Somehow I've managed to forget everything there is to know about Long Distance Relationships.
I feel a bit like I'm falling backwards and the world is swirling and I don't have anything to grab hold of; disoriented would probably be a better (and slightly less dramatic!) way to phrase it.
I miss him. There's a lot to miss--I've learned so much from Eric these last four months or so, and I've learned a lot about myself through it, too. I don't want to lose that.
I think once I talk to him, and hear his voice, that'll help.
And it'll help that come Tuesday, I'll be working 8-4 Monday through Friday, under Jessey at DisplayPack (Thank the Lord I'm not one of those job hunters...) The sort-of nice thing about working shifts like that means that come September I'll be prepared to get up early for my teacher-aiding. Well, it prepares me for teaching in general. Being a teacher means doing 8-4 shifts M-F for life. (Except that in this case, it's reversed in that I get summers OFF instead of working!)
Anyway, I also miss Owatonna. Eric is lucky to have lived in such a great town all his life. I mean, seriously, with Hy-Vee and Kwik Trip, you can't go wrong! Haha. Not to mention the 10,000+ lakes within the state of Minnesota. Quality, if you ask me. I'm a fan.
I think it's time for me to read some more.
Bets
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Impatient.
I don't even know what I'm waiting for, but I would love a call/email/facebook message/wall post/etc. from Eric. I just got off the train a couple hours ago, and left a message on his home phone that I got home alright (among other forms of communication) but now I'm dying to hear from him. It'll be about 13 weeks until our next scheduled reunion (or 3 months from today) unless by some rare stroke of luck we manage to find a way to see each other before then.
It was strange, taking the train from Minneapolis/St Paul to Chicago and then on to Holland. The 8 hours from MSP to Chicago went by so quickly (but I was engrossed with a project on my computer for most of it, organizing pictures and whatnot) but the 3.5 hours from Chicago to Holland seemed to take forever. By that time I simply wanted to be home, even though the book I started has been unexpectedly wonderful. I had no idea that Lauren Winner's book Girl meets God would be as good as it is, or that it would catch my attention the way it has. Her struggle between Jewishness and Christianity mirrors the same tensions I feel about Reformed doctrine and everything else. Sure, it's on a smaller scale (maybe) but it's still something to wrestle with. More later, possibly.
At any rate, I have a rather long day ahead of me tomorrow, and being sprawled out on my bed is not helping me stay awake. I'll just have to hope that I hear from my handsome beau soon enough.
Loves.
bjv
It was strange, taking the train from Minneapolis/St Paul to Chicago and then on to Holland. The 8 hours from MSP to Chicago went by so quickly (but I was engrossed with a project on my computer for most of it, organizing pictures and whatnot) but the 3.5 hours from Chicago to Holland seemed to take forever. By that time I simply wanted to be home, even though the book I started has been unexpectedly wonderful. I had no idea that Lauren Winner's book Girl meets God would be as good as it is, or that it would catch my attention the way it has. Her struggle between Jewishness and Christianity mirrors the same tensions I feel about Reformed doctrine and everything else. Sure, it's on a smaller scale (maybe) but it's still something to wrestle with. More later, possibly.
At any rate, I have a rather long day ahead of me tomorrow, and being sprawled out on my bed is not helping me stay awake. I'll just have to hope that I hear from my handsome beau soon enough.
Loves.
bjv
Monday, May 14, 2007
Three.
3 exams away from summer vacation. That is incredible. In 3 hours, I'm taking my BritLit exam, and tomorrow is Religion and Classics. And then it's cleaning, check-out, swinging through Holland to drop off and pick up a few last items, and off to Minnesota we go. Woohoo! I'll be back in Michigan on the 26th, and I'll have a few days (probably) before I start working at Display Pack (Jessey's factory). I guess I'm doing data entry. Cool.
Then it'll be 3 months and I'll be back at Calvin, on the 18th.
Oh, hey! Tomorrow is my "4 month anniversary" (the Facebook one) with Eric. Fun :)
Betsy
Then it'll be 3 months and I'll be back at Calvin, on the 18th.
