Memorial Day

Ahhhhh Memorial Day. Not only is it warm and sunny and classes are done, but I know it is Memorial Day because all of a sudden more crazy stuff happens around here. Columbus seems to be full of weird stuff, but things are especially off this weekend.

Drivers have gotten worse this weekend. I have seen more right turns from the middle lane, occupying more than one lane, going super, super slow, and stopping in the middle of nowhere in the last two days than I have in the past year combined. It is utterly amazing. And of course, sadly, the number of car accidents has also increased exponentially, particularly the fatal ones. I don’t know if alcohol is blame or what, but man has it gotten bad.

Secondly, there was an interesting incident at the Kroger less than a tenth of a mile from where I live. I came back from somewhere yesterday and as I was about to turn onto Main Street, I noticed that there was crime scene tape around half of the parking lot and in the middle was a van with the doors wide open. I also noticed a lot of cops. Apparently, there was a shoplifting (some have said two 12 packs of beer) and the shoplifter got into a confrontation with a Columbus police officer. Then, somehow, they went out to the van and there was another confrontation and the police officer shot the guy. He wasn’t wounded too bad (I guess) because he was released from the hospital last night into police custody. There is usually a police officer at Kroger at night, but I wonder if they put one there because it was the weekend. Either way, it was super busy over there yesterday and today. Then today I was driving past Kroger and an ambulance was pulling into the parking lot with its lights on. I don’t know, but there was certainly some crazy stuff going on there.

Otherwise things here are good. Classes have ended but I still have one more paper I’m finishing up. I’m hoping to get it done either tomorrow and if not then Tuesday. It won’t be terribly difficult, but the end of the term was super hectic and it just didn’t get done. Thankfully my professor is really flexible about due dates and as long as I get it to him sometime by the end of this week, I’m good. In many ways I’m happy that classes are done, I’m ready for a break. But I’m also sad. Many people have left already and I realize that the likelihood of seeing some of these people is not great. Even those I will see some times during internship and those I’ll see when I come back I’m going to miss. I think internship has really become real in the last week. I just don’t know how we got here. I think most of my sadness comes from the realization that the past two years have flown by which means the next two will be gone before I know it. I’m mourning being apart from my friends here... but not just for a year, but after we all leave after our senior year. I’m mourning the future... =)

That’s where I’m at... I’m pretty much just hanging around here for the summer. I’m working a bit around here, but will basically have a lot of time to myself. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself and will probably be bored in about two weeks. But I’m enjoying it for now. I’m going up to my internship site on Thursday for one of my friends’ wedding. He was the intern there last year and that’s where his wedding is. I’m then going to visit ‘officially’ the second weekend in June - so that should be good.

I’ll be sure to keep all of you updated throughout the summer. I expect to be writing a bit more now that classes are over and things are less stressful. =)

Kate

What does it mean for Jesus to be human?

What does it mean for Jesus to be human? This is the big question that the Da Vinci Code is posing to many people, particularly those who are Christian. Does it mean that Jesus was intimate? Was he married? Was he married to Mary Magdalene?

These are all very valid questions - but I’m not sure that they are reason to boycott the Da Vinci Code movie. I’ve read many news stories lately about the Roman Catholic Church asking their members to boycott the movie. It strikes me that maybe the Church isn’t doing a good enough job educating our members. If we are worried that a movie (some would even say a Tom Hanks movie) is going to shake our faith - we need to look at what we have (or have not) been teaching our membership. Have we been educating them about what the Da Vinci Code claims? Have we paid any attention to this at all? What about the book? It’s been out for several years now and been at the top of the best seller lists since it came out. Why the sudden concern? Where was the Catholic Church when the book came out? Maybe I just missed it, but if I didn’t, why didn’t they ask people not to buy the book?

It’s fiction! I think that’s the key - and that’s what the Roman Catholic Church is missing. They feel threatened by a movie. I, personally, think that Jesus is bigger and more powerful than a movie (or a book). I think the Church has survived many other controversies that were far worse than a movie and I’m going to guess that it’s because of God. If it were solely up to us, the Church probably would have died a long, long time ago.

So my advice, go see the movie. But then talk about it with your pastor. I’m available to talk about it too - if you want to post a comment or something, I will get back to you. Besides, I’m of the opinion that we need to be able to question our faith. If we can’t and don’t, there is no way we can or will ever grow in our faith. And, without growth, it is easier to stall out and much easier to have our faith shattered in a crisis. We need to be able to question. =)

In other news - I have learned that if you stick forks in people’s yards, they will give you an award for leadership. I recently received the Edward and Leona Peters Award from Trinity. This award is for students who excel in leadership on and off campus, and maturity in dealing with people and problems. This award is given by the faculty - some of whom have been “forked” by me and some of my classmates. Actually, it was quite funny when the award was given - President Ramseth was presenting them. After he read what the qualifications for the award were, he said, “No commentary... and the first award goes to Kate Murray.” What’s so funny about that is he has been the one most frequently forked. So there must be something about this seemingly backward system - play practical jokes on the faculty and administration and they give you an award for leadership... I’m not sure, honestly, what else I have done to deserve this award. Maybe I’ve just been myself. =)

So that’s the news. One more week of school - only one and a half papers left and then I’m done. In some ways, I’m very ready for Summer Break. In other ways, I’m sad because many of my friends are leaving and I won’t see them for another year or so. I think I’m just in denial at the moment - but starting to come to reality. We’ll see what happens.

