Well, we're already to the middle of Reading Week and that's about all I have done so far. It should actually be called "two papers, two essays and one test week", but at least "Reading Week" sounds friendlier!
The reason I've not done any work so far is all the blog entries I've been typing... Just kidding, it's actually due to my in-laws visiting for the last four days. We had a wonderful time (thanks Gail and Charlie!) but there was no studying. Also, my middle child Aidan turned eight on Sunday with a fun-filled Jedi adventure party. So, the weekend was super busy and we did two round trips to Nashville, which is 90 miles one way.
The reading that I have done is a biography on St. Francis of Assisi. What an amazing person he was. He lived a life of high velocity hedonism until his early twenties, but finding that to be empty and meaningless, he took a vow of poverty and committed his life to Christ. He was a small and sickly guy, which was not helped by his rigorous fasting and constant exposure to the elements in central Italy and his travels through Europe. He basically lived like a modern refugee. His commitment to poverty and self denial attracted many followers, but it was his love for common people and his empathy for their plight and suffering that endeared him to the world and made him a saint. The thing I like most about the ancient Franciscans was that they preached a message of hope and joyfulness during a very dark time in Christian history. The majority of their contemporaries preached damnation and misery for sinners, rather than salvation and the love God has for all His children. Francis spent much of his time meditating on the crucified Christ; an example we should all follow.
We've got another guest coming this weekend, a friend from our home parish and then the following weekend we'll be entertaining our parish priest as he comes to Sewanee to enjoy the seminary homecoming events (Dubose lectures). I sure hope that I can get some work done amidst all this frivolity!
blessings and peace,
Jon
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Random sharing
The week after next is called "Reading Week," during which no classes are held at the seminary. The purpose is twofold: we are supposed to get caught up on our unfinished reading and it gives us time to complete major assignments in each class. I appreciate having the time and I'm sure that I will be both catching up and also completing my major papers that will be due the week we get back. When I first saw that Reading Week was on the schedule I figured that a few people would use it to get caught up and that most would use it for time off and travel. I was wrong. Almost no one leaves during the week and there is probably more work getting done than at any other time during the term.
This past weekend has been Sewanee's homecoming for the undergrads. The school has a very scientific approach to managing their alumni relations and it has paid off significantly in terms of both school spirit and incredible monetary donations to the school. I have yet to meet a alum of the University of the South who does not love the school and the time they spent here. The homecoming events run on five year cycles, so this year the classes of 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, etc going back to 1959 were celebrating their anniversaries. There were parties all over campus and at the large homes that dot the mountainsides within a five mile drive of the school. The seminarians, because we are older and hopefully more responsible than the current 18-22 year old undergrads, are called on to serve as bartenders, valets, and shuttle drivers for the weekend. I personally worked three events and met some really great people from the classes of 1969, 1974, and 1999. Since I come from Jacksonville, I am used to seeing incredible school spirit in the form of Gators, Seminoles, and Dawgs; but these are all very large universities. Sewanee has 1,500 current students and for much of it's history was much smaller. It was amazing to see that 25-50% of each class is still coming to their reunions (the class of 1969 had like 80 graduates and I met 30 of them).
Our life here is finally starting to fall into comfortable patterns. The fog and mist have settled in and the seminarians who have been here for a year or two basically told me to say goodbye to the sun for the next five months. Our bookstore sells "Fog Happens" t-shirts! On the plus side, it is always cool outside, the last several days have had highs in the sixties. Today Marti and I walked to one of the dozens of small waterfalls that dot the landscape and it was gorgeous. The hikes are strenuous, but not daunting, just tough enough to make you appreciate getting back to the house. The dog rolled in some deer poop (why do dogs do this?) and had to have a bath, but otherwise it was a great day on the Mountain. Aidan's birthday is next week and Marti's parents will be flying in to visit us for four days, so that all promises to be very fun and busy.