Oh, hey! Tomorrow is my "4 month anniversary" (the Facebook one) with Eric. Fun :)
Betsy
Friday, May 11, 2007
interesting.
I don't like to read into things too much, but some things you just wonder about.
I.E., the dealio about my minor. About a year ago I decided that the Group Minor in Missions sounded like something I should do because it included some classes that looked really good. Problem? I simply couldn't get declared! The professor who was the advisor managed to be very difficult to get a hold of, and I didn't even get to meet her until the beginning of this semester, despite persistent emailing and trying to work something out. Then, when I did meet her, I had the declaration form all ready to go, but she refused to sign it until I had written a brief piece on why I wanted to do the minor. She said I could email it to her, but she never got it. I emailed it again. She never responded. Assuming that she had gotten it, though, I left the form at her office so she could sign it and leave it for me to pick up. I never saw that form again.
But then I found out that I needed a 'teachable' minor in order to be certified as a teacher in Michigan. The nice lady in the Education department heard that I was interested in missions and suggested that I look into an ESL minor. I looked up the classes, they looked interesting, I easily got ahold of the advisor over advising recess, had a great conversation with her about the minor and I stopped by last week with the form, got it signed, handed it into the registrar, and the next day got an email confirming my minor declaration. It was that easy.
And though this might have been a funny coincidence, I can't help but feel a little reassured that I'm headed in the right direction. :)
Other than that thought, there's not a whole lot to say, besides that I've been griping about having to take a math exam (it was pretty straightfoward, I'm sure I did fine!) this morning and have a cyst removed at lunchtime from my back (it still aches though, so sad). Life is decent :)
Tulip Time tomorrow! yay! It'll be fun to go to the parade. :) Plus I get to see my sister! :D
Betsy
I.E., the dealio about my minor. About a year ago I decided that the Group Minor in Missions sounded like something I should do because it included some classes that looked really good. Problem? I simply couldn't get declared! The professor who was the advisor managed to be very difficult to get a hold of, and I didn't even get to meet her until the beginning of this semester, despite persistent emailing and trying to work something out. Then, when I did meet her, I had the declaration form all ready to go, but she refused to sign it until I had written a brief piece on why I wanted to do the minor. She said I could email it to her, but she never got it. I emailed it again. She never responded. Assuming that she had gotten it, though, I left the form at her office so she could sign it and leave it for me to pick up. I never saw that form again.
But then I found out that I needed a 'teachable' minor in order to be certified as a teacher in Michigan. The nice lady in the Education department heard that I was interested in missions and suggested that I look into an ESL minor. I looked up the classes, they looked interesting, I easily got ahold of the advisor over advising recess, had a great conversation with her about the minor and I stopped by last week with the form, got it signed, handed it into the registrar, and the next day got an email confirming my minor declaration. It was that easy.
And though this might have been a funny coincidence, I can't help but feel a little reassured that I'm headed in the right direction. :)
Other than that thought, there's not a whole lot to say, besides that I've been griping about having to take a math exam (it was pretty straightfoward, I'm sure I did fine!) this morning and have a cyst removed at lunchtime from my back (it still aches though, so sad). Life is decent :)
Tulip Time tomorrow! yay! It'll be fun to go to the parade. :) Plus I get to see my sister! :D
Betsy
Thursday, May 10, 2007
"life goals": an incomplete scholarship essay
It’s Sunday morning. You’re standing in an outdoor amphitheater 7,918 feet above sea level in Yellowstone National Park. There are about fifty people gathered together, quietly anticipating what you are about to say. Turning in your Bible, you begin the first sermon message you’ve ever given. The Spirit empowers you; in that moment you feel more alive, more yourself than you have ever experienced, and yet compelled that this isn’t you at all, but completely God’s doing. Afterwards, people bless you with affirmation, encouraging you, even asking if you are in seminary.
