I've got 16 minutes left on my half hour of internet I purchased today, so lets see how this entry goes. Thank you Nate for the reminder that there might be some people out there trying to live vicariously through my blog posts. Life at the Park Cafe is great. After working in Olympic National Park last summer, and working for Aramark, I realize now that the Park Cafe, all the people who run it, and everyone who comes to work at the cafe truly spoil someone's national park experience. There are a few people working at the cafe this summer who worked at St. Mary Lodge, for Glacier Park Inc. last year, and they have said their experience at the cafe is much more positive than with GPI. Emily and I led our first ACMNP services last weekend at the St. Mary Campground, where we had a strong show of support from fellow Park Cafe'ers. By that I mean, the only people that came to our worship services were current or former Park Cafe'ers! I talked about creation and different creation stories, inspired by a book called "In The Beginning" which tells stories of creation from many different tribes and ethnic groups from throughout history and around the world. There are many stories that fit into a few categories, good vs. evil, earth diver creation stories, creation out of nothing, and a traveling creator placing things where they fit perfectly. The amazing thing I picked up from these stories, was that they all had some piece that needed a major fix, such as the good vs. evil creation stories, where the good creator who had made everything in proportion to everything else, so there was a balance of life on the earth, had to fix the evil creators creation because the evil creator imitated the good creator, but made things bigger, and out of proportion, e.g. in one story, the evil creator made a giant frog that drank all the fresh water on the earth, and the good creator had to come over, slash the frog in half, and release all the fresh water so other things could live. Long story short, the Genesis 1 creation story, allows for us to imagine how and why God created the universe in its entirety, not just pieces of it. It also allows us to know that God created all of creation as the creator in the Blackfoot creation story, Na'pi (Old Man) created things, perfectly, and for their perfect use. The only missing piece in the Genesis creation story, is that it requires us all to be as perfectly ourselves as we can. If we are not, and if creation is not being what it is fully intended to be, then it will not be perfect.
My internet time was happily interrupted by an ACMNP'er from 2011 in Glacier, Jessika Carlstrom just showed up in the store at the cafe! So I'm going to go sit with her and her friends as she enjoys some delicious Park Cafe pie! It appears as if we will have for 2 weeks in a row, former ACMNP'ers at the St. Mary service on Sunday!
Also, I leave for Ohio one week from tomorrow. I can't wait to spend a week at SportsCamp!
And also, for next blog entry, I've got another bear story!
Peace for now and always,
Love forever!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Hey all! I've been at the Park Cafe since Monday, and it's been a great week! I went on a little hike on Tuesday, and have worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, today, and I'm cooking again tomorrow morning. The ACMNP services are going to begin on June 9. MY ACMNP teammate got here today!
On my hike on Tuesday, a few of us were planning on heading towards Red Rock Falls, which is out of the Swiftcurrent area, and we began walking up the trail, and there is a bridge about 400-500 ft up the trail. We saw two young guys standing on the other side of the bridge waving at us, and we couldn't figure out why, until we stepped on the bridge, and I looked down and saw a BIG nose sticking out from under the bridge. There was a rather large black bear standing under the bridge, in the river, and he came out from under the bridge, as I was standing on the bridge. We quickly walked backwards, a couple people pulled their bear spray, and he really didn't even care that we were there. So we abandoned hiking that trail, and instead hiked up to Apikuni Falls, a short 1 mile hike, but it gains about 800 ft in elevation. It was a good first hike to set out on here in Glacier. I'm excited to have a full day off, and having earned enough in tips already to buy my park pass, I will do that, and go exploring a little more when I have a full day off. As for now, I have a lot of laundry to do. Laundry can wait a little bit though. Last night I saw the most intense display of the Northern Lights I have seen in my life. It was absolutely incredible. There was a large group of us from the cafe who were sitting out in the cafe parking lot from about 11:30 to 1:30 just in awe at the display the Northern Lights were putting on. They were moving, pulsating, and just lighting up the sky in a beautiful green! I hope there are many more displays this summer, so I might get to see them from somewhere other than the parking lot! It really was pretty special though, getting to see the Northern Lights with so many people I live and work with this summer. I'm excited to begin the duties of the ministry, and get to spend a few more months here at the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park!
