Frustrated

Why now?

I felt the tightening of frustration's grip within my chest. Taking a few deep, cleansing breaths, I attempted to pry it's fingers from around my esophagus. I was looking over my academic evaluation, a record which shows my college credits and how they are broken up to fulfill academic requirements for my Communications Degree.

I had noticed a few days earlier that one of the credits I had taken, World Religions, wasn't listed. Not a problem, I thought at the time. I had proof I had taken the exam and passed; plus, I could easily send a transcript to my college for it to be added. I made an appointment to talk with my academic adviser about the issue.

But now I noticed that the credit I was planning to take to fulfill my last Communication requirement wasn't qualifying! "Could it mean it won't count?" I thought. I e-mailed my college coach from CollegePlus! to get my mess untangled.

My coach and I talked through options that were open to replace that credit. I felt well prepared to ask my adviser about the issue. However, when the day for the telephone call rolled around, my college was closed due to snow/icy rain storms. I had to sit back and just laugh!

I was so close to being done yet there was this glitch. Just when I thought I could get the glitch taken care of, it's cancelled! And so I laughed, trusting that God knew what He was doing sending a snow storm in February (when those things usually happen) on New Jersey.

On the following Monday, I called the college to reschedule my appointment. To my great surprise, the operator connected me directly to my adviser who told me she was available right then to talk to me. We discussed the credit which couldn't count toward Communications and then found an appropriate credit to replace it. Plus, I could send the college a transcript for my missing World Religions class.

No time was lost off my degree schedule or money truly wasted, though if anyone needs an Art of Theater textbook I have one I won't be reading! Effortlessly and painlessly the issue was taken care of. I even got my book on time from Amazon in order to study! Moreover, I have been enjoying this class and sort of wish I could have taken it sooner.

Frustration's question at the beginning of the episode seemed to be a fair one--"Why now?"

However, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). So if it took this little episode to remind me of this truth, I ask instead, "Why not?"

--HM