It’s Sunday morning. You’re in Glasgow, Scotland. The air is cool and crisp, but it’s not raining. Hardly anyone is up, and you make your way easily along the sidewalks on Byres Road that are usually busy here in West End. You’ve finally made it up the hill to a small Christian school, and walking through the doors you’re abruptly in a crowd of people. There are Scottish accents, of course, but also Nigerian, German and French accents as well. You walk toward the gym and at least six people catch your eye and smile or say hello. The music is just beginning and you enter into worship. You praise God for the community here around you. You are going to miss it when you’re gone.
It’s Sunday, once again. You’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and you’ve just had lunch at the Commons dining hall. You’re thinking about your future. The memories from the past summer and fall haven’t left you, though the spring semester has just flown by. The anticipation of being a Barnabas Team leader next year is exciting but still a little daunting. Pursuing God’s will was worth it in Yellowstone and Glasgow, and you’re sure He’ll use you in your own neighborhood, too. You wonder what adventures are still in store.
These experiences are my own, and while they have played a very significant role of the development of my aspiration towards missions, they are also just a small part of the larger picture. In the past year, God has been gently but firmly guiding me towards ministry. The context is still yet to be determined, and I have a feeling that God will be using my flexibility and willingness to serve anywhere to continue to stretch me and challenge me.
I started writing this piece a few months ago for a scholarship essay that I never handed in, and only just re-acquainted myself with it. Because I’m a writer and I’m constantly self-editing, I added a few lines but only made a couple changes. When I reached the end, it struck me how my last line had remained unfinished, as though I just didn’t know where to go with it:
As I realize that living in the United States is just not for me, and as my passions for travel and ministry are further revealed and affirmed
...Well, what?
I find the coincidence almost humorous; the nature of the sentence and its incompleteness seem appropriate for each other. Where (and who) I was then is different than my circumstances now. I’m no longer doing a Group Minor in Missions (which had to do with my applying for this particular scholarship) but rather one in English as a Second Language. I don’t really know where I’m going, or what I’m going to do, or who I’m going with. There’s uncertainty, and there’s lots of it. Sometimes I say wise things and don’t learn the truth of it till much later; once I said that God works most creatively in the times of uncertainty, because we’re powerless to do anything ourselves.
Anyway, I meant to proclaim how missions was my calling and that I knew God wanted me to live abroad for the rest of my days, but I can’t say that now with such confidence. I’m waiting a while to see what happens. Truth is, my life is threaded with doubt and hesitation, but I know that whatever road I take, I won’t be alone.
It’s Sunday morning. You’re in Glasgow, Scotland. The air is cool and crisp, but it’s not raining. Hardly anyone is up, and you make your way easily along the sidewalks on Byres Road that are usually busy here in West End. You’ve finally made it up the hill to a small Christian school, and walking through the doors you’re abruptly in a crowd of people. There are Scottish accents, of course, but also Nigerian, German and French accents as well. You walk toward the gym and at least six people catch your eye and smile or say hello. The music is just beginning and you enter into worship. You praise God for the community here around you. You are going to miss it when you’re gone.
It’s Sunday, once again. You’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and you’ve just had lunch at the Commons dining hall. You’re thinking about your future. The memories from the past summer and fall haven’t left you, though the spring semester has just flown by. The anticipation of being a Barnabas Team leader next year is exciting but still a little daunting. Pursuing God’s will was worth it in Yellowstone and Glasgow, and you’re sure He’ll use you in your own neighborhood, too. You wonder what adventures are still in store.
These experiences are my own, and while they have played a very significant role of the development of my aspiration towards missions, they are also just a small part of the larger picture. In the past year, God has been gently but firmly guiding me towards ministry. The context is still yet to be determined, and I have a feeling that God will be using my flexibility and willingness to serve anywhere to continue to stretch me and challenge me.
I started writing this piece a few months ago for a scholarship essay that I never handed in, and only just re-acquainted myself with it. Because I’m a writer and I’m constantly self-editing, I added a few lines but only made a couple changes. When I reached the end, it struck me how my last line had remained unfinished, as though I just didn’t know where to go with it:
As I realize that living in the United States is just not for me, and as my passions for travel and ministry are further revealed and affirmed
...Well, what?
