Wintarmanoth

Now the month is closing.

I've written a lot of blogs this month -- this one will be #12. The rennaissance and reformation were conceived in the friction of darkness... you may read between the blogs.

My friends have brought so much to my life this month. Backpacking, outreach, awesome conversations, fun adventures. I only wish that I could be more like them: christ-like.

Studies are going ok -- no, not great. I've struggled to hold on to discipline and motivation: after a full year and a half of studying, focus sometimes drains away: I'm left feeling floating, knowing I'm sinking.

I've wrestled with God, failed Him, run with Him, gardened with Him, pled with Him, been angry at Him, told Him I loved Him, left Him, surrendered to Him. I wish I had done more with Him.

I think the Great Controversy has reached a crescendo on this campus. I've never been so hopeful and doubtful at once of the chances for an incredible revival on our campus. The people who read this blog will necessarily fall into two categories:
A) Off campus
B) On campus

Group A): Please pray for this campus. With everything you've got. There is explosive potential here -- with God's help, we could turn this world on its head.
Group B): We must work together. I get discouraged and insular by myself. Let's pray, talk, and work as a team. I'm tired of theory and postulation: let's make our own Acts story with God.

now there's one.

In the Summer of 2006, there were three. Paul had finished 1 year of Law school -- he was 22. Barry had finished 1 year of College -- he was 19. I had finished high school -- I was 16. Early that summer, we were all single. There were three.

Then Petra happened. The Houmanns stopped by on their way up to PEI, and Paul was irretrievably swept into the realm of twoness. I left for Peru that summer, wondering if Barry would start dating, and when Paul was going to propose to Petra. Unbeknownst to me (I was one of the last people to find out) Paul had made a preemptive strike -- being the good general that he always was and is -- and had already done the job.

I came back from Peru about 3 weeks earlier than scheduled to attend Paul and Petra's wedding. It was hard to adjust to Paul's sudden departure from the bachelor bloc. Thankfully, despite Barry's metoric rise to power at Southern, he had escaped the twodom paradox. I roomed with Barry for my first two years at Southern.

Barry graduated in Spring of '09 -- arguably one of the most eligible bachelors on the campus. Both of us had had some tough experiences with girls over the past semester, and we emerged into the summer tired, lonely, and somewhat bitterly free. Our summer wandered away, until the moment when Barry and I had an incredible day sailing our 22-ft boat from Whaleboat island back to its harbor in Quahog Bay. It was us -- we'd shared so much over the past two years -- rough bachelors both we were. There were two.

Interestingly enough, Barry wrote a blog soon thereafter. I'm not exactly sure what the blog meant, but it meant something, because Barry began officially dating Christy Kurtz before flying off to Kyrgyzstan. Like most things in his life, Barry found a good thing, and pursued it with considerable intensity. Yep. Intensity. I'm very happy to say that Barry and Christy are now engaged.

Now there's one. I'm alone.

I think Barry and Christy felt sorry for me over Christmas break: they tried to encourage me by telling me that someday I would find a virtuous wife. I really appreciated it... I might have even made some evasive commentary like "Well, I hope so..." or "Well, maybe"...

But I'm still in the grumpy badger mode. I've been stumping about my room in my PJs beating my chest while singing Bill Grogans Goat. I eat my granola in great gulps of cheer, spoon clenched tight in flourished fist. I'm obsessed with the idea of hiking across asia after medical school. Or sailing around the world. Sometimes I feel free, savage, focused. But who am I kidding?

God knows. And I know.

But now there's someone special in my life: God. That's all I'll ever need.

I'm taken. Now, there's one.

Paddy's Sensenon

My old socks are tremendous tired, all heapled up in a heaplety-hop! Ah, their day is done, stiffly satisfied, they'll sleep 'til they find the washing machine.

Froofrah, Paddy-wurple! In ceartain aeirs the byrejims sing!

Courage, Courage.

Wait, there's still an odd.

still...

courage.

The Weekender

note

Dead gods die hard.

To Mom & Dad

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks so much for the applesauce and fruit.

Love,

John

Hamster's Bleating

in scrib'ed space
the hamster spun
his wheel round

his foolish race
is never won
to reasons sound

And our haste
this lifelong run
to haggard hound

an empty space
until we're spun
into senility's round?

my hope's placed
on finding One
who being crowned

in love,
will break,
this wheel.

tribute to a friend

As per an email from Dr. Gordon Beitz: Dr. Rick Seidel is dead.

It is hateful to have to make the transition from saying: "I know Dr. Seidel" to "I knew Dr. Seidel."

I am one of the three General Biology TA's in his 3:30 Monday Lab. I was.

I was impressed by the organization and energy he brought to our department. He was someone I enjoyed working with: intelligent, professional, humble. Fun.

This time, death cut close. My heart is achy. We are so fragile.

And to retreat from eternity? Impossible.

I'm going to surrender to God right now. Will you join me?

wooden spoon

...and a

wooden

spoon,

is

always

nice.

The Sky Mall

Ivan Marsh, Me Howe, Luther Whiting, Stephen Thorp, Joel Kurtz

We had an Awesome fire the whole time: there was tons of good wood around.

Icy road! Some exciting moments. Good driver Luther.

Ivan's Brilliant idea! We got a nice loaf from the VM and warmed it over the fire. Yum.

Luther's intrepid Camry (The "Boeing 7.47"). Notice Stephen's pack strapped on top.

Christmas Break

GYC

GYC was a blessing this year. I was condemned, convicted, and encouraged.

Blessing to note: I'm sitting in the Cleveland airport on a lay-over on my way home. In the plane ride on the way here, I sat with a guy who is going to West-Point Military Academy on a full scholarship. We had a wonderful discussion about what we believed. He is an "Independent Baptist", I a "Seventh-Day Adventist". We enjoyed a lively discussion about Faith and Works.

And now we're boarding the plane.

Cheers!