So after an uber long break I'm taking the time to update. Well let's see what has happened since the beginning of this year. Well I'm no longer in a funk for all of you who were worried. lol. Well despite the economy and despite the odds I got a job for the summer. not just any job one that pays. Woot! It was nice being able to support myself over the summer. The partner at the firm that I work for is really cool and has given me a lot of responsibility. It's a blessing and a curse. I've gotten a lot more experience though than many of my classmates. The attorney treats me as much as an attorney as one can possibly be without being an actual attorney, imo. I have clients, I bill them, I go to court for routine motions, I write complaints and briefs for appeals, I correspond with opposing counsel, and everything in between. The responsibility has been incrementally conferred, but it feels pretty good. He has been extremely nice in allowing me to work a flexible schedule throughout the school year as well. All around it's a pretty good setup. Anyway what else is new with me. Well I'm a year older now than when I wrote. I turned the big 24. Yep that's right I'm pushing the quarter century. haha. Oh ya how could I forget, I just got back from San Diego to pick up my brother, Private Aaron Murphy USMC. That's right my little, red-headed, kid brother is a Marine. He is a man. His bootcamp stories are great!! They are brutal, but he's tougher now than any other 18 year old out there. Take care peeps.
So I feel kinda in a funk lately. There is not a singular instance that I can point to that would induce such a general feeling of apathy. I mean school is difficult, but it was that way last semester. I talked to an attorney when I was in Tulsa last weekend who said this semester would be tougher because there would be a tendency to simply work less hard and slack off more. I am fighting that by working harder than ever, but I cannot escape this pervasive feeling of ennui. Kind of emo I know but whatever. It could the fact that the weather is freaking freezing. It could be that governor Blagojevich is no longer governor Blagojevich (haha just kidding that doesn't bum me out in the slightest). I think it probably is more than likely because my work has precluded my watching of Scrubs. Also, I have been reading my Edgar Allen Poe complete works book, and his writings are generally macabre and morose. I think though mostly it's the novelty of law school has worn off and monotony has settled in its place. Classes this semester are hella more boring, and the cases in Property are infinitely less interesting than they were in Criminal Law or Torts. I don't want to be a whiner though because I know that I am blessed just to be here and be alive. I'm blessed to be in the position I am to have the ability to learn and get this degree and that aspect is what I should focus on instead of bemoaning the work I am forced to do. Anyway Dios les bendiga y tengan una buena semana.
Ok so I'm still on break but I am ready to get back to class. *Gasp* I know I never thought I would be saying it. Wait yes I did. I love law school classes... for the most part. Anyways it's been snowing for the past two or three days, and I have not left my apartment in that time. I'm currently experiencing cabin fever. Oh well. Tonight I'm going out with a friend to see another friend who is now a part of the band Seabird (listen to song below for context) who is playing in Wrigleyville. I am trying to teach myself to type correctly so this entry is taking four hours to write. So I was reading the book of James the other day, and it was great. ORU gave me this New King James Version Bible when I graduated, and it's ok. I mean I really like my NIV so sometimes I read both side by side just to see which says it better for me (these come from the NIV btw). Anyway three verses into the book I see "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything." I don't believe that life is all about suffering although I see that theme a lot in the NT, but I think the scripture is still applicable when we do face hard stuff in our lives. Some people call Christianity a crutch, and I embrace that philosophy. But I'm a big enough person to admit that this world is just a little too big for me to navigate and throws too many curveballs for me to be alright by myself; I need a God who has it all (including me) in his control. If that makes me weak, then fine, but I feel more fulfilled knowing that when the tough times comes it is not just some random event but a purification process and a chance for me to become a more complete Christian. Later in the book in the second chapter 14th verse is says "What good is it, my brothers , if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?" then the 18th verse says "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." I began thinking about my own life. My friends know I am a Christian. But how do they know this? I've told them. Have I shown them though. James is kinda mocking those who are all words when he says "show me your faith without deeds" because something cannot be shown without actions. If I needed to show someone how to put something together. I can tell them all I want to and could paint the best word pictures in the world. But if I actually sat down and helped by showing then that person would learn much better. It made me think about how I live my Christianity. Am I someone who paints a good picture with my words of what a Christian is and who I am, or do I actually show them by the way I live? It challenged me and gave me pause. Isn't it great when something you've read a hundred times just jumps out at you like it's the first time you are reading it? That's just my two cents on the book of James. As far as music goes there has not been much new in this area, and I need some new stuff. David Crowder Band's version of "Deliver Me" is pretty good. Here is Brandon Heath and "Give Me Your Eyes"
Two exams down one to go. The pressure is mounting. A whole month of ten hour days in the library is starting to wear on me. All I can think about is Monday night after the exam when we all go out together and celebrate the end of our first semester. That is not a good sign. My focus is waning and my study hours are less productive. I'm now hooked on redbull. A month ago I couldn't stand the stuff. It's becoming a rather expensive habit... I took my resume to the career counselor's office and she ripped it apart lol ya and these are just her "first impressions" legal resumes suck man. So I scrapped it and started over. Last week my pastor called me up and asked me to go to the Bears game with some people from church. They messed up our tickets and so they gave us 16th row tickets. It was AMAZING! First of all, it was free so that was good. Second, the Bears won. Third, it went into overtime so we really got our money's worth. I was so close I could see the eyes of the players and sweat on foreheads (even though it was like -10 out). I did almost freeze to death in the third quarter, but then fourth quarter was rowdy so I warmed up by yelling and jumping and hi-5ing strangers. On a musical note. Emery's new EP is awesome. Especially and in no particular order Ten Talents, Thoughtlife, and The Smile, the Face. The Wedding is also great especially Satellites (good call Jason). Here is a new band that is on it's first nationwide tour. They came to my church, and I got to hang out with them and they are cool guys. They are called Seabird and they will be big someday I think. They have this supermello sound that is great
