View from the Hill

Covenant??

2010-05-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

HMMMMMM……I have been attending a Covenant church for years…..

I just started attending a Covenant church a year or so ago…….

I saw a sign for a new church starting in our community….a Covenant church……..

But what does it mean to be Covenant?

Must have something to do with the Old Testament.

I don’t want to have to promise anything to you people….I hardly know you.

It is like…..Lutheran? Baptist? Methodist?

These are statements I have heard many times and I am always thrilled to be able to tell someone what it means to be part of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For one thing, we are part of a big picture across North America. We believe in the Bible as the Word of God, the new birth, the whole mission of the church, the fellowship of believers, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and freedom in Christ. That is what we affirm but what does that look like in action?

In April, the Northwest Conference Women Ministries team organized the first ever all conference retreat celebration. The annual meeting the year before had attracted only 60 women and this overnight event in Alexandria MN gathered 280 women!! Five of those women were from my church 2 hours away. We are a church that is 100 years old but has gone through some huge changes in style, vision and congregation in the past 5 years. The Women Ministries is in the process of slowly rebuilding…….almost like a church plant. Most of our attenders know very little if anything about the Covenant church.

The four women that came with me were all at different stages of understanding what it means to be “covenant”. One was a life long member, one has been attending for about 10 years, one for about 5 years and another for 3 WEEKS!! What a great time we had on the 2 hour drive, getting to know one another; then to arrive at the church and be so warmly welcomed by old friends and new. We heard great speakers, helpful workshops, sweet worship and then a wonderful overview of what the women of the Covenant are doing. My friends were amazed……impressed……challenged to get involved…..excited to be part of such a denomination…..surprised at how much women were doing in the world and glad to be part of it in their own way.

What did I learn from that experience? That women want to be part of something meaningful, global, local, loving, organized and yet contextual. They love connecting with one another and then thinking of ways to bring along their friends.

Whether you are part of an established church, one that is a few years old or one that is just starting up it is good to know what you are part of and what they have to offer. Go to the covchurch.org website and snoop around. Share it with your friends.

Crossed the starting line!!!

2010-04-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, thanks EVERYONE for those good wishes as I crossed the starting line to my 7th (NOT 6th, thanks for that correction!) decade!

My goal of working out everyday kinda of petered out while traveling. Missed four days in a row, HOWEVER! Going to Becca's weight training class Monday made up for it. 60 minutes of non-stop exercises, going from lifting weights to aerobics in 10 minute segments was wild and zany. So why did a total newby not just stop and watch? Because I'm a ONE in the Enneagram analysis!! We follow the rules! :) OK, so there was just a little desire to show that someone my age could keep up.

Health note in case you missed it: my utrasound test revealed nothing amiss; Brad's results came back yesterday - no issues either. Best birthday present!

So I'm off on the first lap of being 60!

5 more days

2010-04-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Too late to write much! Have to prepare for tomorrow's events.

Drove up to Seattle today with a friend who is officially retired. Here's her words of wisdom:

Retirement is your second chance to say, "Who do I want to be when I grow up?" :)

More later.

6 more days

2010-04-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Writing from Rachel's home in Vancouver, WA. So wonderful to be with family again - can't get enough hugs from the grandkids!

This is a wonderful week mixing work with family: will be speaking at NPC Women Ministries event and attending conference annual meeting; checking out a hotel for next triennial; seeing my family and BCC friends in Bellingham; fundraiser there; then back to Seattle to see Rebecca and family one night; another night with Mom Hill before heading back to Chicago next Tuesday - my last day in my 50s!

Update on Brad: Brad's doctor wants him to see another specialist; Brad's not too worried right now. Grateful!

7 more days

2010-04-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

My doctor called just as I was leaving class downtown today with my test results: everything is fine! PTL!

Looks like I will cross the starting line into my next decade in good health!

When I shared it with Brad when I got home, he seemed a bit distracted. Ironically his doctor had also called this afternoon.

He needs to go in tomorrow because the tests from his physical show something is wrong.

8 more days

2010-04-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Someone I love sent me some great encouragement for turning 60 and made a typo. She's feel so embarrassed but she gave me a huge gift.

The typo was "souring" instead of "soaring". That's it! She helped me articulate two very different mindsets. I don't want to be "sour"! I want to soar!

I've met a few who have become sour. You, too?

And I know a LOT of folk who are still soaring, maybe closing to the ground, but still allowing the wind of the Spirit to carry them on. They are my role models!

One little letter - but what a difference.

PS Had the ultrasound today and am hopeful for a good outcome. Will know in 24 to 48 hours.

9 more days

2010-04-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

An older friend told me, "I'm wrinkled, saggy, and lumpy - and that's just my left leg."

Oh, those physical changes! All the reasons I gave for working out every day from 3/31 to my Big Day are true, but another is a kind of saying "Oh yah?" to my own body!

My doctor thinks I have some arthritis in my back. The A word! Oh, great. Not supposed to jog. I'm compromising with a slow jog on a treadmill.

I know of a woman who swims twice a week - at the age of 103! I want to age like that!!

Then again, just how much choice in this do we really have in these changes?!

10 more days

2010-04-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

"Are you going to retire next year?"

I hate that question! :)

One, I must look five or six years older than I am and ten years older than I feel! :) I'm too young to retire!!

Two, I don't know yet if I am to continue in my current work or if the Lord has something new. He was so clear before moving to Chicago in 1999 that he would tell me all I was assigned to do (Acts 22:10). He'll let me know; he always has.

Anyone have a clever answer to that annoying question??

11 more days...

2010-04-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

...though just barely,. It's almost tomorrow. Long day! Best part: Taste Testing of menus for Triennial XIII. The best yet!

Expectations. I'm thinking expectations are a huge factor in how you view life. Don't you think our culture - speaking in REALLY broad strokes here! - encourages us to applaud 40-whatever years of work and to think we are now done? Go and enjoy yourself! And if that is for another 20 years - all the better.

Do other cultures create the same expectations???

I can think of a few that don't. :)

What excites me are the people I know who are in their 60s even 70s who are finding these the most rewarding years of all! Some are getting paid for having so much fun; others are not. But the important thing seems to be the thrill of finding new passions, learning new things and following those leadings.

I can think of a number of women who are 55+ and pursuing masters degrees. That means they are preparing for those passions and learning new things to be effective in them. Different expectations! I'd love to connect us all. :) If you are one - let me know! If you know of one, the same!

