It has taken three long years, and my patience and sanity have been tested immensely, but I am officially done with Seminary. I'm sitting in the airport right now, waiting to board my last flight back to CA from Princeton. I meant to post this a lot sooner, but the crazy rush to pack and get everything ready has been more time consuming than I imagined.
I finished my last class yesterday. It was hard to really consider it a class because it was simply attending a forum on Youth Ministry held by Princeton. There were no papers to be written, no requirements other than to be at every session. And it was quite rejuvenating, encouraging, empowering, and relaxing. I got to hear Shane Claiborne, Peter Gomes, and Kenda Dean speak on Youth Ministry. And I left the forum feeling ready to set into any role in the church, including youth ministry, without hesitation. And what more could I ask from my last class at Princeton, feeling ready to be sent out in the world?
So this is in many ways the end but it is also the beginning. I've spent three years trying to figure out my calling, whether the Church is any part of that, and what role I should fit into. After three years, while the edges remain fuzzy, many of those questions have solidified. And if you've been tracking along, you certainly know how those questions have been answered. But much more remains to be learned, discovered, tested, and tried. I don't know what the future holds completely, but I know God will be faithful throughout.
I will most likely continue this blog as I originally intended it when I first started it. Random musings of my theological mishaps will most likely covered the pages of my future blogs. So if you want to hear more about my thoughts and how they're developing, keep reading.
For those who have followed me through the last three years, thank you for your support and prayers over my time in seminary. I look forward to keeping you updated about what happens here at this new beginning...
Showing posts with label Coming Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coming Home. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
For the Last Time?
I keep getting close to saying that I'm coming home for the last time before graduation, but it seems like something always keeps getting in my way before doing that. In this case, it ended up being a whirlwind ride at the airport, a set of unexpected circumstances, and an amazing blessing that came from nowhere. So here's how my ride home went over the weekend.
I arrived at Ontario airport late on Sunday evening, pretty downtrodden. I had to wipe fresh tears from my eyes as I was walking up to the security checkpoint, waving painfully goodbye to my dad and girlfriend as I trudged slowly up to the TSA guard with my boarding pass and driver's license in hand. With all of five people going through the metal detectors, I zipped through security, refilling my emptied pockets and slipping my sandals back onto my feet. With my backpack and suitcase in hand, I sat down in one of the black leather chairs next to my gate, and started reading "Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale." Written by Frederick Buechner, the book is about how in order to fully understand the Gospel's message, we have to realize that it speaks of terrible tragedy, divine comedy, and the fairy tale ending that no one expects and struggles to fully believe. But when we reach that point, we see the Gospel in its wholeness and the truth it speaks is more easily grasped. And at this point, understanding the tragedy of the Gospel was much easier to grasp.
About an hour before our flight was supposed to board, we received the announcement that our flight had been overbooked, and if "a few good men" would be willing to give up their seats, they'd receive a $400 voucher to use on any Delta flight. It wasn't a crazy idea, I thought, to give up my seat on this flight. After all, I'm not planning on going to classes tomorrow (Monday) anyway, so what difference would it make if I arrived later on Monday? So I decided to go up to the gate and at least see if it was a possibility. They said they'd call me back and let me know if it would work out to fly me to Philadelphia later on Monday. So I returned to my seat and called Cathy to let her know to be on standby in case I needed a ride back home. My parents weren't crazy about the idea of me giving up my seat, but for $400, why not give it a shot?
Soon the plane started boarding, and I assumed my seat would still be mine as they had not called me back to the gate. I checked with the gate before boarding, and after reading me my options for flights, they determined that they didn't need anyone to give up their seats anymore and thanked me for volunteering anyway. So I walked into the now long line to board my flight, slightly dejected but resigned to the fact that it would be over two months before seeing my family and girlfriend again. I called Cathy again to let her know that I would be on my way to Princeton shortly. I could hear the disappointment in her voice, and I could feel dampness accumulating below my eyes. But two months is not that long, and we had already done it once. We could to it again.
Then the comedy began. I approached the boarding door, and after scanning my boarding pass, I was informed that I had not been cleared to board the plane. "Please step over to the gate, and the attendants will assign you a new seat," I was kindly told. So back to the gate I went only to find out that no seats remained on my flight. "You were going to voluntarily give up your seat anyway, right?" Yes, that's right, I replied. They told me that I could either wait on standby for a few minutes to see if a new seat would open up or that I could go downstairs and they would book me on a new flight along with giving me the $400 voucher I had been promised before. But before I could answer, the attendant looked at her computer screen and said, "You know what, just head downstairs, I don't think anything will open up." With a wide smile, I thanked her for her assistance and quickly strolled back to the front of the terminal, backpack, suitcase and book about tragedy and comedy in hand. I called Cathy again, not more than 1o minutes after calling her before, to inform her that I indeed needed a ride back home. So down the stairs I quickly went and approached the front desk.
