109 - Finals week.

On seasons and classes.

Welcome back. Or welcome.

This is the last week for two courses I’ve been teaching for the last seven weeks. Both are online, and the teacher assigned a bunch of really good weekly projects, all which have to be responded to in writing or by video. 16 students in one course, 17 in the other.

I’ve kept up well. I feel helpful. And, with grades due on Tuesday, I feel hopeful. But I don’t feel very creative or reflective at the moment.

I asked Nancy if she had any suggestions for what to tell you today. She didn’t.

I understood.

I know what I want to talk about next week (Nurses week), and the following week (Mothers Day, maybe). And I know I want to talk about the survey results. And I have a long list of other things I want to write about.

But in very many ways, this is finals week.

And during finals week, we make adjustments. We focus on getting things finished.

This may be finals week for you, too. Coming to the end of a season. Finishing up projects. Wrapping up the packing. Getting the last meal with friends. Looking forward and looking back.

So take a breath. Abandon perfectionism. Choose done. Hug people. Know that you can’t always do all the things. In fact, you never can do all the things.

See you next week.

Jon

P.S. After I got this ready, I thought, “I should ask people what they are finishing up.” That would be polite and community building and all. And then I realized that I would feel compelled to comment and offer support. So I won’t ask. But I’m cheering for you (and talking to God about some of you).