A Visit with St. Nicholas...

Tonights chapel service was a celebration of Advent.  As we look forward to the remembrance of Christ's birth, we inwardly reflect on the greatest gift mankind has ever been given.  We also remember St. Nicolas and his wonderfully giving heart.  Each year he comes bearing gifts to children young and not so old...but I sat on his lap anyway! He mentioned something about free tuition and a new snow shovel...but I have to be good...I won't get my hopes up to high then.
Nashotah is not like any other seminary.  I've been overwhelmed recently with all the papers to write, books to read, and exams to take.  Then there's the house payments to make, tuition to pay, and the dog to feed.  I just had to take out a student loan...$20,000...and that freaked me out.  I'm not one to live outside my means and have been asking a lot of questions about what this all means.  Does God want me to trust him with debt or is it his way of letting me know it's time to go?  Am I trusting in my own strength and not trusting God?  Am I being financially irresponsible?  The great thing about this place is that those you live with, worship with, and study with....they know.  Today Bryan stopped me after lunch and as we walked back to our apartments he cared enough to ask how I was doing...and then to listen...and I knew he cared...and that meant so much.  Today I also had to meet with a professor about a paper I recently turned in.  In all of my educational career I've never had a teacher spend over an hour with me explaining and discussing something I'd written and who also took the time to ask about how I was doing.  Twice in one day Jesus presented himself through two different Christian brothers that shared the love and concern of a family who cares and is concerned...and that...is priceless...

What the....

6:45 am...Abby and I catch a glimpse of the world that now is.  We look down a street that was once colored green now resembles some kind of walk-in freezer gone mad.  I was have expecting the white witch from Narnia to come riding by in her carriage and offer me some of those delicious British pastry...but alas...she never showed...

As for Abby, who hasn't seen this much white snow...ever, ran about exploring.  She appeared to be searching for grass, but never found any.  When it came time for her to relieve her body of all things unnecessary, she searched endlessly for any area where her bum didn't touch snow.  All attempts proved futile.

1:00 pm  The maintence crew here is brutal.  It was either skip class, skip duties in the refectory, or move my car.  My choice left me with an hour of shoveling, seminarians driving by very slowly, and one unwelcomed comment resembling a school yard chant that went something like, "That's what you get for not moving your car."  I wasn't amused.  I've learned my lesson however.  Next time...I ditch class...

Just for Laughs...

My neighbors, Nathaniel and Sarah, introduced me to these videos on Youtube.  Perhaps it's due to all the reading and heavy thinking but I think it's the candide camera type humor that is so funny.  Catching people in such amusing ways gets a chuckle every time.  Even today before Church History everyone gathered around my computer...even Dr. Peay...and had a good laugh together.  Hope you do too...

Zephaniah 3:17

The snow began to fall sometime yesterday and tonight we are to receive our first major artic blast of what the weather people like to refer as a potential disaster.  We are not to drive or leave our homes after dark...only if necessary...like you need eggs, break, or milk.  Otherwise Abby, Donner, and I are staying put.
It's been a busy week.  It's near the end of the semester and overwhelmed is not the right word.  Perhaps immobilized would be more appropriate.  On Sunday night I went to bed at 6am and got up at 7am...and still have pages to go before I sleep...
Dagnall, a senior this year, stopped me after lunch.  He asked how things were going and I told him...and he listened and reminded me of the words from Zephaniah 3:17 of how God is mighty to save.  As we talked, with the newly created snow encircling us, it was one of those moments when it was as if Jesus descended and listened and talked to you...face to face...one on one.  No agenda, no easy answers, no quick fixes.  Instead he had all the time in the world...to listen...and care.  It reminded me of just how much God needs us to be Jesus to other people...and how mighty he is to move our mountains...Jesus thank you for sending a rep my way and give me the power from you to actually believe that you are ever so mighty and willing to save...and Dagnall...thanks for being Jesus... to me...