On my hike on Tuesday, a few of us were planning on heading towards Red Rock Falls, which is out of the Swiftcurrent area, and we began walking up the trail, and there is a bridge about 400-500 ft up the trail. We saw two young guys standing on the other side of the bridge waving at us, and we couldn't figure out why, until we stepped on the bridge, and I looked down and saw a BIG nose sticking out from under the bridge. There was a rather large black bear standing under the bridge, in the river, and he came out from under the bridge, as I was standing on the bridge. We quickly walked backwards, a couple people pulled their bear spray, and he really didn't even care that we were there. So we abandoned hiking that trail, and instead hiked up to Apikuni Falls, a short 1 mile hike, but it gains about 800 ft in elevation. It was a good first hike to set out on here in Glacier. I'm excited to have a full day off, and having earned enough in tips already to buy my park pass, I will do that, and go exploring a little more when I have a full day off. As for now, I have a lot of laundry to do. Laundry can wait a little bit though. Last night I saw the most intense display of the Northern Lights I have seen in my life. It was absolutely incredible. There was a large group of us from the cafe who were sitting out in the cafe parking lot from about 11:30 to 1:30 just in awe at the display the Northern Lights were putting on. They were moving, pulsating, and just lighting up the sky in a beautiful green! I hope there are many more displays this summer, so I might get to see them from somewhere other than the parking lot! It really was pretty special though, getting to see the Northern Lights with so many people I live and work with this summer. I'm excited to begin the duties of the ministry, and get to spend a few more months here at the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park!
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Trip
Well, I've made it to Great Falls, MT! I'm 158 miles away from the Park Cafe right now, and am sitting in a Starbucks, charging my computer and phone, because I ran out of sun yesterday to charge my solar charger. My phone not having a charge was not a huge problem, however, the running out of sun thing meant rain. Lots of rain. I don't know if I have words to describe how much rain there was. Because of all this rain, and because I have been taking my time getting to the Park Cafe, I took I-90 West all the way to Butte, MT, and then hopped on I-15 North, through Helena and then to Great Falls. I-15, I would imagine, is an incredibly beautiful road to drive, if it's sunny and dry outside. It was neither sunny or dry, or warm for that matter yesterday when I drove I-15. The speed limit is 75mph, 65mph for trucks, with a minimum of 40mph. There was so much standing water on the road I was struggling to do 40 at times, as was most everyone else on the road. At the point when my fingers were beginning to get numb from holding the wheel so tight, and I had been telling myself, it doesn't matter when you get to Great Falls, just get there, and I was having some pretty intense conversation with God at the time too, a rest stop pretty much just popped up out of nowhere. I pulled off and a semi pulled in a few minutes behind me. After going inside, the truck driver and I stood outside under the awning for over an hour, just chatting. He had some amazing stories from his 25 years as a police officer in Oliver, BC, and some crazy stories from his years of truck driving. We talked until the rain passed, and the standing water on the highway cleared, and the last 40 miles from that rest stop into Great Falls were relatively easy driving.
Aside from the crazy highway travel stories, I've seen some pretty spectacular places on my journey. On Saturday, I succumbed to the tourist trap that is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It was a welcome break from driving, and I went inside, got a vanilla ice cream cone, and had lunch before I got back on the road. Approaching Rapid City, SD, there were severe thunderstorm warnings for a super cell storm that was producing softball sized hail. Naturally, I hoped to avoid having my windshield demolished, so I managed to find a way around the storm, and then found my way up to Devil's Tower, in Wyoming. It is incredibly odd, but magnificent also. There were vultures flying all around the tower, and seeing them so gracefully rise on the air currents and then dive along the face of the tower was inspiring. It was one of those moments that makes people want to be able to fly. I wonder if those birds know how blessed they are to have such an incredible playground!
On Saturday night, I camped in Sheridan, WY, and on Sunday morning, I made my way to Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is a stretch of Montana wilderness about 6 miles long by 2 miles wide, full of bluffs, steep valleys down to the Little Bighorn River, and it is a place that inspires imagination. The battle was fought on June 25 and 26 of 1876. The end of June in Southeast Montana does not sound like an enjoyable time to be living in the wilderness, much less wearing wool uniforms and fighting for your life. The Native tribes that fought, the Cheyenne, the Arikara, and the Lakota, along with groups from many other tribes, had an encampment established along the banks of the Little Bighorn River, and were in control of the river access, meaning that Custer's troops did not have water. 4 scouts from the Army were awarded the Medal of Honor for running into gunfire from the Indian positions along the river to fetch water for the thirsty troops. The landscape inspires imagination, and the history of the battle and seeing positions of the Indian Warriors versus Custers troops truly makes one realize that Custer never stood a chance.