I find the coincidence almost humorous; the nature of the sentence and its incompleteness seem appropriate for each other. Where (and who) I was then is different than my circumstances now. I’m no longer doing a Group Minor in Missions (which had to do with my applying for this particular scholarship) but rather one in English as a Second Language. I don’t really know where I’m going, or what I’m going to do, or who I’m going with. There’s uncertainty, and there’s lots of it. Sometimes I say wise things and don’t learn the truth of it till much later; once I said that God works most creatively in the times of uncertainty, because we’re powerless to do anything ourselves.
Anyway, I meant to proclaim how missions was my calling and that I knew God wanted me to live abroad for the rest of my days, but I can’t say that now with such confidence. I’m waiting a while to see what happens. Truth is, my life is threaded with doubt and hesitation, but I know that whatever road I take, I won’t be alone.
great idea for prayer :)
http://megsoapbox.blogspot.com/2007/04/worry-beads.html
I read this on a friend's blog and thought it was a fantastic idea. I think I'll give it a try.
Betsy
I read this on a friend's blog and thought it was a fantastic idea. I think I'll give it a try.
Betsy
Surreal
It's Thursday.
Unfortunately, I missed lunch with Heidi, which made me so sad. But I did sleep in until 11:30am which was blissful (until I realized that I missed lunch with Heidi) so I'm pretty rested. For the most part. Some unexpected tension and tears got thrown in there, too, but the boyfriend saved the day (he's good at that) and I've been able to enjoy some of the fantastic weather.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the changes happening in my life, especially within this past year. I realized that it has been 9 months since Jordan broke up with me, 5 months since I got back from Scotland and 4 since I started dating Eric.
Time is a funny thing. It feels like eternity since my dad died (over 2 and a half years ago, now) and honestly it scared me today when I realized how I've forgotten a lot of what he was like. I really have to think for a while before I can get that mental picture of who he was back in order. I'm lucky that Eric reminds me a lot of him, but it still caught me off guard.
And yet this semester, even these last 6 months, seem to have disappeared in an instant. I'm so lucky that my time in Scotland didn't feel rushed. I miss it, though. I miss it so much. I still feel like Glasgow is home.
Home. Interesting thought. I'm going to be living with Mom & Jessey this summer, and I'm not sure how that one's gonna go. I'm a bit nervous about it, truthfully. I have a feeling I'm going to get sick of it pretty quickly. That and missing Eric will make it tough. Life is so different than last year-- I was packing up to leave for Yellowstone right now. Wow. Life changes so quickly.
"They serve God best who only stand and wait" --Milton.
That's a lesson that I learned in my Brit Lit class. It's from Milton's poem "When I consider How My Light was Spent," and one application is that basically there's going to be times in my life where I can't be on the other side of the world (or the country) serving and using my abilities the way I love to. Sometimes I'm going to have to be entering data or doing homework or just getting through a transitional time in my life, but that doesn't make my work any less valuable. It's what God wants me to be doing right now, whether I really like it or not. It's hard, though, when I've got the worse case of "Itchy Feet" (I can't stay in one place for long) ever.
And yet, I am content. Right now, I'm writing. I need to write more. And I'm watching my african cichlid fish out of the corner of my eye-- she's burrowing and it's a lot of fun to watch her sliding herself under the coca-cola glass I have in her tank and spitting out sand everywhere. :)
As for these next few months, well, I guess I hope they fly by, too. But it won't be so bad. It wouldn't hurt me for my life to slow down a little bit. Maybe I'll even get a chance to read some books this summer. That would be pretty sweet. I have a reading list to catch up on, after all!
Loves.
Betsy
Unfortunately, I missed lunch with Heidi, which made me so sad. But I did sleep in until 11:30am which was blissful (until I realized that I missed lunch with Heidi) so I'm pretty rested. For the most part. Some unexpected tension and tears got thrown in there, too, but the boyfriend saved the day (he's good at that) and I've been able to enjoy some of the fantastic weather.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the changes happening in my life, especially within this past year. I realized that it has been 9 months since Jordan broke up with me, 5 months since I got back from Scotland and 4 since I started dating Eric.
