Reading Week

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