Kingdom Bands, and it's an extension of the student missionary union. Basically, groups of students meet weekly to lift up specific prayers for a specific region of the world. Since my prayer life is pretty much lame at the moment, I thought this would be the perfect chance to hold myself accountable for prayer and advance the cause of Christ in some small way.

To make a long story short, I was inspired at the Kingdom Bands info meeting tonight. I know I want to do this. And coincidentally (or divinely), the region I most wanted to concentrate on in prayer (the Middle East) was the only region without a group leader already.

Does this mean that I might be able to spearhead it? I hope so. I'm praying about it right now, and hopefully I'll keep it posted.

I believe God will move mightily in the Middle East if only we bow our knees in prayer. This is exciting.

I daresay even moreso than the Chimes.