12 more days

2010-04-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

My phone is set to have American Airlines phone me 3 hours before my flight to tell me it is on time or not.

My flight to DC this morning was at 6:20. So the phone rang at...

Arrived with three hours to spare before meeting started. Michele was tied up, so I actually worked out!

Set a goal on March 30, the day we got back from our two-week trip to India, to do my stretches and 30 minutes on the tread mill every day until my Big Day. Only missed one day - another 6 AM flight! - so far.

Why?? 1st - to get the weight off from two weeks with no exercise and eating three Indian meals a day; 2nd - to get toned up again; 3rd - to set a habit I just might continue though maybe not so rigidly.

Lost 4 pounds so far. 2 more in 12 days??

13 more days

2010-04-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

13 more days!

I met a delightful woman sometime ago who kept mentioning how old she was. Again and again she made reference to being old. I was beginning to feel sorry for her. She was not working, talked of down-sizing, waiting for her husband to retire. Very attractive, no signs of health issues, no comments about any -and she was one who would have commented!. If she was old, she was really well-reserved!

I finally just asked.

Her answer?

62.

Just 3 years older than me!

While she talked as if she had crossed the Finish Line - accomplished all she intended to and was retiring - I feel as if I am approaching a new Starting Line - wondering what the next decade has in store for me.

Maybe health is a factor (though it didn't seem to be for this person). If I was dealing with a serious health concern, that would probably take my focus and rather than thinking about a Starting Line, I could be asking, Where's the Emergency Tent??

So in the midst of thinking about how differently I feel about being 60 than the woman I met and wondering if health is a factor, I get a phone call from my doctor this afternoon. Last week's mammogram left some questions - schedule an ultrasound.

It's scheduled for next Tuesday; then wait for the results...

Will it change how I feel about turning 60?!

What was I thinking...

2009-10-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

I did it again - forgot how to access my own blog!! :) So why the long gap since my last post?

Was trying to decide whether to stay in the first course - or bail.

When I met with the department head and discussed with her my concern about needing to miss several Wednesday classes. I failed to look at the weekends I would also be missing. This year has been heavier than usual with four retreats, two weekend meetings and a video shoot. Where was the time to study? Do the necessary research? Write the papers? Do the interview of a justice worker?

What was I thinking?!

I did need - and was granted - an extension for the midterm.. Once again, I felt bummed about the quality of my work but had to let it go.

And right after turning it in, the tuition was due.

Pay it - and slug it out?

Or bail - and give it up until my schedule changes? Maybe until my LIFE changes?!

I finally paid it (choke).

Last night I got my four grades for the four midterm papers. Knowing I now have that "gold" in the bank to offset a future "deficit", I am determined to do the best I can with all the remaining requirements.

I have talked with other 50+ women who are workign full time and working on a masters. What were we thinking?

That we wanted to fuel our passions and prepare for the next decade of ministry! Not even knowing what form it will take but just being obedient to God's leading.

And we all are saying the same thing: lower your standards and learn as much as you can!

I can think of three such women, all in the Covenant - Karen, Toni, and Linea. Know of any others??

2009-10-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Whew! I finally got back into my own blog! :)

I have had to replace my computer and lost the automatic log-in! Took me awhile to figure it out.

Cl;ass update: I did ask for an extension on the midterm due date. I was able to finish three of the four essays and submitted them on time. Was in Denver over the weekend; hoping to finish the last question tonight.

New challenge: class presentations by teams of four students start this week. My group's date is Oct. 28. I can attend class this week, the 14th, but am in Dallas the 21st. That means my team needs to determine what it will do and who will do what when we meet after class tomorrow. They are very understanding, but...

So is all this added stress worth it?!

Uh, I think so. :)

Mid-term - already?

2009-10-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

Back from a 13-day trip speaking at retreats, Covenant retirement communities and churches in California. Attempted to participate in two Wednesday classes via an Internet access called Wimba, but both 2-1/2 hour classes were a technological nightmare. If only I had time to give you details! :)

Now, in less than 48 hours I need to turn in a midterm paper.

Already?!

The test involves selecting four of five questions on their corresponding class discussions and demonstrating an understanding of the topic and integrating it into analysis of readings.

With a very tenuous grasp of the material, only able to give it my attention the day before each class, I am incredibly intimidated.

So I am taking a "comp day" tomorrow to focus solely on reviewing all the readings to date, all the class lectures and PowerPoints, and see how many questions I can complete.

If unable to do all four in such limited time, I will need to ask for an extension - which the professor has repeatedly said she will graciously grant when needed.

If unable to complete the midterm, what then? I leave Friday, back Sunday; out the following weekend; gone 20-22 to Dallas; 23-25 to Canmore; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 to San Francisco...

How to people working full time also work on master's degrees?? Just ONE class, yet...

I'm IN

2009-09-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

I'm IN - into the Masters program, more significantly, into the SYSTEM. Thanks to the kind perseverance of the departmental office manager, I gained access yesterday to Blackboard.

Blackboard is a university's system of communication with its students. This guarded domain is only for the initiated and holds the keys to success. All the assignments are on Blackboard; all the changes in assignments are on Blackboard; all the explanations of how to fulfill each assignment are on Blackboard.

FINALLY I could enter this holy of holies...

...which resulted in shock at how far behind I was! (Is there some spirtual symblism here??)

I need to find someone in Chicago working in social justice for an interview. Would be great if I could do that this afternoon before class at 4. Gulp.

I have class tonight; for the next two weeks I am speaking in California; two days after returning, my mid-term paper is due - which is based on class lectures. Gulp. I'll attend two of them via Skype. Here's hoping there's grace if I can't get the paper done on time!

Feel like a just drank four cans of Red Bull! Engines are revved!! Yikes!

Has It Come Yet?

2009-09-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

That was my daily question at the office as I waited for my book order to arrive. It still had not by Wednesday when I was driving from a retreat in southern Wisconsin to downtown Chicago for my second class. No book. How could I read two chapters before class??

First stop: Student Services. Me: "Can you tell me where the library is?" Don't laugh - Loyola's "campus" is amongst several high rises right downtown. Them: "Are you a student here?" Me: "Uh, sort of." Them: "Hmm, you're not in the system." Me: "Can you tell me how I can get a book before tonight's class?" Them: "You are a student?!" Me: "Yes." Them: "Well, THEN you can have an ID card!"

