The best of all possible worlds

Hello again. Wonderfully, these last couple weeks have slowed down immensely. I know that it's only a lull before accelerating from zero to sixty (well, maybe from 60 to 600) after Thanksgiving, when finals come up. It's great right now, though!
If you're wondering about the title of this post, I obtained it from 'Candide', which we read last week. Being a ridiculous satire, one of the big jokes within is that this all circumstances are preordained and necessary for the greater good (viz., my suffering is trivial because it lends to the benefit of the rest of the world, and it was intended to do so, even if it's dreadfully obscure); this being the case, we live in 'the best of all possible worlds'. If you want to know more about that, I wrote a paper on it. Ask me for it sometime. Anyways, I adopted the title because I am experiencing a similar concept, although, if I may say, it's not perverted as it is in 'Candide'. Alors:
This has been an incredible quarter. It has been a very hard quarter. I don't know if I've suffered, per se, but I have struggled, not just with the amount of work, but the nature of it; as well as coming to grips with my weaknesses, and the dynamics of this community. All being very messy ordeals. Pleasant, but still messy. I am absolutely certain of God's presence with me, however, and I know that as awful as I feel sometimes, that it is good. I don't just brush off suffering; no, suffering is a good friend and useful growing agent. That's where I differ from Candide. So, it's hard, but it's 'the best' place for me. It's right where I'm supposed to be, and I could not conceive of anything better. On Wednesday night, during our Bible study, one of my tutors was talking about difficulty in relationships. He brought up Romans 5: 2-5, which I had memorized last year duing our Romans study, and which I had furthermore clung through the insanity of Senior Year. Surprise, surprise, but what else would happen, that I would forget about that verse during this strenuous time in my life?! I did. Silly, silly. However, Jack brought it back to my mind, and to hear him say the verses and affirm their message was worth every struggle of this past term. I had to take a 'bathroom break' and praise God. Once again, God has whispered to me, "See? You still need me. And I know what I'm doing." I feel that I can say amen to that.
Before closing, I believe this is a particularly appropriate opportunity to correct something from a previous post. Back then, I wrote a Latin inscription, Soli Deo Gloria (something about glory to God alone). Well, it's actually Sola. So: Sola Deo Gloria!
And, as another brief postscript, I understand why Thelma recommends that her students don't read 'Candide' until they're about twenty-five. Naughty, naughty!
I am, etc.