My next stop was not planned, but I saw a sign for the Headwaters of the Missouri River. It was really just a neat experience to have traveled from the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi to the Headwaters, which is where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri. I met a man and his wife there who were panning for gold along the banks of the Missouri. He found what looked like a couple ounces! There truly is gold all across this land, sometimes it just takes a little digging in unexpected places (yeah that's probably going to be a sermon this summer).
After I left the Headwaters State Park, I texted my mom, "Lewis and Clark took 2+ years to get from St. Louis to the Headwaters of the Missouri...it took me 3 days" She responded, "What do you think they would say? Progress??" I don't know what they would say...any thoughts?
I've got just about 3 hours of driving left till I arrive at the Park Cafe. It's cool and rainy, so it won't be as spectacularly beautiful as it could be...aww shucks right? It is still immensely beautiful here in Northwest Montana. I am looking forward to yet another amazing summer living and working and doing ministry in the National Parks. Pictures are coming from my trip sometime in the next few days!
Aside from the crazy highway travel stories, I've seen some pretty spectacular places on my journey. On Saturday, I succumbed to the tourist trap that is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It was a welcome break from driving, and I went inside, got a vanilla ice cream cone, and had lunch before I got back on the road. Approaching Rapid City, SD, there were severe thunderstorm warnings for a super cell storm that was producing softball sized hail. Naturally, I hoped to avoid having my windshield demolished, so I managed to find a way around the storm, and then found my way up to Devil's Tower, in Wyoming. It is incredibly odd, but magnificent also. There were vultures flying all around the tower, and seeing them so gracefully rise on the air currents and then dive along the face of the tower was inspiring. It was one of those moments that makes people want to be able to fly. I wonder if those birds know how blessed they are to have such an incredible playground!
On Saturday night, I camped in Sheridan, WY, and on Sunday morning, I made my way to Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is a stretch of Montana wilderness about 6 miles long by 2 miles wide, full of bluffs, steep valleys down to the Little Bighorn River, and it is a place that inspires imagination. The battle was fought on June 25 and 26 of 1876. The end of June in Southeast Montana does not sound like an enjoyable time to be living in the wilderness, much less wearing wool uniforms and fighting for your life. The Native tribes that fought, the Cheyenne, the Arikara, and the Lakota, along with groups from many other tribes, had an encampment established along the banks of the Little Bighorn River, and were in control of the river access, meaning that Custer's troops did not have water. 4 scouts from the Army were awarded the Medal of Honor for running into gunfire from the Indian positions along the river to fetch water for the thirsty troops. The landscape inspires imagination, and the history of the battle and seeing positions of the Indian Warriors versus Custers troops truly makes one realize that Custer never stood a chance.
My next stop was not planned, but I saw a sign for the Headwaters of the Missouri River. It was really just a neat experience to have traveled from the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi to the Headwaters, which is where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri. I met a man and his wife there who were panning for gold along the banks of the Missouri. He found what looked like a couple ounces! There truly is gold all across this land, sometimes it just takes a little digging in unexpected places (yeah that's probably going to be a sermon this summer).
After I left the Headwaters State Park, I texted my mom, "Lewis and Clark took 2+ years to get from St. Louis to the Headwaters of the Missouri...it took me 3 days" She responded, "What do you think they would say? Progress??" I don't know what they would say...any thoughts?