So they sent me to another office where I sat down, had my mug shot taken and walked out with an ID card -- without being officially registered as a student.

The library was in the same building on the 6th floor. The ID card is needed to get through the security turn styles. Which would not open with my card. There are only so many ways to position the card!! A beautiful young woman even tried. Her solution: yell across to the people behind the counter...

...who let me in and said it would take 24 hours to activate the card.

But no book.

Back downstairs to get directions to their bookstore. Found the store, found the basement room stuffed with textbooks. Me: (saga of book not arriving, blah, blah, blah) "Could I purchase one and return it when my order comes?" Them: "That ended last Friday, so sorry." Me: "Can I sit somewhere and v-e-r-y carefully read the first chapters of this one?" Them: "Sure! Just find a pile of books to sit on and make yourself comfortable!"

Whew! So I went to the back corner, sat down on a 3' pile of books at the end of a rack and dug in.

New employee: "Uh, can I help you???" I told him the saga - and then, "Think I'll tell my bloggers this saga. Could you take my picture?" But I was unsuccessful in posting it. :(

Finished the required reading at 4:05 and got to my 4:15 class in another high rise right on time.

Got back to my car at 7:15 PM. But because I entered BEFORE 3 PM, I got zinged for the full amount - not the validated amount of $6, but $27. This textbook is getting really expensive.

Give up and just buy one?? End up with two?? Sit on the same pile of books next week - after 3 PM??

The Non-Student Student

2009-08-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, last night was my first of 14 classes in Foundations in Social Justice at Loyola University. But I'm not really a student - yet.

The Greek class confirmed a desire for a masters in biblical justice. Loyola University has a Masters of Social Justice Program that looks great.

However, I am still hoping to work through North Park Theological Seminary. Interestingly, I learned they were moving toward a Biblical Justice major before budget cuts, so they are particularly interested in helping me. The course(s) at Loyola would then be transferred in as electives. I should know by end of next week.

Fuller also wants to work with me and their structure is similar to NPTS. Will I be living on the west coast again someday? That, too, is a factor.

So I applied as a non-degree student, which still required having my transcripts sent to Loyola.

As I was heading downtown - the campus is RIGHT behind Chicago's Water Tower! - my phone rang. My transcripts had not yet come; they could not accept me as a student. Would I please meet with so-and-so to arrange to be a SPECIAL student until the transcripts arrive?

So I went from a graduate student to a non-degree student to a special student. If I were more Congolese, I'd be really insulted. :)

There were about 30 students, far more than I anticipated, and again I may be the oldest there.

Loved everything I heard!

But what a difference: left last night - and haven't touched the books since. Bit different than the whirlwind of Greek!

PS I got my final grade and I did pass Greek just fine. :)

The Finish Line

2009-08-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Finally! I have crossed the finished line! I took the three-hour final for which we were given a passage and expected to break down each word, translate into English and explain grammatically what was happening. Once again I am beating myself up, but I won't go there. Instead, I want to reflect briefly on the the real results.

1. I look at Scripture so much differently! Remember, the course is called BEGINNING Greek; there is no assumption of expertise in understanding it on a deeper level, but still there is a budding ability to see a tad bit deeper into a passage. It will certainly help me to use more technical Bible commentaries.

2. At the same time, I am more aware of how much the translator's opinion influences the final translation! FAR more than I knew! In fact, I would highly recommend reading The Blue Parakeet by Scott McKnight for appreciating your own reading of Scripture.

3. I am more appreciative of understanding the original context of a passage AND cautiously using imagination to appreciate the impact of a teaching on the original audience. Logical exegesis trumps critical imagination; yet the latter plays a role in unpacking a text.

4. There is the exquisite joy of accomplishing a challenge! :) Even after being away from academic rigors for so many years, it was doable.

5. I lost weight! At the most, 8 pounds. No, I am NOT recommending this as a weight-loss regimen.

6. There are nine people I had never met before who are now "family".

The whole journey was one of sweet fellowship with my Lord. I think I mentioned at one point that I imagined his hand on my shoulder at those moments when I was faltering. Communing with him throughout this saga has been one of its great blessings. Reading his very own words in Greek (No I am NOT learning any other Biblical languages!!) and imagining being in the audience THEN has brought new life to "hearing" them NOW. That is the greatest take away of all!

Thank you so much for walking with me on this journey. I deeply appreciated those of you who took so much time to reflect with me and to encourage me. Though I could not take time to respond directly, please know that you were ministering to me!

Blessings on you.

PS For those wanting to know my final grade, I just may post it when I get it. Then again... :)

Quote of the Day

2009-08-14T04:23:00.001-07:00

By our prof:

"You can't depend on everything you have learned."

Hmm.

That merited another round of raucous laughter.

Short class period today, followed by a brunch, which we will have here.

Then, despite the words of wisdom, I will try to refresh my memory on everything I have learned.

Compassion - for whom?

2009-08-13T05:21:00.000-07:00

The phone rang at 8:30 PM. I'm in the office - doing what? Studying Greek, what else. One last quiz!! So close to the end of these long nights, cramming, cramming, cramming. No life but Greek!

It was Brad, who was at a reception (that I didn't go to) for returning missionaries. There was one who with her daughter needed housing THIS weekend - Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning.

"But this is my LAST weekend of Greek! I will be cramming for the three hour test and then taking it THIS weekend!"

"I explained that and they understand. I will take care of them. You don't have to say yes."

But how do you say no? These are former colleagues, friends. All the other options in the neighborhood must be full.

"I guess so."

Hung up - and was furious! Not sure at whom! This CAN'T be happening! Could there be a worse weekend? How could I ignore them if they are in my home? And I wouldn't WANT to ignore them! But how could I, at the very last stretch of the race, step out of "Greek time", enter "real time" and not panic? And I was struggling last night, trying to remember stuff I've already forgotten and must know for the test, fearful.

Brad came home, heard my huge frustration, and asked the obvious: why didn't you just tell me no?

Because of the above.

He made a phone call and somehow everything was rearranged.

But was this the compassionate thing to do? Compassion for whom?? They have another place to stay, but...

Still feel awful.

Mercy, No Mercy

2009-08-12T05:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the midst of the intensity of the last week, we had a great laugh - again at my expense.

We were correcting (yet another) quiz and challenged our prof to accept an answer that was less than he wanted. Since no one had given the full expected answer, I said, "Ah, come on, won't you just give it to us?" And he did.

