a journal of my adventure back to college to finish my degree

 
A Rabbi, a Priest, and a Witch walk into a bar...

This past weekend I attended the annual conference for the American Academy of Religion. This is the major professional association for scholars in religious studies. The annual meeting is like a church retreat where everyone doubts God's existence. It was held at the convention center in Toronto. I met my friend Scott, from Harrisburg, and he very generously paid my registration fee and fed and housed me all weekend. We, and another friend, Michael (public school teacher and spiritual pilgrim), stayed in the Renaissance Hotel which is connected to the SkyDome near the CNtower. It was pretty cool.

I attended sessions of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and sessions on the Pauline Epistles, and "Non-Violent" Views of the Atonement. I ran into several people I knew, including Bryan Estelle, professor of Old Testament at Westminster-West. I had great discussions and ate great food. It was a real vacation. I wish life was an academic conference.

The infamous Jacques Derrida spoke at the conference... but I had to miss it. No biggie. I was happier to hear Sylvia Keesmaat.
posted by Baus at 4:19 PM

 
The Inevitable Blog

Eventually every blogger stops to reflect on the nature of blogging itself. It's the obligatory poem about poetry. We can't help it. In the very act you discover so much more than you can ever hope to make sense of... or some nonsense like that.

I've noticed that I blog an average of every ten to fifteen days. Not as frequently as I would like. But the fact is: my being conscious of friends and family as audience stifles the uninhibited flow of expression. I'm certainly not going to complain about my parents or siblings or say anything negative about friends... but it is quite possible that my experiences here result in critical reflection on the relationships that mean most to me. And aren't those the things that make for interesting blogs?

Now, you are not given license to suppose that I'm harboring ill feelings about any of you. That's not what I'm talking about.
I'm saying some of the things I would really like to blog about are simply too personal for a "non-anonymous" (nymous?) forum.
It's my excuse for less than fascinating posts.

That's all I'm gonna say about that.

In other news... I've discovered Li Po (Chinese poet, circa early-mid 700's).
I'm not going to post any links. You can do an internet search, surf, and find out about him for yourself.
Suffice it to say, I imagine he and I are kindred spirits.
Here is my poetic rendering of his well known "Yueh Hsia Tu Cho" from a word-for-word translation.

Drinking Alone

The blossoms are out
and a single jug of wine
and I drink alone
I got no friends here

So I raise the jug
and ask Mr. Moon to join me
and Shadow
That makes three

But, Moon, he doesn't know about wine
and Shadow just imitates my motions
to no avail
These are the only drinking buddies I got

Must make the most of this Spring
I'm singing
and Mr. Moon starts swaying
I do a little dance
and Shadow is all over the place

We were having fun earlier
Now these guys abandon me

We'll always have a loveless-friendship sort of connection
and I guess we'll meet again in that distant river of stars.

posted by Baus at 12:50 PM

 
Working-Class Hero

This week I interviewed with the Christian Labour Association of Canada. My first assignment is to establish a student "support-local" on campus. The intelligentsia are a crucial part of every revolution.

I'm also involved in filmfest, our student film club. There is a horrible lack of interest in real art among this homogenously "pop" student body. We'll see if we can't put a slight dent in the shallow machine.

Final papers are due in a month or so. Friends and family should feel free to send treats and/or cash... you could pray for me too, I guess.
posted by Baus at 5:19 PM