Reflections
February 10, 2006
Thoughts on the first week of classes:
- HALFWAY DONE!!! (that’s right, officially halfway through my masters degree)
- we’re only one week done (yes, I live the in the tension of these first two facts . . . so close, and yet, so far)
- Absentminded professors make class far more enjoyable. Especially when they lose the Bible they’ve set down in front of them
- New teachers can be very awkward. Awkward teachers can create painfully awkward moments in the middle of a class. A class of ten introverts will allow this to happen and say nothing, thus making it more awkward. It turns out to be a vicious cycle.
- Middler year is far too busy. I’m still ready to be done (yes, I have been ready for six months now and still have four more to go, that is correct; and no, not depressing or overwhelming at all)
- Some is existentially out of whack when you spend your free time reading a book called, ‘Getting the Love You Want’ and find it fascinating, to the point of not doing your homework
- An internship that involves visiting homebound members inevitably involves many awkward moments
- You know you’ve let stress and anal retentiveness go too far when you have to make a resolution to NOT do all your reading
- If all goes according to plan, I will, in four months time:
- be well versed in systematic theology,
- have read far more of Calvin than any sane person should,
- be a theologian par excellence of the Old Testament,
- have read over 1,000 pages on the subject of Old Testament theology (haha),
- be a Hebrew scholar,
- have translated quite a fair bit of Genesis,
- have written two more sermons,
- not have accomplished all of the above,
- be officially 2/3 of the way done . . .
- It’s good to have plans at the end of the week that involve margaritas and friends.
Posted in school by Sarah
apostle john said:
February 10th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
My wife and I were reading your post, and I started to laugh a little, and then she did as well — both of us were laughing at the same thing.
Not to make fun of you at all, but we were amazed at your goal to write 2 new sermons in the next 4 months.
How do you think you will handle having to write one per week?
How often do you get the opportunity to preach? As a seminarian, I was able to preach about every week — filling in for pastors and going to churches that had no pastor. I had a lot of fun going to churches large and small.
Sarah said:
February 10th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
well. i very much admire people who write sermons every week; and i’m very glad that is not my call at the moment. i don’t anticipate parish ministry being my call, and i continue to be grateful as i have a love-hate relationship with sermon writing.
on the other hand, don’t mistake that list for goals. i have no intention of completing much of that, it’s just the projected outcomes given by classes in syllabi and such, perhaps paraphrased a little.
Adam said:
February 10th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
…anything else that will have happened in 4 months time??
Julie Jensen said:
February 10th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Yay 2 sermons!!!! Yay margaritas and friends (I had wine with frineds tonight). Yay end of the first week of classes. Looking back, I really enjoyed exegesis of genesis. not the translating, but the discussions. Have fun!
Bethany said:
February 12th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Let me just say, I’m not a huge fan of that last comment. Everyone does seminary, pastoring, and ministry differently; and I am glad that God made you to be YOU.
On another note, I’m glad to see you adding the goal to be a Hebrew scholar!!! You are already half way there.
Bethany said:
February 12th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
(By the “last” comment, I meant the one by Apostle John…)
kairos said:
February 14th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Sounds like you have much in store for you this semester. I miss seminary in some ways: I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation and my classmates. I pray that you soak it all in and enjoy the way that God graces you daily. Best of luck…