Dec. 18th, 2006

hermionesviolin: (light in the darkness)
(I've gotta do some more tagging on faith/religion entries for thematicness -- e.g., "creed," "faith journey;" I've been considering some denominational tags as well, especially for the assorted churchgoing posts.)

[livejournal.com profile] glacierscout (whom, along with a number of other people, I will be LJ-friending once I have some free time again) said to me in a recent comment:
To me, lack of belief in the way that you express is not a real barrier to true faith. Belief isn't a matter of knowledge or creedal accuracy, it's simply a matter of going forth in your life. I don't need to know how or why a bridge will keep me from falling into a river. (well actually. I did need to know; as I went to college as an engineer). Real faith is walking forward in your relationship with God in spite of the lack of knowledge or certainty. You have that kind of real faith in spades, as these pages clearly show.

What has also comforted me is the belief that my relationship with God does not really depend on the strength of my belief in Him (Him/Her?). It really depends on the fact that God believes in me, and has been seeking me out. I don't see how God will ever turn away anyone sincerely seeking Him, and I expect that there are a lot of people out there who don't even realize that they're on a path that will eventually reach Him. If there was any heresy that I'd willingly subscribe to, it would be that of universal salvation - that it is God's will that everyone be in relationship with Him, and that god will do whatever he can to reach that goal.

I still love the intellectual discussions and the learning, but now they are a way to flesh out the relationship hat already exists, and not a way to establish that relationship to begin with.

Edit: And [livejournal.com profile] mari4212 posted a write-up of her experience at an Episcopalian service this Sunday for me. Aww! /edit

Also, [livejournal.com profile] likeadeuce is talking [flocked; link for my own reference] about stuff that makes people think of her, and she said the word "ecumenical" makes her think of me. Awesome!

Expandand another memething )
hermionesviolin: (big girl world)
I told myself not to have any expectations of sanity for today, and I did try, but yeah.  Physically I had more energy than last week, but psychologically yeah, a couple hours in to the day (affected by uncertainty as to whether Prof.B. was going to come in at all, despite our conversation at the end of the day on Friday about how he's behind -- as a result of getting sick -- and I how I have a list of things to go over with him on Monday) I was tired.  I did get to meet with Prof.B. briefly at the end of the day, and we got a bunch of stuff taken care of.

My amusement of the day was in the morning when a package came for Prof.D. from sherry-lehmann.com with a big label on it: "Special Instructions:  This Shipment Contains Alcohol: Attention Courier: Adult Signature Required Delivery to persons under 21 years of age is prohibited. Record name, address, date of birth, and I.D. number from valid I.D. on delivery record.  Do not deliver to an intoxicated person."

I got a card from [livejournal.com profile] lunabee34 at work.  (I neglected to mention last week I got cards from Ginny and my mom.)  This made me really happy on a lot of levels.

Prof.N. gave Katie a gift certificate to a spa in the Square.  I suspect I will get no gifts from faculty this year.  Last year I was so pleasantly surprised that I got gifts and this year I'm all entitled-feeling.  Ah well.

Mail call when I got home, though?  I R FTW.  Michaela sent me cookies! (and made a donation to Toys for Tots in my name), and Ari sent me a card which is for the win in so many ways.

And I learned about "Candygram!"

And in other amusement: more on TIME's Person of the Year from Orin Kerr.

Tonight I made myself real dinner for the first time in ages.  (Nothing inherently exciting, but food that isn't bagel or cereal or yogurt.)

Okay, now to study for my "Ithaca" quiz.

Edit: Upon returning to the chapter, it strikes me that none of the catechism questions are, "What in the bloody hell did you just say?" (or, in the world of the book, I suppose, "O, rocks! Tell us in plain words.") and yet they so totally should be.

I mean, come on:
What reflection concerning the irregular sequence of dates 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1892, 1893, 1904 did Bloom make before their arrival at their destination?

He reflected that the progressive extension of the field of individual development and experience was regressively accompanied by a restriction of the converse domain of interindividual relations.

(p. 545, Gabler Edition)

Edit2: Joyce does amuse me sometimes, though.
What events might nullify these calculations?

The cessation of existence of both or either, the inauguration of a new era or calendar, the annihilation of the world and the consequent extermination of the human species, inevitable but impredictable.

(p. 556, ibid)

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hermionesviolin: an image of Alyson Hannigan (who plays Willow Rosenberg) with animated text "you think you know / what you are / what's to come / you haven't even / BEGUN" (Default)
Elizabeth (the delinquent, ecumenical)

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