Month: October 2015

My friend, Scott, gave me the terminology “strategic procrastination” for sometimes putting aside the priority for a bit while other things–but good things–are accomplished. Yes, there was some strategic procrastination this week, but I got stuck in my argumentation a bit. I had to step back and think through my approach. I finally figured it out and was able to progress, but then it was time to prepare for the Tanzania mission team youth movie night at our home.

I forgot to get a picture of us all making Chinese dumplings, jiao zi, or boiled “pot stickers” like my friend, Ruth, from Beijing taught me. However, the preparation took longer, because I had to snake the kitchen sink drain.

I do have a picture of the sweatshirts that I screen printed for Anya’s soccer team, which then each rubber banded their item for tie dying. Interesting that a uniform look can be individualized–and have fun doing it! A post-modern touch. It isn’t the most flattering picture of Anya, but she wouldn’t let me take her picture at other times.

Thursday night was her last home game for this season. Anya played well and was excited with all the events for the seniors night. It was great that the varsity won their last home game.

This team has a combined GPA of 3.801! Amazingly, this is the fourth place! (The boys tennis team is #1 with 3.922 GPA!)

In contrast, I heard that the incoming class at Trinity is really struggling with academics this year. While I miss teaching and sparking interest and effort in all students, I realized this week that I see how God has opened a window for me to move on. I was informed that the administration is proposing a change of the mission statement. The proposal removes “biblically-centered education” and “Jesus Christ” from “serves Jesus Christ in church and society.” It would be difficult to keep on with this move to secularization.

On Saturday, Anya asked me to help her get her room reconfigured. A couple years ago, I lofted her bed. Now, she was eager for a change to have more room between her mattress and the ceiling. So, now she’s got another place to lounge (though, while I’m writing this, she’s doing her AP World History reading and notes right now–so she isn’t lounging).

On Sunday, Anya was able to go to a Seattle Sounders soccer game. Besides being a fun time with her friend, Amanda, the Sounders won and have cemented a place in the playoffs!

While she was out, I was invited to a movie, The Martian, with friends because Kathi is in town from Asia! How great to see her! What a gift! And thanks to Richard, who gave me a gift by paying for my ticket!

I received two other gifts today.

I asked my former boss, Pastor Jim, if he had a specific commentary I could borrow. He has a vast library and has generously passed on many books. He didn’t have the one I asked for, so I went to the closest Christian college to buy borrowing privileges. Then, Pastor Jim buys me a copy! How thoughtful!

The page with all the notes in red are the gift of Marv’s words. I couldn’t imagine this journey without Marv’s gracious critique and proofreading. He is my grammar guru! I have heard it said that “no one writes a book alone.” Well, that is especially true in my case. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a community to write a book. But, you can see, I have lots to do to strengthen my writing. Pray that this week is especially productive.

Off to add to my 28-day streak in Swedish learning on Duolingo.com!

Perhaps you are like me and have been blessed with growing up with many Bible stories. Unfortunately, sometimes, we are so familiar with them, that we miss reflecting more deeply upon them. Well this week, I’ve been immersed in Exodus 32-34. One of my dissertation texts is Exod 34:1-9, especially verses 6-7. This is where God passes by Moses, shielding him in the cleft of a rock, and proclaiming his name.

⁶ And [the LORD] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

⁸ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. (ESV)

The greater context is that this is just after the golden calf idolatry, which is after God speaking directly to all the people for the giving of the Ten Commandments. Then all the people say, “We will do what you’ve commanded!” With no other gods being the crux of how to live in relationship with God and be blessed for thousands of generations, they really messed up!

In the midst of such a momentous failure—and with some advocacy from Moses—God forgives. God’s love carries us through and restores us. This is an amazing reconciliation story. I pray it encourages you as it has encouraged me.

I have needed some encouragement. I’m in the doldrums of writing. While I enjoy the reading and the journey, it seems like the writing is not progressing enough. It can be discouraging. So, I dig into the text and plod along.

I did buy borrowing privileges from Northwest University in Kirkland. It is the closest library with a good collection of commentaries (actually better than Trinity’s). I worked there for several hours on Friday at a table with wonderful sunlight streaming in.

I borrowed some books to take home. I wanted to scan a few pages to mark up the text with notes. However, after upgrading my computer to Windows 10, my scanner doesn’t work. So, after a couple hours of my attempts at uninstalling, downloading, and installing new drivers and scan doctors, as well as reading through support threads of things to try, I was able to secure help from a support tech. It took over 1.5 hours of direct control of my computer to try everything that I had done to finally figure out a functioning work-around. At least I can scan now!

Anya enjoyed a team dinner on Wednesday night. The T-shirts and sweatshirts I screen printed last weekend were then rubber-banded for tie-dying at the dinner. With all the rubberbands, it ended up to be a night of shooting rubber bands at each other!

Two soccer games, a pre-ACT test, a football game with friends at another high school, a prom with a group of young ladies at another high school (with sophomores dressed in Seattle grunge), piano practice, and barista training for the church espresso stand tomorrow morning fills in the gaps between school, homework, and soccer practice.

(Sorry, Kathi, not enough pictures this week!)

 

The rains have come, but the glimmers of sunshine are little gifts when they appear. I keep reminding myself that the sun is shining above the clouds.

Similarly, when the PhD dissertation seems gloomy sometimes because of the challenges and the chore, I remind myself how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. The match of a wonderful adviser, school, and accommodating circumstances is remarkably Providential.

I was in a bit of a slump in the middle of chapter 4, so I worked on chapter 5, drafting about 75% or more of the chapter. This is the “So what?” chapter. It is good to draft it and have plenty of time to incubate the concepts.

I didn’t get a blog posted last weekend, because my in-laws, Bill and Karen, were visiting from California. They arrived Wednesday night and left on Monday.

Anya had been sick with the flu the week before Bill and Karen arrived. The fever and vomiting kept her home from school for two days. With 3 AP classes, it is tough being away. So, one morning, she got up to get ready for school, ate breakfast, and then threw up. She wipes her mouth and says, “Can I still go to school?” I suggested she see how she felt in a couple hours, and indeed, she didn’t go in that day.

Highlights were going out for a Kenyan dinner in south Seattle with Jean and Marv, in spite of  the long wait for food (waiting over 1.5 hours reminded us of Africa!).

On Sunday, we went to hear the Stavanger Boys and Girls Choir at Pacific Lutheran University.

I was surprised to see my PhD student friend’s mother there! Tina defended her dissertation on Thursday, and her mom flew the next morning to the USA as a coordinator of the choir.  (Tina now has her earned doctorate, and the report is that she did very well. After all she is the brilliant one of Knut’s students!)

In contrast to Tina, I figure that I’ll just have to be the diligent one. This is still a challenge as I realize that this journey is for those who can rise above the 1,000 daily self doubts. In addition, the writing process is lonely one. Some may say, “Duh, what did you expect from ‘independent research’?” I am so grateful for critical support on this journey, especially at this stage the proofing from Marv and my mom. At the end of the week, I was able to attend a get-together for the Biblical Studies and Intercultural Studies faculty, students, and a few alumni. It was food for the soul. I have worked through the loss and have been able to move on, but I still cherish these people.

That was Friday, which was Eric’s birthday. He would have turned 51. Anya was fortunate to have friends to be with and enjoy a corn maze. It helps her to have something to look forward to on that day.

I’m hoping to write/draft 1,300 words every workday  for the next four weeks! Crazy!

With blessings,

Beth