The conversation at the front gate was a long one with many twists and turns through the forest of flight bookings. Apparently this is the popular time of year to go to the East Coast as all of the flights they were looking at out of Ontario and LAX were completely booked. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make it back to Princeton in time for classes. Then suddenly there was an opening. "I have a flight out of Orange County leaving at 1:00 pm, arriving in Philadelphia at 11:11 pm, with two seats open ... in first class." Well, I thought, it's my only way back to Princeton, so I suppose I have to take it, fully expecting to have to pay the difference. Only the bill never came. Because my situation had changed from a voluntarily no-board to a denied boarding, my options had opened up. Though the attendant had to get clearance from her supervisor to make the change, I was handed my first-class ticket back to Princeton along with a $400 voucher to use on any flight on Delta airlines or one of their partners. I had essentially been paid to not board my flight. Comical, to be sure, but an unexpected blessing with further unexpected (positive) consequences.
Cathy had to circle the airport a few times before I was able to get out to the curb, feeling overjoyed but still in disbelief. And then the fairy tale began. I had not thought about what I could use that voucher for but suddenly it became incredibly clear when discussing it with Cathy. You see, my classes end on April 29, and I don't officially graduate until May 22. That's almost a full month of sitting around at Princeton doing nothing except watching the grass grow. But now, with a $400 voucher in hand, I could come home for those three weeks, something I had not intended to do but desperately desired. And everything began to fall into place. I could either start looking for a job and start a job much earlier than I had anticipated. I would get to see family and friends far sooner than before. I would get to spend quality time with Cathy that I had not expected. And I would still be back to say goodbye to my Princeton friends and receive my degree without the painful wait in between. I remind myself to focus on the small blessings, but I had forgotten that sometimes God can give us huge blessings as well.
So after spending an extra few hours with Cathy I had not anticipated I would have, I was able to sleep soundly, and fly back to Princeton in style. I met three fascinating people on my way back (which I'll share more about later) and felt relaxed and rejuvenated upon arriving in Philadelphia. Tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale.
There is so much more to say, but I have to run to class. More to come later...
I arrived at Ontario airport late on Sunday evening, pretty downtrodden. I had to wipe fresh tears from my eyes as I was walking up to the security checkpoint, waving painfully goodbye to my dad and girlfriend as I trudged slowly up to the TSA guard with my boarding pass and driver's license in hand. With all of five people going through the metal detectors, I zipped through security, refilling my emptied pockets and slipping my sandals back onto my feet. With my backpack and suitcase in hand, I sat down in one of the black leather chairs next to my gate, and started reading "Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale." Written by Frederick Buechner, the book is about how in order to fully understand the Gospel's message, we have to realize that it speaks of terrible tragedy, divine comedy, and the fairy tale ending that no one expects and struggles to fully believe. But when we reach that point, we see the Gospel in its wholeness and the truth it speaks is more easily grasped. And at this point, understanding the tragedy of the Gospel was much easier to grasp.
About an hour before our flight was supposed to board, we received the announcement that our flight had been overbooked, and if "a few good men" would be willing to give up their seats, they'd receive a $400 voucher to use on any Delta flight. It wasn't a crazy idea, I thought, to give up my seat on this flight. After all, I'm not planning on going to classes tomorrow (Monday) anyway, so what difference would it make if I arrived later on Monday? So I decided to go up to the gate and at least see if it was a possibility. They said they'd call me back and let me know if it would work out to fly me to Philadelphia later on Monday. So I returned to my seat and called Cathy to let her know to be on standby in case I needed a ride back home. My parents weren't crazy about the idea of me giving up my seat, but for $400, why not give it a shot?
Soon the plane started boarding, and I assumed my seat would still be mine as they had not called me back to the gate. I checked with the gate before boarding, and after reading me my options for flights, they determined that they didn't need anyone to give up their seats anymore and thanked me for volunteering anyway. So I walked into the now long line to board my flight, slightly dejected but resigned to the fact that it would be over two months before seeing my family and girlfriend again. I called Cathy again to let her know that I would be on my way to Princeton shortly. I could hear the disappointment in her voice, and I could feel dampness accumulating below my eyes. But two months is not that long, and we had already done it once. We could to it again.
