Three is a Magic Number

May you experience vast, expansive, infinite, indestructible love. May you discover that this love is as wide as the sky and as small as the cracks in our human hearts. And may you know, deep in your soul, that love wins. (Adapted, Rob Bell) Picture by Patt's fireplace after the Celebration of Remembrance. This World is not conclusion, A Species stands beyond— Invisible, as Music— But positive, as Sound— It beckons, and it baffles— Philosophy, don’t know— And through a Riddle, at the last— Sagacity, must go— to guess it, puzzles scholars To gain it, Men have borne Contempt of Generations and Crucifixion, shown— Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies— Blushes, if any see— Plucks at a twig of Evidence— And asks a Vane, the way— Much Gesture, from the pulpit— Strong Hallelujahs roll— Narcotics cannot still the tooth that nibbles at the soul—  Emily Dickenson

Thanks to auntie Kate for the cookie making! Hugs and kisses. Christmas Tree. Samuel's holiday concert. At a Christmas shop and tree farm, with sleigh.  Jody took us.

Having finished my first semester at UTS, I am getting asked, "How is seminary going?"  The short answer... fabulous.  I have to admit, the transition was a bit rough at first.  New schedules, new ways of thinking, new ways of writing.  It took me forever to complete every assignment, and I missed my old work place.  United is a very strange place.  People take every issue, every corner of their lives, seriously.  Talk about living intentionally.  The level of passion was a bit overwhelming.  When you walk into the cafe, nearly every table has a theological, ecclesiological, or political discussion occurring. And Bibles are opened in every study corner.   Yes, it took awhile to adjust. But after about a month, I was adjusted; Paul was adjusted; and the kids were adjusted.  Assignments started to become easier.  I started to use words like "context," "social location," "exegete," "deconstruction," and "hermeneutical circle"