I've got just about 3 hours of driving left till I arrive at the Park Cafe. It's cool and rainy, so it won't be as spectacularly beautiful as it could be...aww shucks right? It is still immensely beautiful here in Northwest Montana. I am looking forward to yet another amazing summer living and working and doing ministry in the National Parks. Pictures are coming from my trip sometime in the next few days!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Another summer in Glacier and with ACMNP and Birthday Reflections
Hi Friends! I'm about to begin another summer working in Glacier National Park at the Park Cafe and with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I'm going to attempt (based on internet availability) to blog my summer. From bear interactions and other good hiking anecdotes to where I'll end up after my summer in Glacier, to spiritual devotionals and sermon tidbits, to hopes and dreams and probably frustrations with how poorly the Cubs will be doing come the All-Star break. A few big points that will provide a timeline for my summer:
First ACMNP Worship Service: June 1
Opening of Going To The Sun Road (Anticipated June 15)
Flying back to Ohio to counsel at Sports Camp! (June 22-29)
Mid-Summer rant about the Cubs- Expected anytime really
Figuring out where I will be come September/October (End of July-Beginning-Mid August)
End of Summer at the Park Cafe
Sisters Wedding- September 21
So with that out of the way, here are some reflections on my birthday, and where I've been on my birthday the past few years.
In 2011, 2012, and now here in 2013, I have spent my birthday preparing for, on the way to, or arriving at a National Park to spend the summer in working and volunteering with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. In 2011 I arrived at the Park Cafe on my birthday, into an amazing community that is hard to remember as awkward those first few days, because within a week it felt like an instant family/community to be welcomed home to and be part of throughout the summer. In 2012 I spent my birthday driving from somewhere in Nebraska to Twin Falls, Idaho. I found a campground in Twin Falls and went in search of a steak and a beer and found a really bad steak and a watered down beer at the Applebees in Twin Falls. That day, even though my phone helped me get some birthday messages from Facebook, and a couple of voicemails, and phone calls from family and friends, I felt very alone. Today, I am at home in Troy, OH, and got to spend my birthday with my Mom and Grandma, I got to play golf at the public course here in Troy, that I grew up playing, and haven't played in years (I shot 79...fairly impressed with myself about the score!) My mom baked a lemon cake, and it was a really great day, yet I've got the remnants of the past three years in St. Louis surrounding me in the garage of my parents house, which I'm sorting through and repacking to begin my trek back to Montana for another summer at the Park Cafe with ACMNP. I know where I'm going, physically, for the next few months, yet I have no idea where I will end up after my summer in Glacier. I have just completed course work at Eden Seminary but I have one remaining unit of Contextual Education to finish to earn my M.Div. Along with all these physical realities come the emotions of turning 27 and having no idea where my life is going. That comes into reality really quick when I realize my sister is getting married and buying a house! I couldn't be happier for her, and her fiance is an amazing guy that I'm proud and excited to welcome to the family, yet I still am left wandering. I know my journey is just a little longer and a little less direct than many others my age, and I know I'll find my way, I just have to let myself experience all that happens along the way. That will be a struggle this summer, one that I hope to share and work through by sharing some of my thoughts with anyone who wants to read my ramblings!
I heard a fascinating quote today listening to Garrison Keillor on the Writer's Almanac on NPR this afternoon. I didn't realize I shared a birthday with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's fun to know that. The quote Keillor offered from Sir Arthur was this : "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
First ACMNP Worship Service: June 1
Opening of Going To The Sun Road (Anticipated June 15)
Flying back to Ohio to counsel at Sports Camp! (June 22-29)
Mid-Summer rant about the Cubs- Expected anytime really
Figuring out where I will be come September/October (End of July-Beginning-Mid August)
End of Summer at the Park Cafe
Sisters Wedding- September 21
So with that out of the way, here are some reflections on my birthday, and where I've been on my birthday the past few years.