Time is a funny thing. It feels like eternity since my dad died (over 2 and a half years ago, now) and honestly it scared me today when I realized how I've forgotten a lot of what he was like. I really have to think for a while before I can get that mental picture of who he was back in order. I'm lucky that Eric reminds me a lot of him, but it still caught me off guard.
And yet this semester, even these last 6 months, seem to have disappeared in an instant. I'm so lucky that my time in Scotland didn't feel rushed. I miss it, though. I miss it so much. I still feel like Glasgow is home.
Home. Interesting thought. I'm going to be living with Mom & Jessey this summer, and I'm not sure how that one's gonna go. I'm a bit nervous about it, truthfully. I have a feeling I'm going to get sick of it pretty quickly. That and missing Eric will make it tough. Life is so different than last year-- I was packing up to leave for Yellowstone right now. Wow. Life changes so quickly.
"They serve God best who only stand and wait" --Milton.
That's a lesson that I learned in my Brit Lit class. It's from Milton's poem "When I consider How My Light was Spent," and one application is that basically there's going to be times in my life where I can't be on the other side of the world (or the country) serving and using my abilities the way I love to. Sometimes I'm going to have to be entering data or doing homework or just getting through a transitional time in my life, but that doesn't make my work any less valuable. It's what God wants me to be doing right now, whether I really like it or not. It's hard, though, when I've got the worse case of "Itchy Feet" (I can't stay in one place for long) ever.
And yet, I am content. Right now, I'm writing. I need to write more. And I'm watching my african cichlid fish out of the corner of my eye-- she's burrowing and it's a lot of fun to watch her sliding herself under the coca-cola glass I have in her tank and spitting out sand everywhere. :)
As for these next few months, well, I guess I hope they fly by, too. But it won't be so bad. It wouldn't hurt me for my life to slow down a little bit. Maybe I'll even get a chance to read some books this summer. That would be pretty sweet. I have a reading list to catch up on, after all!
Loves.
Betsy
Sunday, May 6, 2007
I *heart* warm weather :)
The Barnabas retreat was amazing. It was a 24-hour break that I definitely needed. We had a blast together with Nalini (and a surprise guest! sortof, haha) getting to know each other a little more. Some of the happy memories are watching 8-10 people sitting in a rowboat together in the middle of the lake, playing this weird tetris board game, catchprase (Emily: Oh, hello Bambi! What are you? [her team: DEER!] Emily: I think I'm going to shoot you! (drawing an imaginary arrow) [team: HUNTING!] hehe) and then lots of stories as we played a question game. Oh! And there was fantastic food, popsicles, wiffleball (yeah, Sam Ehlert was there! haha) and so much more.
I love my team already! We did miss the 5 people who couldn't come, though. :(
Eric had scuba all day Saturday, and so we were both pretty tired. I ended up sleeping through dinner so he took me out to Steak 'n Shake!! :D Then we talked for a while and I got a foot massage (aw yeah!) and then I crawled into bed at 11:30pm and SLEPT IN TILL 1PM!! :D Definitely needed that, too.
Anyhow, I have some work to do, hopefully it goes smoothly.
Bets
I love my team already! We did miss the 5 people who couldn't come, though. :(
Eric had scuba all day Saturday, and so we were both pretty tired. I ended up sleeping through dinner so he took me out to Steak 'n Shake!! :D Then we talked for a while and I got a foot massage (aw yeah!) and then I crawled into bed at 11:30pm and SLEPT IN TILL 1PM!! :D Definitely needed that, too.
Anyhow, I have some work to do, hopefully it goes smoothly.
Bets
Friday, May 4, 2007
hopeful.
Hi, friends :)
I'm taking a breather, at least for a moment, to enjoy the quietness of the morning. I'm finally starting to relax a little bit. I still have quite a lot to do by next Wednesday, but I think things are finally under control, for the most part.
I'm also rejoicing because I got a
I finished my Classics paper last night about the Nereid monument and came out with 997 words, and the prof wanted around 1,000! I couldn't believe I actually found that much to talk about! :) It was a relief to print that one off.
