For all of us, I think, it’s the little things of life that are, in the end, big. In some of my readings of C.S. Lewis, he expressed his great sadness as colleagues died and could no longer join him for lunch. In the same way, as we do simple things with those we love, it's those things we will miss more than our great deeds or grand accomplishments. Already we look forward to lunch each day with our new friends and I know we will miss them when we’re gone. Everyday there is someone new at college with a new project and new energy. Today it was Leah from Washington, DC. She is here for just one week of study to prepare the work needed to get into a doctorate program in the states. She spent eight years in Waco at Baylor and has a good friend from Monroe. Small world, isn’t it?
This is the best weather day so far (I know, I’ve said this before, but really this is it) and in spite of the supposed lesson-learned yesterday, we headed out to college with no coat and no umbrella. This time we were greeted with nothing but sunshine and warmth all day long. Thank you, Lord. Everyone at college was talking about the weather and some even worried that the weather could be worse later because of this sudden turn of good fortune. I guess “glass half empty” people live all over the world.
We only had one errand to do today and that was to find a book, so off to Borders, which everyone told us would be the best place to start. But, they didn’t have the one I needed, so we crossed the street to Waterstone’s, which is part of a chain of 303 stores in Europe. Like all the building’s here, the store front is deceivingly small, hiding an amazing five stories of books inside. We found the book I was looking for and 2 Papa said we should see if any of our HB books are here. Of course, our search was half-hearted as we expected to turn up empty handed. But, as you can see from the photo above, they actually had one of our books!
The photo I took today is for you to see the changing colors fall is bringing. I’m sure it’s the same where you live, so I hope you’re taking the time to notice and appreciate. (Maybe even get the camera out and take a picture of your own home.) Our street, Banbury, (so English, isn’t it? pronounced Ban-bur-rie. Put the accent on ban. It took 2 Papa two weeks to stop rolling the r, like he was from Mexico or something) is lined with homes such as the one pictured. At one point all Tutors/Dons/ Fellows (all these terms refer to the same status here) were required to live at college, as they say it, and not marry. But sometime in the 18th century, the university had a change of policy (probably some restless and unhappy fellows pushed for this) and all the fellows made a mad dash to do two things. 1. Build a large, beautiful home 2. Find a wife and have lots of kids. Now, most of these homes are owned by the different colleges and used for a variety of purposes. The ACU campus is in one of these homes. They are super expensive, as you would expect, many costing over a million dollars.
Tonight we attended our first lecture. I think it could be a bad thing that we’ve been here almost four weeks and haven’t attended a lecture yet, but since no one’s counting, who cares? It was Kelly’s (our BFF) lecture, so we wanted to attend. Kelly said all lectures at Oxford are experts reading a paper they wrote and many are extremely boring, but he was bucking the system tonight with a power point and no reading. He asked for a projector and the college didn’t even have one on the grounds, but they apparently bought one for tonight. You could tell everyone was intrigued and surprised at his choice of delivery. I think I’ve mentioned before that I feel like I’ve stumbled into the gifted and talented class by accident and this was never truer than tonight. Kelly did a great job in his presentation of God, Chance, and Purpose. His lecture was not to prove, only to provoke thought. A typical exercise, I gather, from philosophers. We actually could follow the discussion, but there were plenty of chins and foreheads being rubbed, I can assure you.
Here’s what I know to be true and I’m sticking with it.
“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.” Genesis 1:1-3 The Message
Hope you have a wonderful Monday evening. If any of you see my grandchildren, give them a hug for me. Sadie has her first basketball game today and I’m sad to miss it. Go, Sadie, Go!!!
Hugs, 2 Mama
This is the best weather day so far (I know, I’ve said this before, but really this is it) and in spite of the supposed lesson-learned yesterday, we headed out to college with no coat and no umbrella. This time we were greeted with nothing but sunshine and warmth all day long. Thank you, Lord. Everyone at college was talking about the weather and some even worried that the weather could be worse later because of this sudden turn of good fortune. I guess “glass half empty” people live all over the world.
We only had one errand to do today and that was to find a book, so off to Borders, which everyone told us would be the best place to start. But, they didn’t have the one I needed, so we crossed the street to Waterstone’s, which is part of a chain of 303 stores in Europe. Like all the building’s here, the store front is deceivingly small, hiding an amazing five stories of books inside. We found the book I was looking for and 2 Papa said we should see if any of our HB books are here. Of course, our search was half-hearted as we expected to turn up empty handed. But, as you can see from the photo above, they actually had one of our books!
The photo I took today is for you to see the changing colors fall is bringing. I’m sure it’s the same where you live, so I hope you’re taking the time to notice and appreciate. (Maybe even get the camera out and take a picture of your own home.) Our street, Banbury, (so English, isn’t it? pronounced Ban-bur-rie. Put the accent on ban. It took 2 Papa two weeks to stop rolling the r, like he was from Mexico or something) is lined with homes such as the one pictured. At one point all Tutors/Dons/ Fellows (all these terms refer to the same status here) were required to live at college, as they say it, and not marry. But sometime in the 18th century, the university had a change of policy (probably some restless and unhappy fellows pushed for this) and all the fellows made a mad dash to do two things. 1. Build a large, beautiful home 2. Find a wife and have lots of kids. Now, most of these homes are owned by the different colleges and used for a variety of purposes. The ACU campus is in one of these homes. They are super expensive, as you would expect, many costing over a million dollars.
Tonight we attended our first lecture. I think it could be a bad thing that we’ve been here almost four weeks and haven’t attended a lecture yet, but since no one’s counting, who cares? It was Kelly’s (our BFF) lecture, so we wanted to attend. Kelly said all lectures at Oxford are experts reading a paper they wrote and many are extremely boring, but he was bucking the system tonight with a power point and no reading. He asked for a projector and the college didn’t even have one on the grounds, but they apparently bought one for tonight. You could tell everyone was intrigued and surprised at his choice of delivery. I think I’ve mentioned before that I feel like I’ve stumbled into the gifted and talented class by accident and this was never truer than tonight. Kelly did a great job in his presentation of God, Chance, and Purpose. His lecture was not to prove, only to provoke thought. A typical exercise, I gather, from philosophers. We actually could follow the discussion, but there were plenty of chins and foreheads being rubbed, I can assure you.
Here’s what I know to be true and I’m sticking with it.
“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.” Genesis 1:1-3 The Message
Hope you have a wonderful Monday evening. If any of you see my grandchildren, give them a hug for me. Sadie has her first basketball game today and I’m sad to miss it. Go, Sadie, Go!!!
Hugs, 2 Mama
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