early morning thoughts

up early this morning, which i should have used to get a jump on my grading, but i knew i wouldn't finish it all to get it back to the students today, so i put it off. plus, i'll probably end up working in the auditorium this weekend, so might as well save it so i have something to do while the dance company dances. still find myself without rory, who i hoped would be here by the time i worked next. may she arrive from philadelphia soon....

first week of rehearsals down. last night we watched some video clips of how to interpret the shakespearean text and let it guide us as we learn our roles and discover our characters. much better than i anticipated and it was actually a lot of fun to see ian mckellan and judi dench and patrick stewart from way back in 1982. as is normal, i still feel a bit on the outside, especially coming into things late, but it feels like i've seen these people before though i cannot pinpoint where. i'll be interested to see how rehearsals go next week and what is done.

i started this post before school and now it's lunch - stupid students wanted me to teach them something today. half a bell to go and then my plan bell and then the weekend. did finally get the schedule for the weekend - i'll be working both sat. and sun. evenings, as i thought. will be good for the bank account and for spending time with my script.

am feeling a bit frustrated about the prospects of continuing education to keep my teaching license. i need six hours every five years, i think, which philosophically i don't mind. keeping abreast of what's going on in your field is vital, especially one like education. my issue comes with the cost of such a venture. looking around at possible courses, it looks like i'll spend anywhere from $800-$2,000+ to meet the requirements. and because i already have two graduate degrees and won't be pursuing another, i am ineligible for any financial aid. might not seem a lot, but when you're in forbearance on the loans you have. it's frustrating to think about throwing even more money at it. the cynical side of me thinks this is all just a way to line the coffers of universities. but i'm trying not to be cynical. i contacted someone on the professional development committee here at the school to see if there are any options i haven't thought of. we'll see.

i had a great idea driving home from work yesterday. as usual, i was frustrated by the lack of driving skill and simple knowledge of the rules of the road on the highway. then it hit me: wouldn't it be great if you were required to have some kind of license in order to operate a vehicle? you know, have to take some classes and maybe pass a test before you were allowed to hit the road at 55+ mph. learn simple things like how to use a turn signal, not drive in the passing lane, not be so distracted by your phone that you're not aware of what's going on around you, not pass on the right? wouldn't that make the world a much better place?

what's that? they already do that? hmmm...then why are the roads filled with so many people without the basic grasp of the simplest of driving rules?

sorry. had to vent.

students trickling back from lunch. time to talk about their bibliographies. oh joy.
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processing

'twas an amazing weekend, beginning with the arrival of an email offering me the role of puck and running furiously through the hours. too many thoughts to give each one the attention it deserves (mine own fault since i haven't felt much like posting this week), so i'll have to resort to highlights.

• todd hunter spoke on the kingdom of God being a secular reality friday night and touched on the idea of vocare or calling, which mixed with my own recent thoughts on my calling and ordination. we are all called - that i get. and so i wondered what this meant for the concept of ordination - if we truly believe in the priesthood of all believers, why make a distinction? it can't all be for legal purposes, can it (who can marry, etc). wish i'd been brave enough to put that question to todd later, but i didn't.
• i love these gatherings because i get to be in the presence of some amazing souls. i'd start naming them, but then i'd forget someone and feel bad. 'twas enough to be surrounded by them this weekend.
• eric and andrea, the couple that stayed with me, were simply amazing. so many of us talk of trusting God daily; they are actually living it. they decided early on in their marriage to simplify to the point that they could follow God's leading at a moments notice. they trust so much that as of april 2, they have no where to go and no financial cushion to fall back on. their spirit was amazing and infectious. i entertained angels this weekend - or at least as close as we earthbound creatures can get this side of heaven.
• i think i missed out on something saturday: bob ekblad spoke and so many people expressed what a powerful time it was. just not for me. his story was a powerful one, but somehow i wasn't tuned into the Spirit - or perhaps that moment wasn't meant for me. just hate being on the outside looking in. and that sounds just like the prodigal son's older brother - "why not me?"....
• good to remember mark and chad's passing. hard to believe it's been a year. i found myself mourning again, though not so much the loss as the opportunity to see what God would have done through these men - and the opportunity to get to know them better. we sang "MLK" friday night during worship, and the tears just came.
• george hunsberger talked about how in community, some were called to simply live, others were called to be "pastoral agents." this resonated with thoughts i've been having. more stuff to add to the stew i've been cooking this lent (hmm...i think my fasting is sneaking into my analogies...)
  
• the gathering ended early enough that i was able to head down to southgate house with gina, mandy, angela, chris and eric to see liz and pomegranates again. great show. as good as she is alone, liz rocks with a full band. not something every singer-songwriter can say. belatedly, i decided to see if she had any copies of her ep left - she said she'd have to check (hey, if you're reading, did you find any? or am i going to have to "borrow" someone else's copy ;) ). pomegranates put on a great show, again. angela found the perfect word for them - exuberant. perfect. we didn't talk to any of them this week. guess we'll have to wait until the next show.
• so great to have a sunday where i grading wasn't hanging over my head and i could just sit back and enjoy the day.

ok. thoughts on my first night of rehearsal will have to wait. lots going on. more later.
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Tunes: the jesus and mary chain - blues from a gun