When the chips are down

Networking is an important aspect in our lives. Naturally, we know the career advances that can be made through networking, but our relationships can be enhanced just as well. I have had a few rough days with trying to keep my life in order. I have discovered that the strong wealth of friendships I have has been a real blessing. Each friend has a unique gift, or gifts, that will compliment any lack I may have at one point. How empty my life would be if I walked around feeling that incomplete. Feminism says I shouldn't have a man in my life to complete me, and I agree and may even comment on another day, but relationships in their many forms do create a completeness. That's why God did not design us to live alone but in community with each other. To all the friends out there - thank you for making me a more whole and healthy person. I love you all.

Brother, can you spare a dime?

Almost every week I hear about a new way to help another group of people. I have to admit, I started getting the "giving fatigue." There just seem to be too many places for my time, money and effort to go. How can I ever keep up? I feel like I'm being nickel and dimed to death.

Then I thought, "How dare I accuse God of nickel and dimeing me to death?!?" I talk about how blessed I feel. If I really felt I was blessed, shouldn't I share that wealth? I don't want to be Lazarus where I have everything in this life and nothing in the next.

I think I'm a poor grad student, but really I'm not. I'm able to go to school! I eat every day. I can get on the T and go almost anywhere. I have a place to live that has heat and clean clothes... when I do laundry. I am not poor. I'm not as rich as I want to be, but I'm as rich as I need to be. So, yes, brother, I can spare a dime... even a quarter.

To Thine Own Self Be True

It's odd, I know, but I'm writing twice in one day! I was reminded about something that is just too important for me to remember. I often bring my United Methodist faith into conversations. I'll bring donuts or other food to a gathering, and I'll say I do it because I'm a good Methodist. I do this for other nice things I do too. What I realized I have been doing is trying to find another way to say, "I do this because I'm a Christian."

Am I hiding my faith by not stating it out loud? I don't think so. What I am trying to do is disarm people by not making it about theology or religion but about faith. I'm more likely to be asked about my Methodist faith than being a Christian by random people. Oddly enough, it has happened here in Boston. I have a School of Theology (STH) sweatshirt, and people will ask me about it too. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, but I want to make it accessable and approachable to people. I believe that they will know I am a Christian by my love - even when I profess it through my United Methodist calling.

Real World: Boston?

What I have loved about coming to Boston is that I can not live in a bubble. Well, I could, but I'd actively try to live in a bubble. I have been exposed to thoughts, cultures, theologies that are so different than my own.

Last night we, community dinner at Marsh Chapel, met a woman from Uganda who had been abducted as a child. She was forced to work in a child soldier camp. As she told us her story about escaping from that horror and how important education I thought about how I complain about my life.

*sigh* There are real problems in this world. Is it really tragic that I have to wait another 10 minutes for a bus? How bad is it that I have to cook my own food instead of going out for pizza? Is it really that bad that I have to go to the library for a book because I can't buy it from Barnes and Noble? (Who can afford a book there?) There are people who worry about finding water so they don't die of dehydration. People right here worry about food. There's worry about the temperature dropping because hypothermia is a real threat.

I needed to hear her message. Life is so worth it, and it really doesn't suck.

Bach in the high life again

So, the major term paper is in. *big sigh of relief* It was 30 pages long. Only two more to go, and those are each about 10-15 pages each. After 30, this is a cakewalk. :)

Sometimes, seminary is a lonely place. As individuals we work so hard to prepare ourselves to help an unknown world of the future. We bury our noses in books and shackle our hands to computers to spit out words we hope will inspire another person to believe we are right.

Where is community in this? Sure, to know God is to love Him, and we are seeking a greater and deeper love every day. However, Sitting at a desk by myself for 8 hours a day does not provide me with love and a sense of community. I am thankful for the friends who come and sit at the table with me in a shared effort to do foundational work in understanding faith and origins. Sure, there are times where we do more laughing than work, but I have to remember that laughter is a gift too. It's not a distraction... unless it's 10pm and the paper's due by midnight. :)