This was the subject line in an email today from America's Young Theologian, Dan Morehead. The Mexican is a reference to our friend Matt, pictured nefariously center. I met Matt, Dan and the pictured ladies Lisa and Stephanie in the summer of 2005 in Freiburg, Germany. It was the last time I traveled. I fear it will be my last adventure for quite a while. Dan, on the other hand, has spent a year in Washington D.C., moved to Scotland, has been traveling around Europe and is planning to spend his summer in France.
Dan, pictured right, is good at many of things, one of which is being a friend. In his blog recently he wrote about a trip he took last April to Merlefest in North Carolina. Dan has the reputation of visiting friends, or at least stopping by when in town. Dan has been all over so that he is always in someone's town and always has someone to visit. There is a fluidity here, movement, adventure, excitement...
Return now to the Mark Rothko painting that is Seminary life. Everyday, the same hackneyed rhythms play out and we stare farther and farther into the painting. This changes a bit of course as we begin to be flung out to the varied corners of towns and countries as we await regional assignments and internship placements. There is surely excitement. There is surely life going on here. But, there is a sense of doldrum, hum drum, banal, flaccid days.
But then again, there are signs of life, not all of which come from off campus. There are folks who are just living. Doing their seminary bit, being involved in the community, being parents, being friends, being whatever they are fully. And I'm just going through the motions, baby. Or so it seems. There is not a lot of excitement on the horizon; no trips, no projects, no great endeavors. Just life in front of me. Life, love, friends...I forget that the greatest excitement in life is that which is ordinary, for it is what you get to do everyday.
I keep reminding myself to "be here now," to enjoy these ever passing moments, to make an adventure out of the ordinary. I'm not quite there, but for now content.
You are here. Thanks be to God.
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