Just a few minutes later, we came to another question whose answer was "a lengthened vowel". So why did I blurt out, "Well, not just ANY vowel; it has to be the CONNECTING vowel." Which I had written, of course.

For some reason - extreme fatigue? Weariness? End goal in sight? - that set the class off.

"You want mercy - but you won't show no mercy!" "Blessed are the merciful (from our mornng devotions)!" Don't be "ruthless"!

The humor is no doubt escaping you, but imagine how refreshing to hear peals of laughter coming from our class!

And that day we certainly needed it as one more chair was vacated. We had lost another classmate.

Three more days...

God have mercy.

The Waiting is Over...

2009-08-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

...and I got 90%, a B! :)

He did NOT grade the grammatical observations, and KNEW he wasn't going to, but didn't want us to know so we take it seriously.

Seriously?!

AUGH!

Wasted so much energy that could have been put into the rest of the exam!

On to the next quiz...

The Waiting..

2009-08-10T05:37:00.001-07:00

...continues. How many times did I check to see if the grades were posted??! Nothing yet.

While the funk has lifted and the pain has dulled a bit, I still am anxious to know how bad it was. I am so grateful that Brad helped me take my eyes off one "bend" in the race and put my focus back on the "finish line".

It reminded me of a race we both entered in Seattle several years ago. Brad is the runner; I am the wannabe runner. But I was fairly confident I could do this race. I was doing so well the first few miles, enjoying the cheers of the crowd as I jogged by - until I came to the on ramp to the Seattle viaduct. Not the lower deck of this ancient dual-level highway but the TOP level. The on ramp went from ground level to the second deck. And it was killing me. I HATE hills.

Reality check. "You are NOT doing as well as you thought you could. You are a failure. You thought more highly of yourself that you should have. You can't possibly finish." Who's voice was that anyway? Then came the suffocating tunnel. It: "Just quit!" Me: "Shut up!"

And you know what made all the difference? Knowing Brad was at the finish line already, straining to see me come into sight, ready to welcome me with gusto! And so taking my eyes off the failure and back onto the goal, I did slog my way to the finish line. And celebrate we did!

Hmm. Good analogy of Hebrews 12:1-3! Praise God he is waiting at the finish line!!

Back to Greek, determined to stay focused on the finish line.

It's a Date!

2009-08-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

Needed to get out of the funk! Absolutely no desire to open the books.

How about Saturday breakfast out with Brad? That's our treat on weekends we are both in Chicago.

Didn't do it.

How about a nap?

Didn't do it. Couldn't relax.

How about a blast of endorphins? Went on my 5-mile speed walk.

Didn't do it. Plus I picked the worst time: mid-afternoon with temps in the 90s.

Then Brad, such a great analyst, realized that the "last lap" had a finish line but no "celebration". The immersion back into "real time" was way too fast: chairing a meeting as vice-chair the day I got back and for which I'd have to prepare right after the final; followed by two leaders flying in and staying with us Wednesday-Sunday to do a rewrite of training materials; plus dear out-of-state friends in town and also staying with us Thursday-Sunday ; followed by a regional training session that Saturday. The following weekend was already booked. Where was the time to savor the finish line? Where was the celebration?

So he suggested we do our "Hot-Wire thing" and escape to downtown Chicago over Labor Day. We do this three of four times a year and find it so relaxing/energizing. LOVE the city! The hotel we got is one of our favorites and we're staying three instead of our usual two nights.

Oh man, can't wait!

And NOW...

...back to the books!

Funk

2009-08-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

That's a pretty accurate word to describe how I feel post-exam #5.

I know I did not perform as well as I anticipated.

Doing well on the first two sections, worth 35%, will hopefully offset what I will earn on the rest. Will I pass? Probably. (And you're already thinking, "She worries every time - and DOES pass."

The funk mood is not related to a grade. It comes from a disappointment in myself. I studied so hard - but I could not produce what the professor wanted. And I should have. It's embarrassing - and therefore, very humbling - to know that I could not demonstrate proficiency in what he had taught.

And there were some private tears, not exactly crying, but tears nonetheless when I described it to Brad.

We were given a Bible reference and had to tear each word down grammatically, determine the best English translation (work we are very familiar with) and then give as many grammatical explanations of each word or phrase or clause (something new). We were given an example of this the day before. More practise in the new form of the exam would have helped - and that relates to HOW he prepared us - but still there is this acute awareness that there was so much more I SHOULD have been able to do. Thus the disappointment. Thus the funk.

We were going to celebrate the conclusion of another exam with dinner out, but it just didn't feel celebratory. So we ate "comfort food" at home instead and watched a movie together.

Still in the analogy of the race, I ran that third lap with high expectations - but my "time" was far under what I anticipated, regardless of how that compares to the other runners.

So with head down - not in sorrow (well, maybe a little) but in determination - I face the last and final lap. I WILL finish! And I hope my performance on the final in no way overrides the euphoria of crossing the finish line!

Elvis and Greek?

2009-08-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Last night was a first: I completed the quiz by 7 PM! That's at LEAST two hours earlier than usual.

I ran downstairs shouting my joy to Brad...

...who thought such progress was worthy of an ice cream break.

So off we went - YES, I LEFT THE HOUSE, ENTERING INTO "REAL TIME"! - to our favorite "United Nations" ice cream stand, mingling with people from all over the world.

And there on the window was a whole new menu. My eye caught a sundae with peanut butter sauce - and gobs of other decadent delights. I must have this!!

And the name of this concoction?

The Elvis! :)

After licking the bowl, I returned to "Greek time" and prepared for today. REVIEW all day today for one more major exam tomorrow.

At last...

2009-08-05T05:50:00.001-07:00

...the Mid-term scores are posted!

...and I PASSED! :)

...with a SOLID B!

WHOOHOO!

That was WAY too much time to worry about it and to think the worst.

Next hurdle: Friday's exam.

Like that runner, putting one foot in front of the other...

What It's All About

2009-08-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

Day 22!! Just saying that is encouraging.

Took another quiz last night; felt OK. We correct the quizzes in class right after the devotional.

The devotionals remind me daily why I am there. We're going through Matthew 5-7, and the discussions have gotten longer and longer. What once took 45 minutes is now taking 90 minutes. The discussion on divorce still bothers me and I must follow up on it. I can read the Greek words and need to harmonize my beliefs with the exegesis of the text. Do I accept our prof's exegesis? Not ready to. But no one has the freedom to just pick what one wants the text to say to conform to personal beliefs. The authority is in the text and we are compelled to understand it - and then live it.