Then the comedy began. I approached the boarding door, and after scanning my boarding pass, I was informed that I had not been cleared to board the plane. "Please step over to the gate, and the attendants will assign you a new seat," I was kindly told. So back to the gate I went only to find out that no seats remained on my flight. "You were going to voluntarily give up your seat anyway, right?" Yes, that's right, I replied. They told me that I could either wait on standby for a few minutes to see if a new seat would open up or that I could go downstairs and they would book me on a new flight along with giving me the $400 voucher I had been promised before. But before I could answer, the attendant looked at her computer screen and said, "You know what, just head downstairs, I don't think anything will open up." With a wide smile, I thanked her for her assistance and quickly strolled back to the front of the terminal, backpack, suitcase and book about tragedy and comedy in hand. I called Cathy again, not more than 1o minutes after calling her before, to inform her that I indeed needed a ride back home. So down the stairs I quickly went and approached the front desk.
The conversation at the front gate was a long one with many twists and turns through the forest of flight bookings. Apparently this is the popular time of year to go to the East Coast as all of the flights they were looking at out of Ontario and LAX were completely booked. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make it back to Princeton in time for classes. Then suddenly there was an opening. "I have a flight out of Orange County leaving at 1:00 pm, arriving in Philadelphia at 11:11 pm, with two seats open ... in first class." Well, I thought, it's my only way back to Princeton, so I suppose I have to take it, fully expecting to have to pay the difference. Only the bill never came. Because my situation had changed from a voluntarily no-board to a denied boarding, my options had opened up. Though the attendant had to get clearance from her supervisor to make the change, I was handed my first-class ticket back to Princeton along with a $400 voucher to use on any flight on Delta airlines or one of their partners. I had essentially been paid to not board my flight. Comical, to be sure, but an unexpected blessing with further unexpected (positive) consequences.
Cathy had to circle the airport a few times before I was able to get out to the curb, feeling overjoyed but still in disbelief. And then the fairy tale began. I had not thought about what I could use that voucher for but suddenly it became incredibly clear when discussing it with Cathy. You see, my classes end on April 29, and I don't officially graduate until May 22. That's almost a full month of sitting around at Princeton doing nothing except watching the grass grow. But now, with a $400 voucher in hand, I could come home for those three weeks, something I had not intended to do but desperately desired. And everything began to fall into place. I could either start looking for a job and start a job much earlier than I had anticipated. I would get to see family and friends far sooner than before. I would get to spend quality time with Cathy that I had not expected. And I would still be back to say goodbye to my Princeton friends and receive my degree without the painful wait in between. I remind myself to focus on the small blessings, but I had forgotten that sometimes God can give us huge blessings as well.
So after spending an extra few hours with Cathy I had not anticipated I would have, I was able to sleep soundly, and fly back to Princeton in style. I met three fascinating people on my way back (which I'll share more about later) and felt relaxed and rejuvenated upon arriving in Philadelphia. Tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale.
There is so much more to say, but I have to run to class. More to come later...
Friday, January 1, 2010
Only Five More Months
I'm back in Princeton after another trip home. Every time it gets harder to come back to school after being at home. And especially after this break, it has been even harder. I think most of the readers of my blog know this already, but just in case you hadn't heard, I am no longer single. My girlfriend is Cathy Hansen. We've been dating for almost four weeks now. We met about five years ago, and have been good friends for about four years. After being in denial about it for a long time, I finally admitted that I had feelings for her. And there you have it. :-) So it probably shouldn't take too much to guess why going back to school was little harder this time around.
Alas, I am back at school, ready to get started on my work so I can finish it quickly. I only have five months left until I am done with school, graduated, and on to the next great adventure of my life. What that adventure will be is up in the air once again. I have decided to put my Ph.D. aspirations on hold for the near future. The more I have thought about it, the more I feel getting "life experience" under my belt would be more useful for me at this point. That's not to say that school isn't a life experience in itself, but I want my learning to stop being theoretical for the time being. There were some other considerations in there as well, but that was a major influence on my decision.
So I am going to try to power through this semester and make the most of my last semester here at Princeton. It has been a struggle to fully appreciate my time here, but, as Simone Weil put it, the importance of education is not necessarily what you learn, but simply the fact that you challenged yourself to go beyond what you thought possible. And sometimes it has felt like pushing against a brick wall, but even if I moved that wall an inch, I'll consider these three years a success. I am slowly beginning to see the progress I've made even though I feel like I've hardly gone anywhere. I imagine that as I continue to process these last three years, I'll see that I've come a lot farther than I thought.
