As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.
-Author unknown
I have my first real college test today, in my Introduction to Religious Studies class. I'm pretty sure it will go well--at least, I hope so--I know all the material, and my suitemate, Kate, who has the class Tuesday-Thursday, said it wasn't as hard as Dr. York portrayed it.
So I'm going to go study my God stuff. And Dawkins (blech), and Marx, and Feuerbacher, and definitions for animism and henotheism...fun, fun, fun. Wish me luck!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Things That Mattered Today
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. ~E.F. Schumacker
Another class, another discussion. It’s so fascinating to be considered knowledgeable and, well, worthy of all these topics. Globalization, terrorism, sustainability, God, good versus evil, economics, beauty, perception, logistics, ethical behavior, responsibility, nuclear power struggles, the role of family, anti-Americanism, consumption, the American dream. And more, much more! There’s so much involved and implicit and understated and understood and then so much misunderstood and overstated and foggy and illogical. Each topic dredges up so many readings…old conversations and classroom discussions…snippets of TV headlines from six, seven, eight years ago and snippets of culture by now much changed…debate, of course. Of course debate! It’s exciting, invigorating. (Even if my 8am International Relations class makes me think wistfully of my bed and my Ethics class makes my eyelids droop sometimes.) This is stuff that matters.
You know what else matters? Stepping out of class at 9:40 to find a cool, sunny world has risen. The light rendering the ivy leaves translucent and making the dew-saturated cobweb glitter. The contrast in this particular scenario, with the red brick arch framing the green leaves and the sparkling web. That matters. The chilly air and the scent of fall in the air and the thick, soft warmth of my sweatshirt on my shoulders. The comforting solidity of the oaks against the sky, and the sun bright in my eyes. The laughter I hear down the path. This matters. And the way the person in front of me holds the door matters. And it matters that out of the four people at whom I smile and say “Good morning!” three respond in kind. And the sudden desire to write something—that matters, too. These things are simple, but these things are beautiful. That’s why they matter.
I think it's because today’s world is awfully complicated and kinda scary and generally unpleasant. “I don’t think today’s news could get any more depressing,” my friend David said after class this morning. And he’s right—it’s not much fun to watch the economy deflate, the Middle East plot ways to blow itself up, and politicians accuse each other of pointless “atrocities.” Learning how undemocratic our country’s elections are…yeah. Not fun. It’s a wonderful world, but it’s not a kind one…the news makes me feel panicky and frightens me. The thing about leaves and flowers and rain boots and smiley faces and warm feet is that even when the rest of the world is tangling itself up in knots, they stay simple. It gives me hope that as long as some things stay happy and good even in the midst of all the chaos, at least something will always be ok. And hope is a really critical thing to have today, I think. Hope and faith and curiosity.
So here’s to the sun shining and the wind snapping out the flag. Maybe life’s not all good, but, you know, it’s more than good enough to be worth it.
Another class, another discussion. It’s so fascinating to be considered knowledgeable and, well, worthy of all these topics. Globalization, terrorism, sustainability, God, good versus evil, economics, beauty, perception, logistics, ethical behavior, responsibility, nuclear power struggles, the role of family, anti-Americanism, consumption, the American dream. And more, much more! There’s so much involved and implicit and understated and understood and then so much misunderstood and overstated and foggy and illogical. Each topic dredges up so many readings…old conversations and classroom discussions…snippets of TV headlines from six, seven, eight years ago and snippets of culture by now much changed…debate, of course. Of course debate! It’s exciting, invigorating. (Even if my 8am International Relations class makes me think wistfully of my bed and my Ethics class makes my eyelids droop sometimes.) This is stuff that matters.
You know what else matters? Stepping out of class at 9:40 to find a cool, sunny world has risen. The light rendering the ivy leaves translucent and making the dew-saturated cobweb glitter. The contrast in this particular scenario, with the red brick arch framing the green leaves and the sparkling web. That matters. The chilly air and the scent of fall in the air and the thick, soft warmth of my sweatshirt on my shoulders. The comforting solidity of the oaks against the sky, and the sun bright in my eyes. The laughter I hear down the path. This matters. And the way the person in front of me holds the door matters. And it matters that out of the four people at whom I smile and say “Good morning!” three respond in kind. And the sudden desire to write something—that matters, too. These things are simple, but these things are beautiful. That’s why they matter.
I think it's because today’s world is awfully complicated and kinda scary and generally unpleasant. “I don’t think today’s news could get any more depressing,” my friend David said after class this morning. And he’s right—it’s not much fun to watch the economy deflate, the Middle East plot ways to blow itself up, and politicians accuse each other of pointless “atrocities.” Learning how undemocratic our country’s elections are…yeah. Not fun. It’s a wonderful world, but it’s not a kind one…the news makes me feel panicky and frightens me. The thing about leaves and flowers and rain boots and smiley faces and warm feet is that even when the rest of the world is tangling itself up in knots, they stay simple. It gives me hope that as long as some things stay happy and good even in the midst of all the chaos, at least something will always be ok. And hope is a really critical thing to have today, I think. Hope and faith and curiosity.
So here’s to the sun shining and the wind snapping out the flag. Maybe life’s not all good, but, you know, it’s more than good enough to be worth it.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
College Is Eating My Life
There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.
-Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
Before I left for college, I distinctly remember being told by several people how much more free time I was going to have then I was expecting.
I'm not sure now whether thse people were teasing me, genuinely trying to be helpful, or freshly escaped from mental institutions, but so far they've been dead wrong. Maybe it's an honors fellow thing (that's our house excuse for everything). Anyway, thus far my free time has been very close to zero; in fact, I've got two essays I could be writing right now.
And one of them's due tomorrow, so I think I'd better get to that. I just wanted to mention that I haven't forgotten about my blog, or my correspondence aspirations, or anything. And I'll post more about college life after said college life lets up a little. I promise!
-Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
Before I left for college, I distinctly remember being told by several people how much more free time I was going to have then I was expecting.
I'm not sure now whether thse people were teasing me, genuinely trying to be helpful, or freshly escaped from mental institutions, but so far they've been dead wrong. Maybe it's an honors fellow thing (that's our house excuse for everything). Anyway, thus far my free time has been very close to zero; in fact, I've got two essays I could be writing right now.
And one of them's due tomorrow, so I think I'd better get to that. I just wanted to mention that I haven't forgotten about my blog, or my correspondence aspirations, or anything. And I'll post more about college life after said college life lets up a little. I promise!
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