blessings,
Jon
This past weekend has been Sewanee's homecoming for the undergrads. The school has a very scientific approach to managing their alumni relations and it has paid off significantly in terms of both school spirit and incredible monetary donations to the school. I have yet to meet a alum of the University of the South who does not love the school and the time they spent here. The homecoming events run on five year cycles, so this year the classes of 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, etc going back to 1959 were celebrating their anniversaries. There were parties all over campus and at the large homes that dot the mountainsides within a five mile drive of the school. The seminarians, because we are older and hopefully more responsible than the current 18-22 year old undergrads, are called on to serve as bartenders, valets, and shuttle drivers for the weekend. I personally worked three events and met some really great people from the classes of 1969, 1974, and 1999. Since I come from Jacksonville, I am used to seeing incredible school spirit in the form of Gators, Seminoles, and Dawgs; but these are all very large universities. Sewanee has 1,500 current students and for much of it's history was much smaller. It was amazing to see that 25-50% of each class is still coming to their reunions (the class of 1969 had like 80 graduates and I met 30 of them).
Our life here is finally starting to fall into comfortable patterns. The fog and mist have settled in and the seminarians who have been here for a year or two basically told me to say goodbye to the sun for the next five months. Our bookstore sells "Fog Happens" t-shirts! On the plus side, it is always cool outside, the last several days have had highs in the sixties. Today Marti and I walked to one of the dozens of small waterfalls that dot the landscape and it was gorgeous. The hikes are strenuous, but not daunting, just tough enough to make you appreciate getting back to the house. The dog rolled in some deer poop (why do dogs do this?) and had to have a bath, but otherwise it was a great day on the Mountain. Aidan's birthday is next week and Marti's parents will be flying in to visit us for four days, so that all promises to be very fun and busy.
blessings,
Jon
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
It Matters to Them
I have been praying lately for the children of the world and wondering what else I might do to help. A few nights ago I was reading the journal of an association of Methodist church women and the amount of outreach that they are able to support is astonishing. They work all over the globe doing community and education projects. The journal contained several pictures of kids living in garbage dumps and filthy shanty-town streets. Somehow most of the children were smiling and most looked like they were not starving; though not one of them was fat or tall. The smiling faces always surprise me. If I or one of my children was thrown into that kind of poverty I wonder if we would ever smile again. I remember watching television as a teenager and seeing the famines that hit Africa during the 1980's. It seemed incredible to me that there could be such widespread suffering. One thing about famines: there is always one somewhere.
One of my favorite charities, and one my family continues to support during seminary, is Compassion International. We sponsor two ten year old boys in Peru. We have sponsored Yosner and Kevin for about four years. We exchange letters and photos several times a year. It has been very rewarding to see them grow into strong young men who will one day be leaders in their communities. They both are very good students and are likely to go on to college. Our financial support goes towards their education and supplies; otherwise they both would have dropped out by now and gone to work for their families. Compassion International focuses on education as one major way to break the cycle of poverty in the developing world.
So, there are sad stories and there are unhappy endings, but there are also good stories and happy endings. Yosner and Kevin are by no means living the "good life" by American standards, but our little contributions do help and that means a lot to me.
peace and joy,
Jon
One of my favorite charities, and one my family continues to support during seminary, is Compassion International. We sponsor two ten year old boys in Peru. We have sponsored Yosner and Kevin for about four years. We exchange letters and photos several times a year. It has been very rewarding to see them grow into strong young men who will one day be leaders in their communities. They both are very good students and are likely to go on to college. Our financial support goes towards their education and supplies; otherwise they both would have dropped out by now and gone to work for their families. Compassion International focuses on education as one major way to break the cycle of poverty in the developing world.
So, there are sad stories and there are unhappy endings, but there are also good stories and happy endings. Yosner and Kevin are by no means living the "good life" by American standards, but our little contributions do help and that means a lot to me.
peace and joy,
Jon
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