For those who are curious what I'm taking this year, here is my class schedule:
Exegesis of Ephesians - Shane Berg
Israel's Wisdom Literature - Choon-Leong Seow
Film, Faith, and Spiritual Formation in Young Adults - Kenda Dean
Word and Act: Service in the Lord's Day - Nancy Lamers-Gross
I'm still working on my Lesslie Newbigin research paper.
Now, it's late, I'm jet-lagged and I should sleep. So until next time...
Alas, I am back at school, ready to get started on my work so I can finish it quickly. I only have five months left until I am done with school, graduated, and on to the next great adventure of my life. What that adventure will be is up in the air once again. I have decided to put my Ph.D. aspirations on hold for the near future. The more I have thought about it, the more I feel getting "life experience" under my belt would be more useful for me at this point. That's not to say that school isn't a life experience in itself, but I want my learning to stop being theoretical for the time being. There were some other considerations in there as well, but that was a major influence on my decision.
So I am going to try to power through this semester and make the most of my last semester here at Princeton. It has been a struggle to fully appreciate my time here, but, as Simone Weil put it, the importance of education is not necessarily what you learn, but simply the fact that you challenged yourself to go beyond what you thought possible. And sometimes it has felt like pushing against a brick wall, but even if I moved that wall an inch, I'll consider these three years a success. I am slowly beginning to see the progress I've made even though I feel like I've hardly gone anywhere. I imagine that as I continue to process these last three years, I'll see that I've come a lot farther than I thought.
For those who are curious what I'm taking this year, here is my class schedule:
Exegesis of Ephesians - Shane Berg
Israel's Wisdom Literature - Choon-Leong Seow
Film, Faith, and Spiritual Formation in Young Adults - Kenda Dean
Word and Act: Service in the Lord's Day - Nancy Lamers-Gross
I'm still working on my Lesslie Newbigin research paper.
Now, it's late, I'm jet-lagged and I should sleep. So until next time...
Sunday, November 29, 2009
An Update At Last
Well, it's taken almost a month and a half to write again, but it's been quite a month and a half. There has been a lot happening, a lot to process, and a lot to struggle with. Now I find myself way behind and most likely needing to request extensions for deadlines and classes.
So where to begin? My sister visited me back in October, and that was a lot of fun. The third family member to come to visit in Princeton (after Paul and uncle John), and it's always exciting to show new people around. Unfortunately, I broke her camera while we were in New York, but thankfully she had mine to use to take pictures. She got to see the fall colors, the Princeton University museum, and most of the city. Pretty exciting.
Then my friend, Cathy, came out to visit. Before that, through numerous phone conversations, I found out that my grandmother was beginning to decline fairly quickly, and probably didn't have much more than three weeks left. That was when my schedule came to a screeching halt. My thoughts and feelings were all at home at that point, and I was just waiting for the point when I could come home physically. Still, I tried to push on (unsuccessfully), and having Cathy come out was definitely uplifting.
We went to New Hope, which is a location I was told I had to see. I can see why it is, but it's definitely a Fall/Spring place. The outdoor entertainment is the draw, but when it's 40* outside, there's not much outdoor entertainment to be had. But, believe it or not, I actually found a decent Mexican restaurant in New Hope. It's still only good by East Coast standards, but still good. Her visit was enjoyable, but unfortunately cut short.
While Cathy was visiting, I received the phone call that my grandmother had passed away. It was right after we had gotten back from New Hope. I was shellshocked from the news, but I had alerted my professors to what was going on, so I was able to leave quickly. Being at home was good, though hard under the circumstances. I was happy to be able to see family and church friends. But my grandmother is also the closest person I've known who has passed away, and dealing with that first close loss is always difficult.
It didn't hit me until the day of the funeral, and a lot of the emotional outpouring happened on that day. It has been difficult since then as well. Being back at school as been a struggle. My mentally and emotionally I'm not here even though I physically am. It's only two weeks until I am back at home again, which sometimes makes me wonder why I came back out here at all. But with final papers due and other obligations, I suppose there's no way it could be avoided. For now, I have to try to focus on what's going on out here, and deal with the rest as it comes.
