read to learn to think.

'The way we learn to think is by reading good thinkers and letting their thoughts form our thoughts.....From the ancients, we learn to use language in a precise way, to discern the deeper relation between seemingly disparate concepts, to discriminate between things that appear similar, to know what is central and what is peripheral. And in the process we are tutored in humility, for we see that the things worthy of reception by us have been tested in the fire of human experience.'
~R. Wilken, in Reasoned Faith


I was reading for my theology seminar this afternoon, and this quote really struck me. As I certainly have had moments of questioning the motive for all of the reading and writing and discussing and thinking we all do as students, this was an eloquent response to those questions. We read to learn to think, to understand how to portray our own thoughts more accurately, and like Wilken says, through this we learn humility. Studying under (and alongside) some of the most brilliant minds I've ever met, this semester certainly has been a humbling experience, but I can honestly say it's also been the best.

Other highlights of the day: successful registration for the fall - all Public Health and Soc. classes, I'm so pumped! Being able to wear shorts in March! Learning new songs on the piano! ...Attempting to sew! (...yeah, after that last one, I decided I'll stay in school and not become a seamstress. Ha.)

Oil and Water

In many ways, trying to mix academic excellence with the glorious Oxford spring weather is like attempting to blend oil and water. They just don’t mix. And, despite the passion that all of our young minds have for learning, the sunshine has consistently won out over reading in a stuffy library. 

ben's birthday dinner 

Yet, somehow we all managed to submit our first case studies by midnight last night. Until this assignment—the first one that we all shared a deadline for—I had never realised the endemic nature of procrastination in our house, and I think it’s safe to say that most of us were at it until the eleventh hour, literally.

Winchester Cathedral Nave:
we took a roof tour so we got to walk inside the ceiling above it!

Line of Jesse window
....Jesse is at the bottom (in the purple) and his
whole line of descendants, up to Jesus at the top, is
included in this giant, beautiful family tree! so neat!

One benefit of this wonder weather is the chance we now have to explore a bit more of England on field trips with SCIO. Thus far we’ve visited St. Albans (cathedrals, roman theatre ruins…) and Winchester (another cathedral, and an elite English boarding school which has been around since the 1300s…and where our trip leader Jonathan went before Oxford!). Later this week we’re headed to Bath!

picnic time!

Another wonderful highlight has been the opportunity to spend more time out seeing Oxford not wearing 2 coats/gloves/hats etc. Studying in the park, watching cricket and laughing with friends, picnicking on Saturday afternoon, biking through Port Meadow, food fam dinner in the backyard…the list continues to grow. I have been so blessed to form some of the best friendships I’ve ever had this semester, and I am so glad that we have a few more weeks of beautiful spring to spend with each other.

south park picnic!

HIlary Term Comes to a Close

from last week...

So, we’re nine weeks in, and Hilary term is over. The time has, just as everyone predicted, flown by faster than I could have imagined. Sure, Wednesday evenings when I was up til all hours of the night writing essays seemed to drag on a bit, but overall, it’s really raced by!

Last week marked the first of the lasts. The first last lectures (got to hear the Director General of the World Trade Organization give a guest lecture – cool opportunity!), last tutorials, last Focus small group meeting, last time to return (instead of renew…ha!) my scripture commentaries on Luke and Acts at the Theology library.

The first goodbyes. Anyone who knows me well knows I hate goodbyes. Just think back to my high school graduation party. Thankfully I didn’t have a repeat of that event (….bursting into sobs while singing a solo about goodbyes, not an ideal farewell). At Focus, I gave many hugs to the girls in my small group. It’s amazing that God brought us together for this term, and even though we all study different courses, and are in different places in our university careers, I became close with a few of them and I really was sad to say goodbye! As I said my farewells to a guy from my brother Focus group, he asked if I’d be back for Trinity Term in April. When I said no, he replied, “Well, if I don’t see you again, I’ll see you in heaven!” It was a startling response to be sure, but an awesome reminder as well. Goodbyes aren’t forever. I’ll see my small group again one day, which is amazing!