In 2011, 2012, and now here in 2013, I have spent my birthday preparing for, on the way to, or arriving at a National Park to spend the summer in working and volunteering with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. In 2011 I arrived at the Park Cafe on my birthday, into an amazing community that is hard to remember as awkward those first few days, because within a week it felt like an instant family/community to be welcomed home to and be part of throughout the summer. In 2012 I spent my birthday driving from somewhere in Nebraska to Twin Falls, Idaho. I found a campground in Twin Falls and went in search of a steak and a beer and found a really bad steak and a watered down beer at the Applebees in Twin Falls. That day, even though my phone helped me get some birthday messages from Facebook, and a couple of voicemails, and phone calls from family and friends, I felt very alone. Today, I am at home in Troy, OH, and got to spend my birthday with my Mom and Grandma, I got to play golf at the public course here in Troy, that I grew up playing, and haven't played in years (I shot 79...fairly impressed with myself about the score!) My mom baked a lemon cake, and it was a really great day, yet I've got the remnants of the past three years in St. Louis surrounding me in the garage of my parents house, which I'm sorting through and repacking to begin my trek back to Montana for another summer at the Park Cafe with ACMNP. I know where I'm going, physically, for the next few months, yet I have no idea where I will end up after my summer in Glacier. I have just completed course work at Eden Seminary but I have one remaining unit of Contextual Education to finish to earn my M.Div. Along with all these physical realities come the emotions of turning 27 and having no idea where my life is going. That comes into reality really quick when I realize my sister is getting married and buying a house! I couldn't be happier for her, and her fiance is an amazing guy that I'm proud and excited to welcome to the family, yet I still am left wandering. I know my journey is just a little longer and a little less direct than many others my age, and I know I'll find my way, I just have to let myself experience all that happens along the way. That will be a struggle this summer, one that I hope to share and work through by sharing some of my thoughts with anyone who wants to read my ramblings!
I heard a fascinating quote today listening to Garrison Keillor on the Writer's Almanac on NPR this afternoon. I didn't realize I shared a birthday with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's fun to know that. The quote Keillor offered from Sir Arthur was this : "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
Monday, March 26, 2012
Care for Homeless
Not having shelter isn't the only issue homeless sojourners deal with. Many times the inability to procure health care is also an issue, either because of money, or because of not having a permanent address. We need to care for sojourners in our midst not only through providing shelter, but allowing all people to have access to health care. A persons health largely depends on opportunities available to them, as it has through history. Life expectancies are the highest they have ever been, but for those without access to healthcare, or shelter, or food, or adequate clothing, the life expectancy rate drops significantly. With rising homeless numbers in our midst, these issues become front and center and should be recognized by all people.
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/homeless-count-up-for-st-charles-lincoln-warren-counties/article_a5c4964f-3a21-5e32-b0ac-20ac5c61c26b.html
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/homeless-count-up-for-st-charles-lincoln-warren-counties/article_a5c4964f-3a21-5e32-b0ac-20ac5c61c26b.html
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Yay for Richmond Heights
Richmond Heights, MO just passed a city ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. This would have been covered in the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, if it had passed, but even so, the state of Missouri ratified it in 1975. This is a symbolically great thing, but should be something that is just natural to humanity (SHOULD BE).
Richmond Heights Bans Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Richmond Heights Bans Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Homeless Camp Bulldozed
This is treating the symptom...not helping the problem. Is bulldozing a homeless camp really how we're going to treat the homeless these days? That doesn't quite seem like how God calls us to give shelter to those without.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Standing in Solidarity with Creation
Lakota Indians in South Dakota provided a minor distraction, but a large symbolic statement to the Keystone XL Pipeline development that brings oil from the tarsands in Canada through the U.S. By standing in front of the trucks, the Lakota people made a statement that the mining of oil from the tarsands in Canada is destructive to "Mother Earth" no matter who the buyer and consumers are.
Lakota's Standing in Solidarity with Creation.
Lakota's Standing in Solidarity with Creation.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Journal Update for Bib 2
Support for the deaf culture, within the deaf culture. We get so divided into groups of "others" that even minority groups begin to divide into groups of others. There is and has been a debate within the deaf culture of whether to treat hearing loss, or to embrace sign language. It's yet another part of our society that divides us into more and more groups of others. How or when or will society ever look to the larger issue of what brings us together as humans, rather than what divides us as people?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Are rich people more unethical?
Are Rich People More Unethical?
Interesting opinion article on CNN. How does money influence decision making processes when it comes to personal expenditures vs. donations to charity, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, engaging in acts of justice that we have been called to do by God?
Interesting opinion article on CNN. How does money influence decision making processes when it comes to personal expenditures vs. donations to charity, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, engaging in acts of justice that we have been called to do by God?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Posts for Bib 2 Journal
Missouri English Driver's License Mandate
In addition to the Missouri voter photo id requirement , the requirement for driver's license exams being given only in English is essentially creating a state language, so that English will be required to obtain a government issued photo id, which leads to the ability to vote in the state. With the US not having a national language, and knowing English not being a requirement to be a citizen (yes it is a requirement to become a citizen if previous foreign citizenship was held) Missouri has no right to require English. Yes it is expected that citizens should be able to read road signs posted in English, but being able to recognize road signs and understand their meaning can be done at a comprehension level lower than the level required to pass a written exam.