It's moving toward winter here, though it's still pretty warm (mid 50s most days, down into the high 30s at night). And registration for Spring classes begins on Wednesday. I have no idea what I'm going to take; its been the hardest semester to try to figure it out because none of the classes look all that appealing. No doubt my current emotional state is partly to blame for that.
I'll be home again on December 15. Seems so far away, even though it's only two weeks. Hopefully when I update again, things will be a bit cheerier than they are now.
So where to begin? My sister visited me back in October, and that was a lot of fun. The third family member to come to visit in Princeton (after Paul and uncle John), and it's always exciting to show new people around. Unfortunately, I broke her camera while we were in New York, but thankfully she had mine to use to take pictures. She got to see the fall colors, the Princeton University museum, and most of the city. Pretty exciting.
Then my friend, Cathy, came out to visit. Before that, through numerous phone conversations, I found out that my grandmother was beginning to decline fairly quickly, and probably didn't have much more than three weeks left. That was when my schedule came to a screeching halt. My thoughts and feelings were all at home at that point, and I was just waiting for the point when I could come home physically. Still, I tried to push on (unsuccessfully), and having Cathy come out was definitely uplifting.
We went to New Hope, which is a location I was told I had to see. I can see why it is, but it's definitely a Fall/Spring place. The outdoor entertainment is the draw, but when it's 40* outside, there's not much outdoor entertainment to be had. But, believe it or not, I actually found a decent Mexican restaurant in New Hope. It's still only good by East Coast standards, but still good. Her visit was enjoyable, but unfortunately cut short.
While Cathy was visiting, I received the phone call that my grandmother had passed away. It was right after we had gotten back from New Hope. I was shellshocked from the news, but I had alerted my professors to what was going on, so I was able to leave quickly. Being at home was good, though hard under the circumstances. I was happy to be able to see family and church friends. But my grandmother is also the closest person I've known who has passed away, and dealing with that first close loss is always difficult.
It didn't hit me until the day of the funeral, and a lot of the emotional outpouring happened on that day. It has been difficult since then as well. Being back at school as been a struggle. My mentally and emotionally I'm not here even though I physically am. It's only two weeks until I am back at home again, which sometimes makes me wonder why I came back out here at all. But with final papers due and other obligations, I suppose there's no way it could be avoided. For now, I have to try to focus on what's going on out here, and deal with the rest as it comes.
It's moving toward winter here, though it's still pretty warm (mid 50s most days, down into the high 30s at night). And registration for Spring classes begins on Wednesday. I have no idea what I'm going to take; its been the hardest semester to try to figure it out because none of the classes look all that appealing. No doubt my current emotional state is partly to blame for that.
I'll be home again on December 15. Seems so far away, even though it's only two weeks. Hopefully when I update again, things will be a bit cheerier than they are now.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Summer must be over...
It must be getting close to school again if I'm back at the Theological Mishaps blog.
It's been a great summer. I don't know if it was quite as good as last summer considering all of the fun nonsense that happened to me this summer, but I think my heart hurts a little more this year than it did last year about this time. I've definitely changed quite a bit over the last few months, and there are quite a few things that have become clearer this summer, particularly concerning my future. Directions seem to be coming more clear, doors are closing, new ones are opening, and I am feeling better about who I am and where I fit.
It's been quite the ride trying to get there. Probably the most exciting part has been my recurring knee nuisance that became a little more serious this summer. Since I was in swim team, both of my knees stiffen up every now and then. Sometimes it lasts for about a day, other times it lasts for about a week. This time, it lasted for a couple months. And there was shooting nervous pain going up my leg to accompany it. So off to the doctor to get myself checked out, and I went through some scary diagnoses. First, it was a torn meniscus; then, it was possibly lymphoma, lupus, arthritis, gout, and a slew of other possibilities; then finally, simple tendinitis. Two MRIs, plenty of blood tests and x-rays later, and with a bottle of Naprosyn, I am back walking, running, and jumping normally again.
I am feeling a bit more clarity on my vocation, though I will save those thoughts for another post. That has been quite a journey on its own and would fill too much space here. Suffice it to say that I feel much more comfortable about where I am being called and the reasons for it.
I am very sad to be leaving CA. I'm not an East Coast Kid, at least not in the area of the East Coast I've been situated for the last two years. There are things I appreciate about Princeton that I will sorely miss, but I realize I am much more satisfied in my West Coast surroundings. That is not how I envisioned my trip to Princeton at all. I was fairly convinced that the East Coast would be the perfect place for me; two years later and about the only worse fit I can think of is Texas. But I would never trade away the opportunity to be surrounded by so much history, so many new and diverse people, and to (pretty much) a different culture. That has shaped me and changed me in great ways, and given me a perspective that I wouldn't trade. I just don't want to prolong the experience.
