Chained Bible

Today in Typography, Bruce was mumbling on as he usually does, but somehow amid his swift, slurred speech and the hum of the air duct so aptly placed at the front of the classroom, I understood a story about his trip to New York with senior art students. They had visited the International Bible Society and got to look at all the old Bibles. One had a long chain attached to it and was completely handwritten. He asked why it had a chain on it and the Society people told him it was so no one could steal it back in the day. Back then, Bibles were in such short supply they actually had to chain them to the table so no one could walk off with them!

My family has an entire shelf of Bibles. We've got the children's editions, the Precious Moments, the Teen Devotionals... it's hard to picture a time when these books held such value. That's a sad statement right there if you think about it. Bibles contain the very word of God himself! Why don't we treasure them anymore? Why don't we have to worry about them getting stolen?

Maybe I'm lovable.

Ok, so this is pretty basic theology, but for the past seven-plus years, this fact has eluded me. It wasn't until today amid the primal roar of yelling Sammy boys that the essential truth of God's love finally clicked for me.

Jay Kesler, our beloved former president, spoke in chapel this morning. Usually, I enjoy his sermons but they're so random, I don't really follow them. Today his message rang true to the core of my being. What a rush!

The topic was love and community. Kesler extracted 5 steps to achieving community through love from the biblical writings of John. First, we realize God loves us, that He initiated this love, that the love is unconditional and that it becomes real when we reciprocate. In the second step, we receive his love, realizing that we are worth loving.

I haven't been able to surmount the third step. It requires me to accept myself. If God loves me then maybe I'm lovable. It's not rocket science, but for some reason I've been denying this truth and when I dog on myself, I'm not being humble; I'm spitting in God's face.

Jay pointed out the opposite of humility is bad, but the opposite of shame is good. I don't need to live in shame any more. I'm free to love and accept myself. Only then will I be able to love others.

The fourth step is to love others. I never put much stock in Roger's comment from Rent when he tells Mimi, "You'll never share real love until you love yourself." Suddenly I'm realizing it's true. The Bible commands me to love my neighbor as myself. As Jay said, if I hate myself, that's bad news for my neighbor!

I will only find community after I ascend these last two steps. It's not going to be easy to undo the mindset I've perpetuated by negative thoughts, but I have a powerful ally who loves me more than I could ever imagine. I am going to believe that I'm lovable because God said it.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

-- 1 John 3:1a

Snooze...

I haven't woken up to my alarm the past two days. Yesterday, Jess woke me up for church with one of Margaret's teddy bears. This morning, I don't even remember it going off, but I woke up to my roommate's alarm at 7:15 (mine was set for 6:45). I can't remember hitting snooze, and I know it was set for the right time...

I couldn't go to breakfast this morning because I woke up late. Don't cry for me, Argentina. I have Cocoa Puffs from the Grille.

GET TO CLASS!!! (muahaha)

Me as a PR tool

My Washington, D.C., story is on the Taylor Web site for prospectives, alumni and parents to enjoy. It's flattering to be the subject of a story for once, but it's also a little awkward. I don't know how I feel about the use of my experiences to draw students to Taylor. Granted, I wouldn't have been in Washington this summer if I hadn't gone to Taylor. I suppose it's fair.

I took the Rotunda photo, but Jim Photoshopped it so the background is lighter. I think I liked it dark so all the focus was on the casket, but whatever.

Commies (as in Comm. Arts Majors)

I just overheard a conversation in the hall between Ethan Daly and Jen Castellano. Actually it was all Ethan (naturally).

E: You're really girly.
Jen: Well...
E: I mean, did you lose a lot of fights growing up?

I miss those kids. Even though communications classes are out-of-control easy, I miss the people. Last semester, everyday was a party. Now I only see my comm buddies passing in the hall or working in the JLab. Not that I don't like my classmates now, it's just that comm majors are just a different breed. A lazy breed, but a fun breed nonetheless.

For the love of Steve

After our coffee maker broke down last night, we turned to Steve (The Echo's favorite barista) to satiate our caffeine craving. Thank you, Steve. The Echo would not happen without you. BTW, Matt Wissman took this photo.

Integrity in printing

I'm working in the ZonLab for the first time today. I have to sit in the really high "Lab Supervisor" chair and type with the keyboard in my lap. The screen is this really nasty yellow color. I tried changing the settings and it looks a little better, but it's still yellow.

I've already caught to kids trying to sneak off without paying for prints. One girl just didn't know and gladly coughed up a quarter. When another guy asked for an IOU slip, I said he could just leave his ID. He threw a dollar at me instead and walked away. I just made the Lab a $.75 profit. Nice.

There's a sign on the printer that says, "Integrity glorifies God. Let's use it. Pay for your prints!!!" Don't you just love Taylor?