And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Still no mid-term resutls.

Last Lap

2009-08-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Two weeks to go!

The end is in sight. Hope has been restored.

With so much time off, here's hoping I can get back into that grueling schedule of learning something new, studying it, taking a quiz on it and then starting the next new thing - all in 24 hours, minus any time I need for sleep.

Feeling renewed, ready to grind it out.

Thanks for those prayers!

Are We Having Fun...Still?

2009-07-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Doesn't feel fun right now.

Feels more like being pregnant 8-1/2 months and just wanting to be DONE with this!

Know the next two weeks will be grueling. Bracing myself.

Enjoyed my day "off" so much. Could actually choose what I wanted to do! :)

Need to jump back in before I drift too far down this train of thought!

Here's hoping the joy returns.

That Score...

2009-07-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

...was 92%.

Almost embarrassing.

Paid off to struggle through the tough section, figuring out as much as I could.

Guess I knew than I realized. :)

TOMORROW IS THE MID-TERM EXAM!!!

Gulp.

I'm tired of preparing for it.

Rest in...

2009-07-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

...guilt?!

My sister and brother-in-law arrived in Chicago last week Wednesday night in order to connect with some friends and see us at the same time. Imagine my stress balancing seeing them and keeping up with the Greek.

I chose to devote Saturday to them. Feel guilty even saying that. Yet there was no way I could completely step out of the rhythm for more than that. We are now preparing for our monster mid-term exam and it would take one of four days we have to prepare. Was I anxious? Yes. But I also knew this was essential. Thus the guilt - working both ways. Guilt in not seeing them non-stop; guilt in not studying to pass the test.

So picture me at a Cubs game on Saturday (they won, by the way)! :) I had my vocab cards in my little purse, kind of as a back up epidermic if I had a heart attack. We then took them to our home, had hor d'oeuvres (sp?) and then went out to dinner. Got home at 11:30. TWELVE hours disconnected from GREEK!

It was wonderful.

My heart beat returned to normal. Food tasted fabulous.

I rejoined my study buddies Sunday afternoon and hit the material hard. Here's trusting God that in the bigger scheme of things it makes little difference.

And it really was great to rest...

...in peace.

Thou shalt not...

2009-07-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

...swear?!

But that's what I wanted to do. A word popped uninvited to my mind last night, a word that so accurately described my reaction to that's day's quiz.

What word?

Hold on! You need to know two things first.

One: I worked my butt off understanding that chapter's verb tense, the LAST one before the big MID-TERM exam next week. I spent literally TEN HOURS studying. I took time to memorize all the irregular verbs' form in this tense. Go ahead, quiz me! I reviewed all vocab words. ALL of them. AND I could still hear the words of the prof at the end of the class: "The quiz is ON LY on chapter 25."

So imagine my horror finding 22 POINTS of this quiz reviewing ALL verb tenses!! There's just no time in a day to absorb the new topic AND review the old. You do the review BEFORE a major test. 22 points is 30% of this quiz! (75% is needed to pass)! AND I could hear the prof's last words before leaving class: "The quiz is JUST on chapter 25."

Two: the word that immediately came to mind is one I never, EVER use. I tried expunging it from Rachel's and Becca's vocab when it first became popular during their high school years. Unsuccessfully.

BUT IT FIT SO PERFECTLY!

I can't quite get it past my lips even now.

Maybe if I type it...

...just to get my frustration out...

...in very small font...

crap!

From the Depths...

2009-07-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

...of despair.

Yep, I hit the "D" word yesterday. Felt it rising up in me during class with the lump in my throat and the need to force other neutral, pleasant thoughts into my head to control its release. I did not stay and study after classs as usual - just went straight home...

...and had a pity party.

But what was I crying about anyway? Back to the fear equation: if I can't grasp the current material, I will not be able to grasp the next material, which leads to getting behind and never catching up.

I studied hard last night - but did not study well. Too much time on important stuff but not what was essential for today. Took the quiz later than ever, at 10:45. And yes, it was hard. Too hard, which told me I have a weak grasp of it. The verb tenses are getting jumbled, the vocab is slipping. Then I had to study the new material for today and do workbook exercises... Short night.

Woke this morning and sat where I meet the Lord each morning during this saga (my "closet" is in the office which is where I study; can't meet there!). And here's the marvelous thing: I felt his grace in a powerful way. This is not Pollyanna stuff; no mental gymnastics. But pure grace. My spirits lifted - just being in his presence. Have I mentioned imaging his hand on my shoulder? That was so strong this morning! And as I sat there just worshipping him, he brought to mind some things he has "taken care of" in the last two days while I have been out of the office.

From the dephts. They have taken me to the heights.

Can you see me now?

2009-07-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Part of each exam is oral recitation. My first experience was pretty bad - I had trouble seeing the font, though I have 20-20 vision. Why? When I had lasik eye surgery I chose the distance to a computer monitor as my primary near vision rather than a book held in the hand. Therefore, reading a book in hand easily depends on the type of font.

The prof and I had an interesting discussion about lasik eye surgery and then got back to the exam.

So yesterday we were talking about our vocab cards and a crucial piece of info telling how to form a verb in different tenses that is at the bottom of each IN TINY FONT. Can I read them? Yes. But...

The prof, remembering our lasik surgery conversation, said directly to me, "Ruth, you may want to make yourself some 5X7 cards for each verb so you can read them easily."

FIVE by SEVEN??!! Where's my seeing eye dog?

Felt really old - which I am! I could be the mother of all in the class, and maybe the grandma of one. But this was the first time my age was indirectly referenced.

Can you see me now?! Just barely, Prof! Could you speak a little louder, too? Ah the joys of aging! Could aging be more about other's perception of you than your own?

Update on grades: the 83% on the previous exam was upgraded to 87%, a solid B - he accepted my challenges. Whoohoo! Yesterday's exam came back with an 88%. Hanging in there!

2nd lap

2009-07-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

I was trying to describe how I felt heading into week two to an avid runner - namely Brad.

"You've hit the second lap of your one mile race. You're starting to feel oxygen debt and are slowing down."

Hmm. Definitely a change in momentum. Not as driven, more resentful of the hours this is taking. Simple pleasures I took for granted - following a weekly TV show, weeding the flower beds (well, I don't do that much either here) - now seem too costly as in time away from studying!