By this time next week, I'll be back in Princeton, hopefully excited for this things to come. I already have my light at the end of the tunnel, that being my flight back home for Christmas. I'll give details for that closer to the appropriate date. So until next week, I will enjoy my last few days in CA, and be ready to jet off next Wednesday....
It's been a great summer. I don't know if it was quite as good as last summer considering all of the fun nonsense that happened to me this summer, but I think my heart hurts a little more this year than it did last year about this time. I've definitely changed quite a bit over the last few months, and there are quite a few things that have become clearer this summer, particularly concerning my future. Directions seem to be coming more clear, doors are closing, new ones are opening, and I am feeling better about who I am and where I fit.
It's been quite the ride trying to get there. Probably the most exciting part has been my recurring knee nuisance that became a little more serious this summer. Since I was in swim team, both of my knees stiffen up every now and then. Sometimes it lasts for about a day, other times it lasts for about a week. This time, it lasted for a couple months. And there was shooting nervous pain going up my leg to accompany it. So off to the doctor to get myself checked out, and I went through some scary diagnoses. First, it was a torn meniscus; then, it was possibly lymphoma, lupus, arthritis, gout, and a slew of other possibilities; then finally, simple tendinitis. Two MRIs, plenty of blood tests and x-rays later, and with a bottle of Naprosyn, I am back walking, running, and jumping normally again.
I am feeling a bit more clarity on my vocation, though I will save those thoughts for another post. That has been quite a journey on its own and would fill too much space here. Suffice it to say that I feel much more comfortable about where I am being called and the reasons for it.
I am very sad to be leaving CA. I'm not an East Coast Kid, at least not in the area of the East Coast I've been situated for the last two years. There are things I appreciate about Princeton that I will sorely miss, but I realize I am much more satisfied in my West Coast surroundings. That is not how I envisioned my trip to Princeton at all. I was fairly convinced that the East Coast would be the perfect place for me; two years later and about the only worse fit I can think of is Texas. But I would never trade away the opportunity to be surrounded by so much history, so many new and diverse people, and to (pretty much) a different culture. That has shaped me and changed me in great ways, and given me a perspective that I wouldn't trade. I just don't want to prolong the experience.
By this time next week, I'll be back in Princeton, hopefully excited for this things to come. I already have my light at the end of the tunnel, that being my flight back home for Christmas. I'll give details for that closer to the appropriate date. So until next week, I will enjoy my last few days in CA, and be ready to jet off next Wednesday....
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Almost Done with my Second Year
I officially finished my classes on Thursday, and now all I have left are my finals. Well, my single final on the last day of finals (Friday, April 24). It has definitely been a very interesting second year. A lot of ups and downs, a variety of classes, new challenges, old challenges, and some new perspectives.
There has been plenty that has happened, some of it good, some of it bad, but I am very ready to come home regardless. Amongst my friends, we have agreed that the more time we can get out of Princeton, the better. It's not that we hate it, but there is definitely a culture that develops here that can be detrimental when we're overexposed to it. It is hard to explain, but the point is, it's always good to get away from our institution and to go back into the "normal" world.
I have registered for my classes next year, and I can once again say that, from the outset, I am very excited about them. Here are my classes:
Introduction to Prophetic Literature
Ethics and the Problem of Evil
Education, Evangelism, and Formation in the Missional Church
January Term: Issues in the Theology of Scripture
Teaching Ministry
It should be a really good semester. I have had classes with most of the professors I'm taking from, so it should be a great semester to develop connections with profs.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what my plans are for summer. I've assumed that I've made it pretty plain as to what I'm doing this summer, and we all know the mantra about assuming. I am coming home to CA (as my first paragraph probably made clear). I am going to be returning to La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, my new church home of which I am now a member, as an intern, though this time not as an official PTS intern. I am really excited about the opportunity to serve there again. I will be staying at my parents' home again, living in my room. And I'll be home for about four and a half months, since school doesn't start until mid-September. So I am looking forward to a very long, productive-but-relaxing summer. Plenty of time to see friends and family.