Kate

Some Reflections

Some reflections from the past two days...

First, I have gotten close to nothing that I wanted to get done accomplished in the past two days. Really, I should say I got a few things done but yesterday was supposed to be a big work day for me and some how slipped away from me. Oh well...

Yesterday evening I made three different trips to the airport to pick up the bishops. Well, really one is the presiding bishop (Mark Hanson) and the others are not bishops anymore, but are the previous presiding bishops (Herb Chilstrom and H. George Anderson). All three are awesome guys and are very easy going. All three arrived without too much difficulty and I safely deposited them where they needed to be for the evening.

For those of you who missed my earlier post or simply forgot, the bishops were here for the Hein Fry Lectures. They spent all of today talking about the church and being the church in the 21st century. Let me say, it was awesome! We started the morning with Eucharist and Bishop Hanson presided and preached. He is such an amazing preacher. Plus, the worship was good too... but I almost always enjoy worship here.

We then spent the rest of the day with each of the three lecturing. Some of the insights were great and I valued being able to hear each of them talk about their visions of the church and what prevents us from being there (or what helps us along too). But I think what was really cool for me today was in the midst of discussing even the harsh realities (Anderson talked a lot about conflict in the church), I some how got more and more excited to be in a parish. I got increasingly excited for internship. I think I’ve been stuck in this academic mode so much (and don’t get me wrong, I love it) that I have been focusing on how much or how little I know (more often the latter of the two). I guess the more I learn, the more I come to find how much I simply do not know. Thus, for a little while now, I’ve been walking around with this sinking feeling of can I do it? Yes, I’m excited about internship, but can I really hack it? Do I have what it takes? I keep getting all this positive affirmation from people around here, but in many ways I feel like I’ve fooled everyone here. I’m not really as good as they say I am. I’ve been walking around with these doubts for a while now and they will probably return. But today, for some reason, helped me to say, yeah, I can do that. And, even if I can’t, I’m willing to at least go out there and try it. I’m willing to listen to the needs of others, I’m willing to serve, and I’m willing to empower others to serve. I may not know it all (and never will), but I don’t need to. I don’t know what it was, but today was empowering for me.

After the lectures were over, I then took all three bishops to the airport in one fell swoop. Let me tell you, those three are great apart and they’re even better together. They are very funny and very down to earth. Sorry Kevin, I did not have a chance to ask your questions. Something tells me they wouldn’t have an answer for you anyway. =)

So that’s been my day... well, I did try to get some work done, but I was just fried. It’s been a very long day and with that said, I do believe it is bed time (at 10:45 amazingly enough!!). I’m sure I’ll write more about other stuff later... but maybe not until the term is over (give me another 2 weeks). =)

Kate

Bad...

Is it bad when I start procrastinating by translating Greek for class that isn't due for several days just so I don't have to start major reading for my papers?

So much...

I realize it has been a long, long time since I have last updated this. In many ways right now I feel like I am running just to catch myself. I’m trying to take care of myself, to relax a bit, but there is so much to do. I feel like every minute of my day is planned out from the moment I wake up in the morning to the time I lay my head down on the pillow at night (and on most days it’s most certainly true). Today for example, I went to class at 8:30 then immediately to chapel and then I had a meeting immediately following that. After my meeting, I went and grabbed lunch which I brought back for a lunch meeting. I then went to liturgical choir and then spent all afternoon (until 5) in class again. Then, I got some dinner and spent another two and a half hours in the library. It’s just craziness. When I’m not in class, chapel, or a meeting, I’m probably in the library reading or studying. I’ve got so much to do in the next two weeks, it’s not even funny. The term is over in three... I just don’t know how we got here!

So, the long and the short of it right now is that if you don’t see me writing for a while (like... hmmmm... three weeks), I most likely have been consumed by many books and papers. Particularly those written on Romans and Revelation. =)

In other news, next week is the Hein Fry lectures here at Trinity. This year, the current presiding bishop, Mark Hanson, and the two former presiding bishops of the ELCA, H. George Anderson and Herbert Chilstrom, will be here. Guess who gets to be the taxi driver for these three men? =) Yup, yours truly. So if any of you have any questions for the presiding bishops, let me know (I don’t guarantee that I’ll ask them though).

I think that’s all I’ve got at the moment. We have an internship briefing all day tomorrow, so I’m going to start heading toward bed now.

Kate