I'm going to try and finish a few things before my Barnabas retreat at 4:30pm, namely the research I've been putting off. And a couple of journal entries. And get through more of my kenosis book. Hrmmmm... I suppose my moment of peace is over!
Bets
I'm taking a breather, at least for a moment, to enjoy the quietness of the morning. I'm finally starting to relax a little bit. I still have quite a lot to do by next Wednesday, but I think things are finally under control, for the most part.
I'm also rejoicing because I got a
90/100
on my math test!! This was surprising, especially since the median for the class was 75! The other happy news was that I got a97/100
on my paper about mathematics and faith. (You'd be surprised how much they relate to each other!) Math is my worst subject and I had very low expectations for this semester, but it seems that I may just come out on top after all. (It's very weird that I'll end up getting a better grade in Math class than I will in my British Lit class... oh well!)I finished my Classics paper last night about the Nereid monument and came out with 997 words, and the prof wanted around 1,000! I couldn't believe I actually found that much to talk about! :) It was a relief to print that one off.
I'm going to try and finish a few things before my Barnabas retreat at 4:30pm, namely the research I've been putting off. And a couple of journal entries. And get through more of my kenosis book. Hrmmmm... I suppose my moment of peace is over!
Bets
Thursday, May 3, 2007
so much to do :(
Well, I made it till 4am this morning. About half of my Classics paper is done, but I still haven't finished the book for the religion paper (eeik) and I definitely haven't gotten as far into the research that I hoped to have done this morning. I am royally screwed. And because I'm going to be gone for 24 hours Fri-Saturday, it's hard to ask for an extension (which is dumb to do at this point anyway.) Ayiyiyi. What I need now is a miracle. :/
Bets
Update:
Well, I've got a new plan and I've reprioritized. I realized that I simply wasn't going to be able to finish my paper for religion by tomorrow and still do justice to the topic, but also that I'm probably getting an A- in that class right now so a few points taken off for lateness wouldn't be the end of the world. I just emailed my professor to let him know about my plan, so whew. Now I can work on that paper Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
I'm almost done with my Classics paper, due at 12:30pm tomorrow, which is certainly good news. It'll still be a little shorter than the prof would like, but at this point I'm not going to put a whole lot of effort into adding "fluff" to make it longer. The sooner I'm done with it, the better...
...so that I can get moving on my BritLit. I have a journal entry that I'd like to write up for today, and I need to hit the library to finish up some research.
I've also got Red Day today, which is RVD's annual cookout. :) That'll be fun.
You might wonder why I keep updating this when I should be writing papers, but let me tell you-- I need to collect my thoughts and make a plan before I can get myself to do anything! It helps, believe me.
Oh! Did I mention I bought a train ticket? It's official, folks, I'm going to Minnesota from the 16th to the 26th!! Yesssss.
Bets
Update:
Well, I've got a new plan and I've reprioritized. I realized that I simply wasn't going to be able to finish my paper for religion by tomorrow and still do justice to the topic, but also that I'm probably getting an A- in that class right now so a few points taken off for lateness wouldn't be the end of the world. I just emailed my professor to let him know about my plan, so whew. Now I can work on that paper Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
I'm almost done with my Classics paper, due at 12:30pm tomorrow, which is certainly good news. It'll still be a little shorter than the prof would like, but at this point I'm not going to put a whole lot of effort into adding "fluff" to make it longer. The sooner I'm done with it, the better...
...so that I can get moving on my BritLit. I have a journal entry that I'd like to write up for today, and I need to hit the library to finish up some research.
I've also got Red Day today, which is RVD's annual cookout. :) That'll be fun.
You might wonder why I keep updating this when I should be writing papers, but let me tell you-- I need to collect my thoughts and make a plan before I can get myself to do anything! It helps, believe me.
Oh! Did I mention I bought a train ticket? It's official, folks, I'm going to Minnesota from the 16th to the 26th!! Yesssss.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
STRESS!!!