In addition to the Missouri voter photo id requirement , the requirement for driver's license exams being given only in English is essentially creating a state language, so that English will be required to obtain a government issued photo id, which leads to the ability to vote in the state. With the US not having a national language, and knowing English not being a requirement to be a citizen (yes it is a requirement to become a citizen if previous foreign citizenship was held) Missouri has no right to require English. Yes it is expected that citizens should be able to read road signs posted in English, but being able to recognize road signs and understand their meaning can be done at a comprehension level lower than the level required to pass a written exam.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Is it Spring?!
Beautiful day here today in STL. 50 and sunny all day long! The best part is Monday it is supposed to be 61! I have been here for 6 weeks now and have made a few connections to the community. I renewed my soccer officials license, and have my first games on the season this weekend, which will be good to get back outside, get some exercise and earn some money. I also found a community band to join! I unfortunately have not picked up my trumpet in almost a year, but it will definitely be good to get back playing again. The band is called the After Hours Community Band in St. Charles, MO http://www.ahcb.org/index.php they rehearse once a week and it sounds like it will be a good group to be a part of!
The St. Louis Symphony is playing the Planets by Gustav Holst this weekend, and I'm planning on going tomorrow night. This will mark the 4th symphony I've heard play this amazing orchestral work, including Columbus (2x) Dayton, Cleveland, and now St. Louis. The symphony hall looks like a beautiful place and I'm pretty excited to go check that out! http://www.slso.org/powell/psh.htm
3 weeks ago I got to spend the day at Camp Mo-Val http://www.mmsucc.org/camp_mo-val/welcome.asp, the camp from the Missouri Conference UCC for their Conference Youth Event. I was asked by a friend here at Eden to go down and teach a guitar workshop. It was only by chance of a fortune cookie I said yes. My guitar abilities aren't great, but I'm discovering they are getting fairly adequate for my purposes. The fortune cookie, although I don't remember it exactly said something like, "an opportunity to use new gifts will present itself in the coming days". So when I read that, it was kinda like, well I guess I'm obligated now! It was a good day, and I got to spend it at camp which is always enjoyable! As far as developing guitar abilities, I was able to play with Christopher Grundy and Deborah McBride on a song that she wrote. That was a great experience, getting to play with two great musicians and a performance for the Eden community.
Last year with the OSUMB in D.C. for the Inaugural Parade, I was able to spend some time enjoying the beautiful artwork in the National Gallery, and saw this piece http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/tinfo_f?object=42929, Snow In New York by Robert Henri, that really stood out to me for some reason. I have been looking for a print of this work for about a year, and finally found one, and it came in the mail today! The amazing thing about this, and the intriguing connection it continues to have with me, is that Henri dated this piece March 5, 1902. Exactly 98 years later it arrived on my doorstep. Pretty cool coincidence!
I am beginning to really embrace being a Cubs fan in St. Louis. Last weekend I found a Cubs hat at the mall, and wearing it out of the mall I got more evil eye looks than I did from Michigan fans when the band made the trip up to the Big House for OSU vs. M*ch*gan games. It's unfortunate that the Cubs don't come to town here till August 13. I'll still be cheering them on all spring and summer, and hopefully I'll be able to get a ticket to a Cubs Cardinals game in the fall.
I have managed to start forming a really horrible habit in terms of papers. The past 3 papers I've had to write for school, 2 here, and one at OSU I've turned them into procrastination masterpieces by staying up all night writing the papers. This is not only stupid for the night of sleep I lose, but for the entire day of productivity I have lost the following day. This will not turn into a habit so help me God!
