5:30am is the time Briana and I woke from the cool of the night and the warmth of the sheet (no covers or quilts here).  We went running early to get a good start on the day because, after all, this was the first day of classes.  I headed out the door after a bowl of oatmeal w/almonds and cranberries that Bri made, and put in my ear buds.  The song I thought would most prep me, most focus my will and intuition to the journey I was about to set foot to was none other than "Kinky Reggae," by Bob Marley.  That's right people.  You need to download this song.  It actually made me laugh as I headed out.

     The morning began with introductions of professors who read their syllabi's with German, Middle Eastern, Californian and I believe Indian accents.  The profs were actually really funny and I like them so far.  After that began classes from 9-12 with breaks in between: Gross Anatomy, BioChem and Doctor Patient and Society.  I really enjoyed them all which was a little bit of a surprise.  I expected mostly to be intimidated and afraid.  Maybe this has something to do with heading into something I love and maybe it has something to do with the time Briana and I have spent in prayer and reading God's word.  It has really been impressed upon me in these last few weeks to remain in the vine as Jesus talks about in the Gospel of John.  Of course, I am still learning what the heck that means.  I can say that I truly believe that I need God in this process.  But it is deeper than that because the more I walk with Him the more I begin to sense, in the small moments, His desire to travel with me through it.  It is my prayer that both Briana and I will come away from medical school with a deeper understanding of how much God loves us and how much we love Him.  A small example of His journeying with me came today while studying.  

     So the first thing we're learning in anatomy is: the back.  Sounds simple enough, but the fact is: it's complex.  Not only am I responsible for knowing the names (in Latin mind you (that's right: be impressed)) of the muscles, but also each one's function, origin and insertion (where it arises and where it attaches again), its blood supply, lymph drainage and its innervation, or, which nerve supplies and controls the muscle.  So for example:  the erector spinae is a muscle that, really, is a group of three separate muscles: the spinalis, longissimus and iliocostalis.  While each serves the same basic function and innervation, not all have the same blood supply, insertion or origin.  

     Around 5:30 I began to find myself getting heavy lidded.  I prayed and asked God for courage and energy.  A few minutes later I found myself energized and excited about what I was learning, even in the face of many, many new flash cards to make and memorize.  Some might call it coincidence, but I believe it was the Holy Spirit.  God cares about the small details.

     So I'm signing off for now, not because I want to but because the books are calling my name:  "John...John! oh how funny it is that you think you're done."  Thanks for reading.        

           John (first day Med Student)