Here is my flight info on the way home, for those who are interested:
Depart: Saturday, April 25
Leave: PHL @ 9:35 AM
Arrive: LAX @ 2:00 PM
There has been plenty that has happened, some of it good, some of it bad, but I am very ready to come home regardless. Amongst my friends, we have agreed that the more time we can get out of Princeton, the better. It's not that we hate it, but there is definitely a culture that develops here that can be detrimental when we're overexposed to it. It is hard to explain, but the point is, it's always good to get away from our institution and to go back into the "normal" world.
I have registered for my classes next year, and I can once again say that, from the outset, I am very excited about them. Here are my classes:
Introduction to Prophetic Literature
Ethics and the Problem of Evil
Education, Evangelism, and Formation in the Missional Church
January Term: Issues in the Theology of Scripture
Teaching Ministry
It should be a really good semester. I have had classes with most of the professors I'm taking from, so it should be a great semester to develop connections with profs.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what my plans are for summer. I've assumed that I've made it pretty plain as to what I'm doing this summer, and we all know the mantra about assuming. I am coming home to CA (as my first paragraph probably made clear). I am going to be returning to La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, my new church home of which I am now a member, as an intern, though this time not as an official PTS intern. I am really excited about the opportunity to serve there again. I will be staying at my parents' home again, living in my room. And I'll be home for about four and a half months, since school doesn't start until mid-September. So I am looking forward to a very long, productive-but-relaxing summer. Plenty of time to see friends and family.
Here is my flight info on the way home, for those who are interested:
Depart: Saturday, April 25
Leave: PHL @ 9:35 AM
Arrive: LAX @ 2:00 PM
Monday, April 6, 2009
Flight Changes
I made some changes to my flight coming home. Basically, I'm leaving a half hour earlier and getting back to CA a couple hours earlier and in a different airport without layovers. My new itinerary is below:
Southwest Flight# 3894
Saturday, April 25
Depart: PHL @ 9:35 AM
Arrive: LAX @ 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Less Than a Month Away
Well, it's hard to believe, but I have three weeks of class left, finals, and then I will be two-thirds of the way toward completing my Master of Divinity. In many ways, I can't wait for that time to pass. I like my classes, but I am ready to go home. Coming home for spring was great, and it just reinforces the feeling that I don't really belong in New Jersey or on the East Coast. I don't talk about that too much, partially because I don't have time, and partially because I don't want anyone to think that I sit around moping all day. But often times I feel like a foreigner out here, that I'm speaking a different language or working with a completely different set of rules from everyone else. It can get difficult sometimes, but I also have a great group of friends who lift me up on a daily basis.
Of course, with the semester coming to a close, it also means that the classwork is beginning to pile up. Thankfully I have been much better about managing my time this semester and getting some projects done earlier in the semester so that my load will be a little lighter. There will still be plenty to do, but it will be much more manageable than last year, when most of my work came all at the very end of the semester.
I have been feeling more of an urge to get out of Princeton and explore around a bit more. I drove up to Bridgewater, NJ, about 30 minutes north of Princeton, to take care of some things, but I enjoyed driving up, just getting to view some of the other parts of the state. In some places, New Jersey really is beautiful.
This evening we had our first lightning storm. It was a pretty amazing display. Crackling arms of lightning stretched across sky, lighting up the whole campus, followed by the low rumbling of thunder. I stood in the doorway of my dorm's entrance just watching for awhile. It wasn't raining very hard, so the soft patter of the rain complemented it all very nicely. A divinely orchestrated concert.
Of course, with the semester coming to a close, it also means that the classwork is beginning to pile up. Thankfully I have been much better about managing my time this semester and getting some projects done earlier in the semester so that my load will be a little lighter. There will still be plenty to do, but it will be much more manageable than last year, when most of my work came all at the very end of the semester.
I have been feeling more of an urge to get out of Princeton and explore around a bit more. I drove up to Bridgewater, NJ, about 30 minutes north of Princeton, to take care of some things, but I enjoyed driving up, just getting to view some of the other parts of the state. In some places, New Jersey really is beautiful.
This evening we had our first lightning storm. It was a pretty amazing display. Crackling arms of lightning stretched across sky, lighting up the whole campus, followed by the low rumbling of thunder. I stood in the doorway of my dorm's entrance just watching for awhile. It wasn't raining very hard, so the soft patter of the rain complemented it all very nicely. A divinely orchestrated concert.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Moving Along
The semester is over half-way done. I have finished my midterms, and now it's the home stretch to get everything done before finals week. Time has certainly been flying by.
