It's Been Awhile

Wow! It's been a long time since I've written anything here. That's because I've been furiously writing for my classes. And yesterday morning my computer broke down. I turned it on and most of the keys don't work. I'm not sure what the problem is, but it's looking like a trip to the Apple Store in London is in my future. Yuck!

Last week our entire group played frisbee and went punting. I still stink at frisbee, so that was interesting. However, punting was a ton of fun. I actually didn't do to bad, either. In our punt we played make believe... Sometimes I like to go back to my childhood.

I'm shocked that people are spitting off the bridge

Our fieldtrip last week was to Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1940 Coventry Cathedral was bombed by German forces. A new cathedral has been built up beside the burned out ruins of the old one and the site is dedicated to peace and reconciliation. The attraction in Stratford is Shakespear's birthplace and the house of his wife, Anne Hathaway.

On the weekend, T'auna and I went to visit her psuedo-aunt (it's really complicated) in Lincoln. It was really nice to get away for a little while, even though it made for a hectic weekend. We had a great time and on Saturday we toured the Lincoln Castle and the Lincoln Cathedral. We met up with the youth minister and his intern who happens to be a Bible major at ACU. How odd is that? The youth minister had two young girls (three and six) who were adorable. The castle also house the fourth copy of the Magna Carta. Now I've seen all four surving copies. The cathedral is amazing and huge. It was also a filming site for the Da Vinci Code.

For the most part, this week has been spent reading for my classes and writing papers. However, on Tuesday we took a tour of Christ Church. It was nice, but very long. Our group was just a little too big and our guide had a lot to say. We had tea in the priory room and that was also quite lovely. Yesterday we all trekked through Port Meadow to The Trout. We had a good meal with fantastic desserts. I love Port Meadow and I'm looking forward to going back a few times.

I'm very excited about eating at The Trout

It's hard to believe that in a week everyone else will be heading back home. Right now I have to get back to all of my papers. I have a lot to do for next week and I think this weekend will be very busy.

Megalithic Monuments

Our latest field trip on Wednesday was wonderful. We began the day with a stop at Avebury, a large stone monument. The stones are massive and it is possible to go right up to the stones and touch them. Sheep graze around the circle and you must step carefully in order to avoid little messages. The most unfortunate thing is the fact that the surrounding village has been built up from torn down stones. The stop ended with an amazing race between Amara, Dad and Joel. Dad lost, but only because Joel threw Dad to the slippery ground. 

Our next stop was the long barrow at West Kennet. The barrow is a short walk from the road through the English countryside. From the top of the barrow, I could see fields of wheat glowing golden under the morning sun and grasses blowing gently in the breeze. The barrow is still a center of worship for pagans and offerings had been laid upon the stones. Of course, the dark rooms of the barrow evoke images of the barrow-wight in the Lord of the Rings. 

Another quick drive took us to Stonehenge, one of the most famous sites in Britain. Other worldly stone giants call up images of druids and Old Sarum. While at Stonehenge we enjoyed a snack of Megalithic Rock Cakes.

Joel and me at Stonehenge

From Stonehenge we headed off to Salisbury. This drive was wonderful as the trees on either side of the road formed a leafy green canopy that shadowed the road. After a quick bite to eat from the chip shop we began our tour of Salisbury Cathedral. It is a wonderful old cathedral that is celebrating its 750th anniversary this year. Our guide shared with us many amusing stories and our 45 minute tour ended up lasting an one and a half hours. We even saw the most well-preserved copy of the Magna Carta. Two down, two to go!

Just a few minutes away from the mighty cathedral is the small parish church of St. Andrews in Bemerton. George Herbert, one of the authors we are reading, was rector at the church in the 1630's. Unfortunately the current rector who was going to show us the church did not show up. We found out later that he had been at the hospital with his wife who was having a baby. I think he's forgiven!

We finally headed home after a long day in the country. The most exciting part of this was seeing people playing polo along the side of the road. I think that I want to play polo. Anyway, the day was beautiful and delightful and the barrow is always one of my favourite field trips. This time was no different.