And I am tired. Oh so tired.

"Then you hit mile three," he went on, "and you are giving it all you have and killing yourself! You just want to be DONE!!!!"

This is what I can look forward to?!

"And then by the last lap you can see the end in sight and you draw our everything you have and sprint for the finish!"

I should have talked to a quilter.

As I promised...

2009-07-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

...I will share the good, the bad and the ugly.

Here's the "bad" and the "ugly" (Wow, I now know those are substantival adjectives! :))

Could NOT stay awake last night to study; went to bed at NINE. Unheard of. First time before 11 in two weeks!! Promised myself that I would work really hard all day Saturday and then take the next quiz. Fearful - because I left class yesterday in a total fog over the new verb tenses. DENSE fog. Figured I would "take it apart" slowly and go over and over it until the fog lifted.

So here I was at 6 AM, raring to go.

HOWEVER, I couldn't...

...because I couldn't seem to remember ANYTHING! The simplest things had evaporated! My hard drive had been deleted. Things I had learned in the beginning (was the LOGOS and the LOGOS...oops). Everything felt jumbled. Panic set in. Fear of failure - not before others but fear of not reaching my goal. How could I do the remaining four weeks?!

Oh God, have mercy!! A real prayer, prayed from my heart. Over and over.

Then I opened the book to the beginning (I remember the Greek word for that!) and made myself do all the exercises - again. And I made myself do all the "Additional" translation work we never get to, there for the practise. And I desperately needed the practise.

And slowly, working through them, seeing a slightly quicker recognition after each hour, the panic has lifted. "I am loosed!" You should laugh there - that is the example verb we work from. :) With a better grasp on the whole two weeks, I am ready to dig into yesterday.

God is merciful. God is good.

After the bad and the ugly, comes the good. Praise God!

Hot Seat

2009-07-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Each day we work through Greek sentences taking them apart to translate them. More than guessing what it says by recognizing definitions of key words, it involves explaining WHY it is translated in that way.

So it was my turn. I was working hard on it - and spontaneously said to the class, "Come on, Guys, help me out here!" Our devos are on the Beatitudes so I called them BLESSED if they showed me some mercy!

And they did, in a great, light-hearted way. The prof was also prompting and encouraging me - and it was coming together.

But the prof was looking for one more significant explanation regarding one word. He kept reframing his question, hoping a light would go on. I finally said, "I don't think you can pull it out of me!"

Since the class was in on this and they, too, were not providing the correct answer, he finally gave it. Then he said, "I'm sorry to have kept you on the hot seat so long..."

Here's the cool thing: it never felt like a hot seat. I did not feel embarrassed as I slowly worked my way through it nor pressured by my peers (AM I their peer!). Instead it evolved into a really fun experience that pulled us all together. The laughter was so refreshing.

It can be cool to be on the hot seat! Hope I feel the same way the next time.

I'll take it!

2009-07-15T14:29:00.001-07:00

83%! I'll take it!!!!! :)

That was draining - mentally and physically. Hard to walk out knowing you could not answer a question you were expected to answer. Had I studied too little? No. Had I studied incorrectly? Maybe. There are things I would do differently if I could magically start over! I now know those things I thought I could just read as interesting were things to understand and memorize. I will never look at a footnote in the same way again! Add that to the brething marks.

Walking home was cathartic. Just reflecting on the first 8 days. In awe of all I had learned; very fearful that I could survive 22 more days of drinking from a fire hose. And how do I KEEP all I have "drunk"??

Took a nap - and two aspirin.

Then it was jump back in, study the two chapters introducing verbs that were introduced yesterday right after the test (there should be some law requring a 24-hour time lapse between a major test and having to learn something new!), study/memorize it last night, take a quiz on it, read the two chapters that will be discussed today, do workbook exercises for the new chapters and then finally...

...sleep. Blessed restorative sleep. Blessed is one of our new vocab words. My favorite! I'll take it!

Stick!

2009-07-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Studied for hours for EXAM #2 - and finidng that little is sticking. I think I have something memorized - then come back to it and it is gone. Yikes!

Am praying for a calm spirit.

More later.

Cheers and Tears

2009-07-14T03:52:00.000-07:00

Haven't had a window to write, so here's the update...

First - the test!

I got an A-!!!! WHOHOO! When I saw it, I sucked the air out of the room. (I should add that I found out Saturday when my study buddies said the grades were posted on line. DUH. BEFORE computers, we had to wait until the next class period to learn our grades! Felt like a dinosaur.)

Cheers indeed! I'm already doing the math: one more test, a midterm and a final. With one score an A-, there's a good chance I could actually pass Greek!!!!!!!

Now for the Tears. Like "The Ten Minute Celebration" we pressed on - to relative pronouns. I sat in my secret zone almost as an observer, appearing to be following the lecture - what the heck is he talking about???! The other pronouns were somewhat comprehensible but would require a TON of memorization AFTER thoroughly understanding their usage, but the relatives!

During the last 20 minutes it started coming into focus - and the next step was to prepare to be tested on it. Everyone filed out. Everyone but me, that is. I have started taking a lunch and simply staying in the classroom, utilizing its huge white boards and writing declensions over and over. My heart rate was already elevated.

Then my first study buddy told me she would be studying with another student, a very good decision since he was really on top of it and could actually explain things to her. Maybe it was the reminder of my own tenuous grasp on the class that hit my Achilles. The truth isn't always pain free. One student has already dropped out, which now puts me at the bottom or next to the bottom amongst the 8 whizzes. How come NONE of them are groaning and struggling??! If I got an A-, there were a LOT of A+!

The proverbial straw hit when my computer wouldn't boot up. Stress over the new material and the reality of needing to master EVERY new material AND all the vocab in order to continue, loss of my study buddy and stress over a stupid computer put me over the edge...

...and at the end of Day 6 I experienced my first tears.

And I also experienced my Kurios' (Lord's) marvelous grace, "grace so abundant and free"!

1. My computer was fixed and back within an hour. I had little hope when I went to Computer Services: no one would be there, there would be an endless line of others ahead of me, no one would have time to help me, and the fee would be ridiculous. Instead, one person was there, not another needy person in sight, she was eager to help - and it was free. :)

2. My other study buddy continues to want to meet with me. Her help yesterday was invaluable.

3. I took my quiz on the pronouns late last night - and I am pretty sure I passed. :)

Today we do nothing but prepare for the second major test.