The next paper I have to write is for my Disability Justice and Spiritual Health class. It is going to be examining the concept of ableism in relation to an institution that we have a personal connection with. I am almost afraid to write this paper, thinking about the institution I will be examining. My initial thought is to use the Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands, to examine how they promote the culture of ableism. Ableism is the belief that those who are able bodied are superior because of their ability over the disabled. Just like racism, sexism, ageism, or any other -ism you can imagine, it is dismantling the ability for people who do not fit into a certain category to experience the world in a similar fashion to those who are the oppressors. There is an interesting correlation with my Bible 4 class to this concept, having just examined the socioeconomic criticism of the gospel of Matthew, and how the oppressors are contributing to the culture of oppression, in todays society, by simply living life. This contribution to the oppression of others, mainly the 2/3rd of the world living in the "3rd" world, or poverty stricken, or oppressed places, is done when all of us who are privileged partake in any institution, such as shopping at Wal-Mart, eating at Taco Bell, buying clothes manufactured in a sweat shop in India, that some how in some way engage in the oppression of others. I have no doubt this will be a difficult paper to research and write, and that it will help significantly change my view of ableism in todays society.
That is for next week though! Today is Friday, start of the weekend, and I'm going to enjoy it! Volleyball tonight with the Eden team (maybe we'll win a game this time!) Go Apiru! Soccer tomorrow morning, St. Louis Symphony tomorrow night. This should be a great weekend!
Go Bucks! Big Ten Co-Champions, and the only school to ever win conference championships in Mens and Womens Basketball and Football in the same year, done for the third time this year! Go Cubbies! Can't wait for April 5, opener at Atlanta. Enjoy some Steve Goodman Cubs tunes with 30 days till opening day! Eamus Catuli! AC0265102....here's to AC000000 by the end of this season!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS3llgyGZ68
Thats the news from Eden, where all the Women take charge, all the Men are well founded and the Children are still Cardinals fans.
The St. Louis Symphony is playing the Planets by Gustav Holst this weekend, and I'm planning on going tomorrow night. This will mark the 4th symphony I've heard play this amazing orchestral work, including Columbus (2x) Dayton, Cleveland, and now St. Louis. The symphony hall looks like a beautiful place and I'm pretty excited to go check that out! http://www.slso.org/powell/psh.htm
3 weeks ago I got to spend the day at Camp Mo-Val http://www.mmsucc.org/camp_mo-val/welcome.asp, the camp from the Missouri Conference UCC for their Conference Youth Event. I was asked by a friend here at Eden to go down and teach a guitar workshop. It was only by chance of a fortune cookie I said yes. My guitar abilities aren't great, but I'm discovering they are getting fairly adequate for my purposes. The fortune cookie, although I don't remember it exactly said something like, "an opportunity to use new gifts will present itself in the coming days". So when I read that, it was kinda like, well I guess I'm obligated now! It was a good day, and I got to spend it at camp which is always enjoyable! As far as developing guitar abilities, I was able to play with Christopher Grundy and Deborah McBride on a song that she wrote. That was a great experience, getting to play with two great musicians and a performance for the Eden community.
Last year with the OSUMB in D.C. for the Inaugural Parade, I was able to spend some time enjoying the beautiful artwork in the National Gallery, and saw this piece http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/tinfo_f?object=42929, Snow In New York by Robert Henri, that really stood out to me for some reason. I have been looking for a print of this work for about a year, and finally found one, and it came in the mail today! The amazing thing about this, and the intriguing connection it continues to have with me, is that Henri dated this piece March 5, 1902. Exactly 98 years later it arrived on my doorstep. Pretty cool coincidence!
I am beginning to really embrace being a Cubs fan in St. Louis. Last weekend I found a Cubs hat at the mall, and wearing it out of the mall I got more evil eye looks than I did from Michigan fans when the band made the trip up to the Big House for OSU vs. M*ch*gan games. It's unfortunate that the Cubs don't come to town here till August 13. I'll still be cheering them on all spring and summer, and hopefully I'll be able to get a ticket to a Cubs Cardinals game in the fall.
I have managed to start forming a really horrible habit in terms of papers. The past 3 papers I've had to write for school, 2 here, and one at OSU I've turned them into procrastination masterpieces by staying up all night writing the papers. This is not only stupid for the night of sleep I lose, but for the entire day of productivity I have lost the following day. This will not turn into a habit so help me God!
