I was supposed to write on what?

Ever had a miscommunication with a teacher, and turned in the wrong assignment? You probably have, it happens sometimes. Ever researched a thesis topic and handed in the first rough draft and had the teacher say "Uh... you weren't supposed to do this topic?" Well, I have. It was kindof a bummer. OK, not kindof - really a bummer. Last Thursday classified as a terrible, awful, no-good very-bad day.

I had my thesis on moral absolutes all researched, and turned it in to Mr. V only to hear him say I did the wrong topic. He didn't really read it, just browsed and added that to top it off I had done a poor job on the wrong topic - at least, I could have done much better (which was true). He was nice about it, and said I could continue with moral absolutes if I wanted to. I told him I wasn't very attached to the paper (which was true) and that I would switch. So, I have a week to research and write the correct thesis.
How did the miscommunication happen? I'm not sure. I do know that I was gone the day he assigned thesis topics, and that what I heard him say about the topic was mainly from a conversation he had with another classmate, so I must have transmuted that into my topic. Anyways, it was not the kind of news that makes you jump up and run around the room cheering.

However, this did me perspective - for I received an email around the same time from my youth group leader. He asked me to pray for a girl who was a senior in high school but wouldn't graduate this year - she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I can't even imagine this. She probably already had her college picked, was ready to graduate and head off on her own. Weeks before commencement, she is told she has an often fatal illness and is flown to another city for medical treatment that could take years. Her bad news makes mine pale in comparison. I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and thanked God for all the blessings I have, even if clear communication isn't one of them.