Holiday Thoughts

As the holidays approach, I've found myself with more time to reflect on the past quarter. It has been a wonderful experience thus far, although there have been many ups and downs. I eagerly await the challenges that await in the rest of the academic year, but for now, I am taking the opportunity to relax (and, yes, even get ahead!). I have been reading some for the upcoming New Testament course that will be taught by THE (once unknown to me) Margaret Mitchell. From what I've seen, heard, and witnessed, she is going to be amazing. In addition, the reading list that she has put together is tremendous and speaks to my interests directly.

In doing some of the reading and reflecting afterwards, I have come to realize that I am very interested in notions of hermeneutics. More specifically, I am interested in what we are doing when we are "meaning" and how we go about "meaning." In more general terms, I want to know how our conceptions of "meaning" affect our readings of sacred texts and the culminating implications for daily and ethical life. This is incredibly relevant to my parallel desire concerning parish ministry.

With all these thoughts swirling in my mind, I hope that these next few weeks will prove enlightening as I ponder my academic and professional direction. As great as a paycheck sounds in three years, I am feeling increasingly drawn toward further academic study and the pursuit of PhD work. The question remains, though, with whom? Who will I study with and under? My thoughts, as of now, are with William Schweiker, who, if you do not know, is an intellectual giant. I am excited to get to know and maybe study with him. But even if it isn't him, I rest assured that somebody here in this great big place will turn up with my interests in mind.

Oh, yeah, and I go on a cruise in a few days. That will be nice. And by nice I mean pretty much incredible as I've never done anything like this in my life. So, you could say, I'm stoked. To top it off, my girlfriend has a big surprise coming to her, and since she never reads my blog, I can safely make this hint here and now. If you catch this before Wednesday, December 19th, please don't make her aware of this little confession. I want it to be a surprise. But of course, I want to show her this public information afterwards. Oh her reaction will be priceless. 'Til then!