Not exactly cheers - but then no tears either.

PS To the one asking if I had a Sabbath - yes! However, I had agreed PREGreek to do a dramatization of a passage in Acts 5 in costume for the services' scripture reading and the added memorization was some added stress, but it went well and I enjoyed doing it. Best part of the day was a great two hour nap! :)

The Ten Minutes Celebration

2009-07-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

We slid in according to our comfort level. The most fearful arrived early, glancing through their pile of notes, scanning 74 textbook pages, pacing and mouthing words while rifling through the vocabulary cards. The most confident arrived with their Starbucks cup and just sat down and waited.

At 8:30 sharp we were converged into one tense group ready to start our first full exam. My study buddy did not have a lexicon, which we were to bring for the translation section. Because I had offered to share mine, she asked the prof if that was OK. He didn't think so. Silence. She, like me, was one who would feel better having the lexicon - and the prof knew it.

Then another student suggested he go home - which was very near - and get an extra he had.

Silence.

"Yeh, do that." WOW! What grace. While rejoicing that she would have a lexicon to use (I wonder if she knew how to use it any better than I did), I wondered if the time spent to get it was going to come from our precious 75 minute total. So selfless...

Then the test was in front of me...

...and things looked familiar! In fact, I was feeling rather good about how it was going. I had learned something!! I checked and rechecked for breathing marks - if I missed one, it would be maddening!

We all finished before 10:15. What a relief to turn it in! The first major test! It was over! What an achievement! Let's celebrate!! How about taking the rest of the day off?!

It was 10:25 when we reconvened - and we spent the next TWO HOURS jumping into another "biggie" in learning Greek! No pause, no reflection, no swapping comments on how you did - just pushing right on! I tried to think of an appropriate analogy. Yeah! You finished the half mile swim AND the 100 mile bike race - here's your running shoes - start your marathon! Rather lame analogy...

Just ten minutes between all the effort put into preparing and taking your first exam and starting the next section of the race.

But the clock is ticking! Nine chapters down, 26 more to go! The next exam is Wednesday - on FIVE more chapters! Please, prof, start the lecture!!

I left at 12:30 PM, so incredibly exhausted and yet fearful of taking time to rest. More on that later. I dread Monday and learning my exam score. Did I do something really stupid again? Will I do the "yeh, but..." self-justification thing? No time to celebrate - and no reason to?

Rough Breathing...

2009-07-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

..., not to be confused with heavy breathing, though rough breathing created heavy breathing for me yesterday and dominated Day 4.

In Greek, words beginning with vowels or the "r" sound MUST have one of two breathing marks over them - and there is a host of rules re exceptions and placement. Failure to add the breathing mark is equivalent to misspelling the word.

Which I learned the hard way.

On yesterday's quiz I failed to put the CORRECT breathing mark on ONE word which I had to "decline", meaning it was written in four cases - singular and plural (that's 8); masculine, feminine, and neuter (times 3). 24 times I wrote ONE word - and misspelled it every time because the breathing mark was pointing the WRONG WAY. ONE WORD, but 24 errors, each a half point.

The prof really wanted to be lenient but held his ground. Which was right.

Which meant a loss of 12 points on a 76 point test. Or 15%. Are you enjoying the math?

I calculated my overall score and got 82% and felt rather good about that. A 59 year old lady was hanging in there!!

Until I looked at it again in the afternoon - and realized I had made a HUGE error in calculating my score. I only had 68%!!!

Here is the disgusting part: I do not see myself as a 68% student. This was a blow to my ego - and to my self-confidence. It took me THREE HOURS to get my head back on straight and go over the math above. IF I had paid attention to just that ONE DETAIL I would have the 82%. Different than saying there was 15% of the test I just did not understand.

SO! First thing up today is telling the prof to readjust my quiz score. Second thing up is to take our first test. Yep, today I will learn just what I have learned. Studied until midnight, got up at 5, can't do any more.

Here's hoping and praying I will not be doing any rough breathing at the end...

A New Normal...

2009-07-09T05:10:00.000-07:00

Prof: "Anyone feeling overwhelmed, like your nose is just above water?" (Like did the sun rise this morning?)

Groans and raised hands.

Prof: "That's normal - AND IT WON'T GET ANY BETTER!"

25 more days of feeling like I"m drowning. How encouraging. :)

HOWEVER! We graded our first quiz in class and when several students freaked out that they had missed a key piece of instruction regarding one section, the prof graciously allowed a modification - AND THAT WAS THE VERY SECTION I HAD FROZEN ON. With that modification, I came out far better than I deserved: 90 out of 93! There is a God in heaven...

It has given me a mental boost I needed. And staying up so late the night before to prepare for yesterday's lesson also helped tremendously: I could follow the lecture with far fewer frown lines!

After class it was back to the library, camping out in this fabulous room on the top floor that has very high ceilings with a huge wire dove hanging down, windows on three sides, a white board (did you know you can use a marker on windows and ti wipes off??). We pace, we write, we recite together, we lay out all the vocabulary cards, organizing in groups for retention, test each other, etc. My study buddy passed her test and is starting to have hope that she will make it through. Love encouraging her and making her laugh (ameritas = day: it's a ameri-cle we have a new day to study Greek!). We studied from 1 to 5:15 yesterday and it was good for both of us.

I didn't get to the quiz until 9 PM last night and it, too, took me way too long. Oddly, there was no temptation to peek this time. Did I conquer that demon?? Who are we kidding?

Got to bed early last night: 11:15 PM. If you know me at all, that is a joke!! I am a morning person, up at 5:30 AM and down by 10 PM. Once again I couldn't sleep, but this time I got up to take a sleep aid. And here's a sweet thing: woke up at 5:25 AM, just when the automatic coffee maker kicked in, and didn't miss any of my quiet time. Just might be a little gift from the One who wants me to keep my time with him during this ordeal, I mean privilege.

Yesterday, with so little sleep I came well prepared to class: No Doz and Tylenol. :) But I didn't use either. Feeling better as I head off for Day 4, with my nose still just above water - as normal...

Tempting, oh so tempting...

2009-07-08T03:48:00.000-07:00

Two down, 28 days to go. There were serious temptings yesterday...

First, there were tears - not mine, however, though seeing the other student's tempted me to lose it, too. How could one retain so many details in just two days?? Is the human brain capable of this? We were taking apart Greek sentences (that's parsing, right?) by noon yesterday. To do so, of course, meant that everything that passed through the hearing system of the body in the last 48 hours had somehow managed to stick and would flow back out in instant recognition when taking Day's Two's quiz.