Ok, things are really starting to stress me out. I've got wayyyyy too much on my plate right now! I can hardly wait for next Wednesday when all the homework and due dates are over and I can spend some time in Holland enjoying a bit of Tulip Time! I'm also looking forward to this weekend-- I've got the Barnabas Retreat and that should be pretty refreshing. BUT until then, I have to find a way to get a rough draft figured out (due tomorrow sometime), a journal entry about Paradise Lost, a book about Christology finished, and two papers due Friday done in the next 48 hours!!! EEIK!!! Well, at any rate, I guess that means this post is done about... now.
Update:
Debbi (my roommate) and I agreed to pull an all-nighter together. Unfortunately for me, it's only half past midnight and my eyes are already tired! Oh well, it's the first hump of sleepiness that's the hardest to get past...
My goals for tonight are to get my classics paper on the Nereid Monument (it's ok, you're not supposed to know what it is) done and out of the way (though it's due friday)... and iI also need to get a lot done for brit lit. If I manage that and I'm still surviving, well, I guess I'll reward myself with sleep! haha. :)
Update:
Debbi (my roommate) and I agreed to pull an all-nighter together. Unfortunately for me, it's only half past midnight and my eyes are already tired! Oh well, it's the first hump of sleepiness that's the hardest to get past...
My goals for tonight are to get my classics paper on the Nereid Monument (it's ok, you're not supposed to know what it is) done and out of the way (though it's due friday)... and iI also need to get a lot done for brit lit. If I manage that and I'm still surviving, well, I guess I'll reward myself with sleep! haha. :)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Betsy's assorted doctrines (sounds like a candy)
In my British Literature class today we talked about John Milton. He was an amazing poet (He's the one who wrote Paradise Lost, by the way. You have to have heard of him!) but what's especially interesting to me is that he pretty much read everything there was to read. (Seriously. His dad supported him for 6 years while he did this.) It allowed him to really engage his thoughts on various doctrines, and he worked through them pretty thoroughly. My prof talked about another student she's had who took it upon himself to work through Reformed doctrine and look at why he selects or rejects (or isn't sure about) particular threads of thought.
Speaking of theologians, I had a great discussion over dinner with Eric and Phil about Luther (and about drinking alcohol in a Christian context, but that's an entirely separate discussion) and how Luther was pretty much brilliant.
Anyway, it's really challenged me to think about doing the same. Maybe not as systematically as some might do, but to still be intentional about the way I think about God and His interaction with the world. It's something I enjoy a lot in the first place, but sometimes I take a pretty neutral stance on things because I'm a) lazy b) afraid of getting in over my head or c) I just haven't taken the time to think about it. None of those are good excuses for taking theology and my own beliefs more seriously.
Not to mention, as a Barnabas Leader next year, I really have a chance to get into this while being held accountable. We'll see where it takes me. :) (A few topics I have in mind... women in leadership, predestination and kenotic Christology!)
love.
bjv
PS- In BritLit we also talked about George Herbert. Haven't heard of him? You're missing out. Look at some of his works here... A personal favorite of mine is "The Pulley" but in class we talked about "Denial" and "Virtue" which were also quite good.
Speaking of theologians, I had a great discussion over dinner with Eric and Phil about Luther (and about drinking alcohol in a Christian context, but that's an entirely separate discussion) and how Luther was pretty much brilliant.
Anyway, it's really challenged me to think about doing the same. Maybe not as systematically as some might do, but to still be intentional about the way I think about God and His interaction with the world. It's something I enjoy a lot in the first place, but sometimes I take a pretty neutral stance on things because I'm a) lazy b) afraid of getting in over my head or c) I just haven't taken the time to think about it. None of those are good excuses for taking theology and my own beliefs more seriously.
Not to mention, as a Barnabas Leader next year, I really have a chance to get into this while being held accountable. We'll see where it takes me. :) (A few topics I have in mind... women in leadership, predestination and kenotic Christology!)
love.
bjv
PS- In BritLit we also talked about George Herbert. Haven't heard of him? You're missing out. Look at some of his works here... A personal favorite of mine is "The Pulley" but in class we talked about "Denial" and "Virtue" which were also quite good.
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