My classes have been going well. My Children's Fantasy Literature class continues to be my favorite. Before our Reading Week (aka Spring Break), I was involved in a skit where I got to play J. R. R. Tolkien. It was a lot of fun and well received by the class. Then, in the class after returning from break, a Harry Potter expert, John Granger, came to the class to talk about the Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series. If you enjoy the Harry Potter books, you need to check out his books. I had to smack myself in the head a couple times thinking, "How could I miss something so obvious?" I have a new respect for J. K. Rowling's writing, and would actually put it pretty close to the quality of Tolkien or C. S. Lewis's writing. Later that night, our class had a Fantasy Ball where we could dress up as our favorite characters from any book in the class. I dressed up as Gandalf the Grey, complete with beard, hair and staff. I won Best Costume and received a copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." Definitely worth the effort. =)
That was the levity for the week. I also had plenty of midterms to work on when I got back to school after being in CA for a week. Thankfully, I think I did well on all of them.
It was good to be home, and I definitely miss it. But in 5 weeks, I will be jetting back to CA again for the summer, which is hard to believe. I think I will be done with school before pretty much anyone else this year, flying back on April 26. And then I will only have one year left at Princeton.
I'm going to push hard to the end. There is still plenty of work to do. It is encouraging that Spring is breaking in and the trees and flowers are starting to blossom. It gives a new found energy to everything on campus.
My classes have been going well. My Children's Fantasy Literature class continues to be my favorite. Before our Reading Week (aka Spring Break), I was involved in a skit where I got to play J. R. R. Tolkien. It was a lot of fun and well received by the class. Then, in the class after returning from break, a Harry Potter expert, John Granger, came to the class to talk about the Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series. If you enjoy the Harry Potter books, you need to check out his books. I had to smack myself in the head a couple times thinking, "How could I miss something so obvious?" I have a new respect for J. K. Rowling's writing, and would actually put it pretty close to the quality of Tolkien or C. S. Lewis's writing. Later that night, our class had a Fantasy Ball where we could dress up as our favorite characters from any book in the class. I dressed up as Gandalf the Grey, complete with beard, hair and staff. I won Best Costume and received a copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." Definitely worth the effort. =)That was the levity for the week. I also had plenty of midterms to work on when I got back to school after being in CA for a week. Thankfully, I think I did well on all of them.
It was good to be home, and I definitely miss it. But in 5 weeks, I will be jetting back to CA again for the summer, which is hard to believe. I think I will be done with school before pretty much anyone else this year, flying back on April 26. And then I will only have one year left at Princeton.
I'm going to push hard to the end. There is still plenty of work to do. It is encouraging that Spring is breaking in and the trees and flowers are starting to blossom. It gives a new found energy to everything on campus.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Flight Information
It's early for me to be thinking about going home for spring and summer, but with the economy the way it is and the unpredictability of the market, I figured I'd take advantage of the fact that Crazy Ernie has taken over almost every company and is giving away his merchandise for ridiculously low prices! So I managed to find some great deals on airline tickets, finding Spring Break tickets for cheap and a ticket home from school for under $120. So here is my more immediately pertinent flight information and I'll post the other flight info at a later date. So here is when I'll be home for Spring Break:
United Airlines
March 6, 2009
Departing: PHL - 6:48 am
Arriving: LAX - 10:00 am
March 14, 2009
Departing: SNA (Orange County) - 6:45 am
Arriving: ORD - 12:55 pm
Connect: ORD - 1:45 pm
Arriving: PHL - 4:40 pm
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I'm Coming Home for Thanksgiving!
So it's official: I will be home for Thanksgiving! I found a very affordable ticket through Northwest airlines, so I'll be flying back on Nov 18 and coming back Nov 23. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Coming Home for Thanksgiving?
I have been ruling out coming home for Thanksgiving up to this point for financial reasons, but for kicks I decided to check out some airlines to see if anything would potentially work. Amazingly enough, I actually found tickets to come to California for only $310 after taxes. That's still quite a bit of money (much more than it cost to initially come out here) but all the same that's a very good price. I, of course, would have to factor in the cost for train tickets to get to and from the airport in either Newark or New York, but what I thought was not doable may actually be possible. It would be from a Sunday to a Friday, so I'd have some solid time to spend with family and friends. A lot of my classes are being cancelled that week due to SBL meetings at the seminary and professors being unavailable, so I wouldn't miss too much in terms of classes. But that's still quiet a bit of money, and I'm not sure it's worth the money to come home. I also don't have the money now to afford it. But we'll see; if the prices remain the way they are, perhaps it will be possible. We will see.
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