Are you wondering if I passed the quiz for Day One? The one for which I knew just about every answer? It wasn't collected. Bummer. Who knows, that could have been the tipping point between passing and failing.

Second, there was tension with how to study, where and with whom? Three of us are hanging out in a cool meeting room in the library where we can speak (and rant and rave) while forcing our brains to wrap around new shapes, sounds, constructs, minute details to the nth degree. Memorize, memorize, memorize! But we are at different places of needs already. Do we find a common point of connection? Or given the demands of time, push forward with what you each needs, connecting occasionally? One was fighting serious doubts - thus the tears. Do I modify my goal to get her through? Tempting to forge ahead, but... Maybe the priest and Levite were in Intensive Greek and stopping to help the beaten man would mean flunking their class!

We all helped each other memorize - and then it seemed we naturally drifted to the area of importance for each. No study buddy last night. I knew I had to keep trying to stay in the rhythm of class, study day's material, take quiz on day's material, study for next day's materials, class...

Third, the quiz! Oh my gosh!! Wake up call! The first one took about 35 minutes; this one took ME (need to add that) about three hours! Why? What I thought I had memorized evaporated. It hadn't stuck; well, a lot of it. Basic, basic stuff that I had spewed out of my mouth as mastered escaped. Nerves? Hmm, I think it was more a good jolt to determine asap if I am a verbal or visual learner or both. I thought verbal. Today I will try a different approach.

So picture me alone, in our office at home, with the test in front of me - and that sinking feeling that I should know everything on this and yet it was hiding in some corner of my brain. Come out, come out, ___ words! And the answers were on a chart just immediately to my left. Who would know if I looked or didn't look? Oh, so tempting!! I wanted so badly to pass this first serious quiz! 51% would be just fine!

So did I?

No. Sigh. I'll eat the consequences.

Lastly, though it was 9:30 PM when I finished - there was a lot of staring into space, thinking, "I can't believe this! I JUST memorized this!" - and feeling wiped out from starting the day at 5:30 AM, I knew I absolutely had to study the next day's materials AND do the workbook exercises. Tempting to just call it a day, a very LONG day, and give into all the body's pull to bed.

But I started back in. The prof had warned us that Day Two and Day Three had the most heavy content and then it lightened up (yeh, right; INTENSIVE, remember?). So after learning all the noun case endings, a ton of vocabulary, which was which and why ("I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE FUNCTION!") I started in on prepositions and adjectives. Each is worth a WEEK of classes in regular Greek!

Managed to get through two chapters of workbook exercises (well, left the last two questions) and dropped in bed at midnight.

But then I couldn't sleep...AUGH!

LOTS of praying going on...

Pass the coffee.

2009-07-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

This is how Day 1 went:

Nine students; ONE other MIGHT be over 50. Wide away of academic goals and backgrounds.

Professor introduced himself, as well. After taking undergrad Greek for a whole year, he hoped to test out of taking it on the graduate level - but he flunked! This is encouraging - I think.

The professor then began with a devotional: "Find 1 Corinthians 15:58 in your Greek Bible." Hmm! Only because I had memorized the alphabet over the weekend was I able to find it! Great devotional for us: stand firm, do not be moved; your work is not in vain - all using the Greek Bible. Inspiring!

Somewhere he mentioned "the email I sent you..." (Email?! What email?!) "...to become familiar with the first nine chapters." (NINE chapters??) All was going well as he went through material on the first four chapters, told us about taking a quiz sometime before coming the next day (gulp), and then had us read aloud. The first guy read it a Mac2 speed. EVERYONE was reading really well - until it was my turn. I said, "This will be SO encouraging to the rest of you..." So with just knowing the sounds of each letter - never mind diphthongs, accents, breathing marks, syllabication (yeh, I now know something about each of those!) I bumbled along. :) He was so kind... :)

I asked him about the email I never got after the four hour class. It was sent to my new North Park email. Never entered my mind to be checking it; hardly remembered I HAD one. But I WILL NEVER FORGET AGAIN! :)

Then it was home for a fast bit to eat and back to the library to work with Lizzie (who will be here in 7 minutes). Lizzie is from Scotland, is a roommate of Sarah Robinson who is staying with us these six weeks while she takes the Hebrew course. She immediately asked me to be her study partner (PRAISE GOD!!) and we studied for FOUR HOURS this afternoon. When we were done, we both separated and took the quiz. I don't know when we get the results but pretty sure I passed.

Now we start studying for TOMORROW's lesson - and continue this rhythm for the next six weeks: study what you just learned, take a daily quiz on it, study what you will learn the next day; go to class to learn that day's material, study what you jsut learned, take that day's quiz...

How fragile this is! Get sick one day - and you're a gonner! How would you EVER catch up??

Gotta go, Lizzie's here...

In the beginning...

2009-07-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

...was the Word. Word - Logos, right?!

Tomorrow I begin the six-week Intensive Greek course at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. Couldn't they have used a different word than "intensive"? The course write-up recommends not taking any other course at the same time, not working--not even part time, not doing ANYTHING but living and breathing Greek.

With completion of another five years serving as Executive Minister of Women Ministries for the Evangelical Covenant Church, my Board has granted me a second sabbatical. Studying Greek has been something I've always wanted to do. No thoughts of getting an MDiv (actually also looking at a Masters in Social Justice); just want to get deeper into the Word; hoping it will also deepen my preaching.

However, I have avoided telling people that I, a 59 year old woman, am using my sabbatical in this way. The response is predictable: hilarious laughter or looks of deep pity, the latter from those who have taken it or been married to someone who took it. A friend who learned of my plan to take a course at the seminary, asked which one. I said, "Promise you won't laugh?" He seriously replied, "Of course." "Me: "Greek." Him: 'HA HA HA HA HA HA! (pause) Are you serious?"

So here I am, poised to launch into a whole new world. Will I pass? Will I finish?! I know there are going to be some really difficult times ahead, no doubt some tears, maybe a tantrum to two (poor Brad), serious rethinking, temptations to quit, maybe swapping last three weeks for a visit to the grandkids...

And maybe, just maybe it will go OK! I memorized the alphabet yesterday and looked ahead at an exercise - and could read the simple words!! Cool!

Check in and follow the saga. I'll try to be totally honest with how I am feeling and doing.