Holy Ground

I have been to my fair share of religious worship houses. My favourites, for lack of a better word, are always the more elaborate and, I don't know, refined almost. I like the interior of a High Church building. I love cathedrals and even quiet little village churches. Ornate and lavish furnishings. Something about these places moves me.

God becomes less of a buddy and more of an Omnipotent Lord. I think it's important for us to ensure that God is not just seen as some overshadowing power who smites and blesses. He is a friend, a comforter. The word "paraclete" is used in John's gospel to denote the Holy Spirit. In my limited knowledge of Greek, I am assuming that this comes from the Greek word παρακελεω meaning to comfort or urge. God is a comforter and He loves us very much. This is a necessary and Biblical view of God, but this is not all that He is. He is also the God of the Old Testament. God is almighty and powerful, capable of leveling mountains and valleys.

I think that today's church buildings sometimes subtract from this view of God. God as a friend is the much more important view of God. While I concede that the High Church basically eliminates the buddy-buddy view of God, I feel that in many Protestant churches, and the Churches of Christ to be sure, have completely ignored this view of god. Ideally, we would have a perfect mesh of the two. But that's just it, isn't it? We can't be perfect.

Within the Protestant tradition, I often see church buildings themselves as homey, very welcoming places. However, when I walk into the York Minster or stand in the shadow of Salisbury Cathedral's spire I picture God sitting on a throne, surrounded by angels. I have a sense of awe in the presence of God. The need to remove my shoes and kneel on holy ground is intense. When at Highland, I picture God with His arm around me. The images are completely different, yet our God encompasses both. I get much more of the comforting God and perhaps that is why I am so transfixed with awe by the dominion of God evoked in these ornate houses of worship.

Salisbury Cathedral

Artifacts & Texts

It's certainly been a long weekend! London was lovely, but we left Oxford at 7:00 and didn't make it back until 1:30 the next morning. I think there were tired eyes and sore feet all around.

We began the day with a visit to Shakespeare's Globe. Our guide was hilarious and made the tour very amusing. Fun fact from that stop? Fermented urine can be used as a stain remover. I don't think I'll try that one out.

We then took the tube over to the British Library and lunch. I had a tasty Cornish Pasty. Yummm! After a short rain shower, we walked over to the British Library. Entering the Treasure Room of the British Library, I cannot help but be amazed at the immense collection of treasures. Everything from the Lindisfarne Gospels to handwritten Beatles' lyrics are displayed in this room. My eyes were soon drawn to the significant Codex Sinaiticus, which dates to the 4th century. Here before me lay one of the two earliest surviving copies of the complete New Testament. Other Christian manuscripts include the Gutenberg Bible and a papyrus copy of Hebrews, and Tyndale's New Testament (the first Bible printed in English). Also fascinating was a letter from Jane Austen on her writing desk, Handel's Messiah and the only surviving manuscript of Beowulf.

If you've ever been down in a subway, you know those places are crazy. The London Underground is no different. Several of us got on heading to Tottenham Court Road. For some reason, all but ten of us got off and came a little later. But I am proud to say that I led my group valiantly and we had absolutely no problems. We even minded the gap!

We eventually moved on to the British Museum. This place just blows my mind as it is so large and chalk-full of history. One of the most important items on display here is the Rosetta Stone, which made the translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics possible. One room is set up to the exact dimensions of the Parthenon and contains the Elgin Marbles, brought from the Parthenon in Greece. Walking through this vast hall enthused me even more about my potential trip to Athens.

After this our group split up and I went off with my family for the evening. The restaurant we wanted to go to had been closed, so we ended up at a Pizza Hut (limited time, limited budget). It was some of the best pizza that I have ever had. Next up for the night was Wicked. I have to admit, I was a bit unsure of this show (it's not established, it's American, etc...). However, I was pleasantly surprised and I even woke up the next morning singing songs from the show. I'm glad I went, even if I was too short to see over the bars.

This morning I went to church at the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. It was a fascinating service. The church is Anglican, but have a fairly relaxed style. They actually had a baptism this morning and the entire service was centered on this. I had never witnessed an infant baptism before and it was very interesting. In fact, the lesson was on the merit of infant baptism and I don't think that I've ever heard a lesson on that before!

