Life in the GST

So I'm in what is known as the GST--the Graduate School of Theology. It's a community of sorts, with most of the members living within 3 miles of campus. Not only do we live close to campus, though, we also hover around it like gnats. At the library, the Bible building, the crazy new statue in front on the east side of campus--I'm constantly running into fellow GSTers. Considering there are over 100 of us, that's not too surprising. So the GST is a major part of my life these days (though not all of it), and yet most of you, my loyal reader(s), are completely unfamiliar with the GST. So here are some interesting factoids about the GST to give you a little glimpse into this major facet of my life.

1) One of the buzz words around the GST is "theological reflection." It's everywhere! I hear it constantly--every professor, every class. Sometimes I even dream I am Tom Cruise's character from "A Few Good Men," interrogating a Jack Nicholson-esque Bible professor. He says, "And then I want you to do some reflection on that." I ask, "Theological reflection?" He replies: "Is there another kind?"

2) It's a man's world. There just aren't many females in the GST, for obvious reasons; they're outnumbered something like 5 to 1. But the ladies we do have are dynamic, spiritual, smart, and interesting--so they do all right. And they really make it a nicer place to be. God knew what He was doing when He made Eve.

3) One of my favorite places on campus/earth (the two seem remarkably identical the longer the semester goes on) is the "Theological Reading Room" on the 2nd/3rd story of the library. At any given moment during library operating hours (and sometimes even when it's closed), a person can find at least one fellow grad student hanging out in the theology section of the library. It may be the single most important non-being in the creation of community among the members of the GST. Sometimes we even see professors up here!

4) More importantly, sometimes we see professors emeritus up here too. Most notably, I'm thinking of my college's legend of a professor, guy by the name of Ferguson, who "wrote the book" on just about every subject. Literally. In fact, he wrote the textbook that I read every week for my history class. Pretty impressive stuff, really. I mean, sheesh, if I knew as much as him, I wouldn't even have to take the class. We keep daring each other, on those rare and thrilling moments when he strolls by, to walk up and ask him to sign our books. Whew, what a thrill that would be... I'll definitely keep you posted on that one.

5) It's a staging ground. When I was in undergrad, I sometimes got the feeling that college was primarily an end in itself--a journey all its own, meant to go on indefinitely. That is of course pure fantasy, even for an 8-year-track person, but a powerful and pervasive fantasy it was too. Not so of the GST: Although it's a community with established, committed, very "there" people, I have yet to catch the faintest scent of the old lie. The GST is a staging ground, a place of preparation and peace, but one that looks beyond itself to the world beyond and to the One beyond, to the God who transcends all of our schemes and thoughts and dreams, and who has prepared for us things which "eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men*."

*I couldn't use this kind of language in a paper for the GST because it's "gender-specific," an offense expressly condemned. There's a point to that kind of thinking, but sometimes it's just too much of a hassle, both in terms of energy and style. "People" or "persons" just don't have the right ring, and the whole "s/he" nonsense is anathema as far as I'm concerned. Thus, the occasional "man" is, in my book, a venial offense, if any offense even need be taken at all. That's my little isolated critique of political correctness. God bless!

Life These Days

Right now my life is busy yet unremarkable. I'm working as a college minister, which has been challenging and rewarding. And the rest of my life consists of school--10 hours of class, 8 hours as a grad assistant, and countless hours reading, writing, researching, and praying.

On an interesting side note, for one of my classes I'm taking part in an accountability group that is striving to be perfectly Christ-like in our speech. The theory behind the group is that we will go out and wrestle with this task, meeting weekly to reflect on and share our efforts, thereby gain insight into what all our task--Christ-likeness in speech--really requires and entails. So far, it's been only a little productive, but we're still early in the process and haven't reflected as much as needed (not on my part anyway).

What else?
I'm progressing along nicely in Greek, though the process is a little more prosaic than I'd like. It's all about cramming in vocab and mastering paradigms--rather formal and lifeless things. Alas, I think my time in Japan has spoiled me, for there, I studied language (and a dang hard one at that) not with academic intentions, but with the purpose of communicating, of becoming conversational. In Japan I used books, for sure, but they were merely maps keeping me from losing my way on the exciting and precipitous terrain of the language itself. But now, it's only maps. Even so, part of me secretly enjoys the academic approach. Besides, once we actually start studying the New Testament, the language will come alive for me in ways impossible to all others, I'm sure--though I still won't be able to speak of lick of it!
Odd point about all this language stuff (then I'll leave it!): I could never really read anything beyond little-kid or textbook Japanese, and those poorly enough. When I did read it, I almost always had to translate it back to the language as I spoke it in order to understand. Now, however, I sit down and read textbook sentences of Greek, and my mind, with a little concentration, quickly translates to English. But if I hear it? Nada, nothing--can't understand a lick. And reading aloud is arduous at best. Same information, different approaches--and the result is drastically changed.

Well, this may have been my most boring post... ever? (unless you love languages) And it's utterly autobiographical and utterly true to my current life. Alas, I am a grad student, and I am a bore. But life is good. Next time I'll try to be a little more amusing!