The next paper I have to write is for my Disability Justice and Spiritual Health class. It is going to be examining the concept of ableism in relation to an institution that we have a personal connection with. I am almost afraid to write this paper, thinking about the institution I will be examining. My initial thought is to use the Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands, to examine how they promote the culture of ableism. Ableism is the belief that those who are able bodied are superior because of their ability over the disabled. Just like racism, sexism, ageism, or any other -ism you can imagine, it is dismantling the ability for people who do not fit into a certain category to experience the world in a similar fashion to those who are the oppressors. There is an interesting correlation with my Bible 4 class to this concept, having just examined the socioeconomic criticism of the gospel of Matthew, and how the oppressors are contributing to the culture of oppression, in todays society, by simply living life. This contribution to the oppression of others, mainly the 2/3rd of the world living in the "3rd" world, or poverty stricken, or oppressed places, is done when all of us who are privileged partake in any institution, such as shopping at Wal-Mart, eating at Taco Bell, buying clothes manufactured in a sweat shop in India, that some how in some way engage in the oppression of others. I have no doubt this will be a difficult paper to research and write, and that it will help significantly change my view of ableism in todays society.
That is for next week though! Today is Friday, start of the weekend, and I'm going to enjoy it! Volleyball tonight with the Eden team (maybe we'll win a game this time!) Go Apiru! Soccer tomorrow morning, St. Louis Symphony tomorrow night. This should be a great weekend!
Go Bucks! Big Ten Co-Champions, and the only school to ever win conference championships in Mens and Womens Basketball and Football in the same year, done for the third time this year! Go Cubbies! Can't wait for April 5, opener at Atlanta. Enjoy some Steve Goodman Cubs tunes with 30 days till opening day! Eamus Catuli! AC0265102....here's to AC000000 by the end of this season!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS3llgyGZ68
Thats the news from Eden, where all the Women take charge, all the Men are well founded and the Children are still Cardinals fans.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
First Week: Check
Good morning! I have been in St. Louis for about a week and a half now and am getting settled in pretty well. My main room of the apartment is pretty much set up how I see it functioning for a while now, now all I need to do is finish my bedroom, and still try to be okay with the pink bathroom. As you can see I've put some brown in there and the really cool tree shower curtain so that makes it better. I've got my first class today! Well over 200 pages read for the first day of classes.
I should keep a page count of how many pages I read throughout my seminary career....that would turn out to be ridiculous.
This morning I went over to the Luhr Library to go to the Eden Bookstore, but apparently it doesn't open till 10:30 AM, so I'm back here writing this waiting to go back to the bookstore to get my last few books that they didn't have in until yesterday.
Lets see, what have I done in the STL so far? Been to Target a few times, been to the grocery (Schnucks, pronounced schnooks which I still can't figure out), waited in line at Webster University's student center to get my Webster ID for 45 minutes....I was the only person in line. Been to the Webster Gym a couple times, realized I needed a knee brace, went to Sports Authority and bought a knee brace. Got a bad haircut at Greatclips for 6 dollars. Thinking of going to have that $6 haircut fixed. Just watched someone get pulled over outside my apartment, and was kept up most of the night on Thursday night by snow plows, I still have no idea why they were spending so much time on Bompart Ave. I'm pretty sure it leads nowhere.
I have an apology to offer to Nate Taylor. When I was moving here, we had gotten to about Indianapolis when I realized that the Shag Jesus was still hanging in our living room back in Troy. (I think that is a bad thing because it obviously fit in a little too well!) I'll post another picture when it makes its way to the STL and onto my wall here.
Yesterday we had an amazing chapel service at Eden! A last semester seminarian, Cassandra Gould, offered an amazing message about hooking up! It was explained based on the contexts that the phrase has been heard in history, and it matters who is speaking to whom as to what the contextual meaning actually is. In this case, referring to 1 Cor. 12, talking about individual gifts we have all been blessed with, and imagine what would happen if we could hook up to use those gifts together.
As Cassandra stated, "Imagine what would happen if an African American female preacher hooked up with a Caucasian female preacher, Imagine what would happen if that Caucasian female preacher hooked up with a Caucasian male preacher, imagine what would happen if that Caucasian male preacher hooked up with an openly gay female preacher, imagine what would happen if that openly gay female preacher hooked up with a disabled preacher, imagine what would happen if that disabled preacher hooked up with an able bodied preacher. Imagine what would happen?!"
She was kind of putting on a show while preaching this, she had many of her friends lined up to stand up and join when called upon in the sermon. It was quite moving.
Well friends that's the story from Eden, where all the Women take charge, the Men are well founded and the Children are Cardinals fans.
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