The rest of today has been spent writing papers, reading for my classes and feeding the ducks in University Parks. The day was long, but beautiful as the sun shone the whole day through. Tomorrow it's back to the daily grind of classes and I now I'm off to read Gregory of Nyssa.

Picnic in the Park

What a glorious day! The sun was out and shining brightly today. A few of us took a picnic lunch over to University Parks this afternoon. I had a lovely Branston Pickle sandwich, salt and vinegar crisps and an apple. It was a beautiful afternoon.

Right now we're enjoying an episode of Inspector Morse, a British show set in Oxford. In fact, we've seen several episodes of Inspector Lewis (the sequel series to Morse) being filmed around town. Anyhow, it's certainly a very interesting show.

Tomorrow we take a day-trip to London. The Globe, the British Library and the British Museum are all on the agenda for tomorrow. Heavy rains are forecasted, but I think it will be a great trip nonetheless.

Rain

Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain

On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me

Remembering again that I shall die

And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks

For washing me cleaner than I have been

Since I was born into this solitude.

~Edward Thomas (1878-1917)

Okay, so I'm not really this depressed. However, rain has been the word of the week so far and this is an excerpt from a poem, entitled "Rain" in fact, which is one of our reading assignments for today. It is a bit melancholy sitting at my window and watching the rain come down while reading this morose poem. Nevertheless, my cup of hot tea is warming me up and Mom's apple crumble with custard was a perfect finish to this wet day.

I am hoping that the sun will come out tomorrow, as Oxford is usually fairly sunny during the summer. In fact, July and August are typically the least rainy months of the year. Thankfully this constant drizzle (and occasional downpour) has yet to get me down. I think the extra hours of daylight may be helping with that.

So far my days have been long and work-filled. Today I read for more than five hours in order to complete our assignment for tomorrow. I'm hopeful that our reading assignments will decrease, especially when the weather clears up. And who knows, maybe I'll actually speak in class tomorrow as that hasn't happened yet. Whoops!

But now, with the readings finished, tea in hand and the soft patter of rain against the window pane, it's time to relax!

Day One (and Two)

I'm looking out the first floor window of my home for the next five months: 10 Canterbury Road. I have my Ribena (a blackcurrant juice drink) on the desk beside me and a cool breeze from the open window refreshes me. It's so nice to finally have a few minutes to just relax. I feel like I've been going full speed since the plane touched the ground yesterday morning.

We took a coach to Oxford and had just enough time to find our rooms before we ate lunch. I for one was thankful for the milk chocolate digestive biscuits that the Morgans provided for us. After unpacking, we headed out for a little tour of Oxford. I am happy to say that I am now very well reacquainted with the town.  My favourite stop on tour? Our family's old house. It's a lovely little three-story house in one of the oldest parts of Oxford.

3  Bath Place, Holywell Street (our old house)

Almost as soon as we were turned loose for the evening, it began to rain. And it wasn't just a nice English drizzle, but a heavy downpour, complete with thunder (a bit of a rarity in Oxford when we lived here). By the time we made it back from grocery shopping we were all fairly wet. The rest of the evening consisted of a house rules meeting, reading for today's classes and an early turn-in.

Today, the first day of classes, began bright and early at 8 in the morning (that's 2 AM back in Texas) and I'm still not quite adjusted to the time difference. I think both of the classes are going to be fantastic as the discussions were very insightful. The Symposium is in a classroom at Linacre College, which is a graduate college. It's a lovely stroll from the houses through University Parks to Linacre. Today we were treated to a nice lunch of citrus chicken in the college's cafeteria.

These first two days have been wonderful. I still can't believe that I will be here for half of a year. I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity and it is only just beginning! 

The Adventure Begins

On to my next adventure. This one's a bit longer, a bit farther away. My family is headed to church this morning and we'll go straight from church to Dallas. After a nine-hour plane ride we'll land in London, England.

And then it's five months in Oxford, England. I am so excited and so ready. It always seems I am going home to Oxford and I am thrilled to share this with people. I can't wait to see what amazing things God has in store for me. I know my classes will be fantastic. Of course, any course in which Lord of the Rings is a textbook is automatically amazing.