i prefer pi

Lessons Learned

I borrowed a friend’s vehicle this evening to go off campus, and before I came back, I went by HEB to get groceries. Because my friend’s parking permit is for the West Campus Garage, and because I’m as stubborn as a mule, I decided that I would just carry my groceries back from the WCG. The walk is the better part of a mile (about 12-15 minutes), and I had two jugs of apple juice, a carton of milk, and a 5 lb. bag of potatos among my possessions. As I left the garage, I noticed an unusually large number of people passing by; I was puzzled until I realized that it was Tuesday night, and Breakaway had just let out. I learned two things tonight:

• First, as I struggled along with a lot of heavy groceries, surrounded by thousands of students who had just left a Bible study, I got a bit peevish. Why didn’t anyone offer to lend me a hand? For how many people, struggling and heavy-burdened, is this the only kind of Christian they see? Lord, please open my eyes to the pain and strife around me, and by your grace, let your love work through me.
• Second, as I struggled along with a lot of heavy groceries, surrounded by thousands of students who had just left a Bible study, I remembered that my burden was mine to bear, and that I absolutley no one to blame for it except myself. Furthermore, if I’d asked for help, almost anyone would have lent a hand, but I didn’t. Father, please grant me the humility to share my burdens with my brothers and sisters.

Amen.

So, here’s a strange turn of events: Anna Zacchi, who was my TA for Data Structures back during the spring of 2002 (my freshman year), is now a classmate in Human Centered Systems and Information. I’m trying to imagine myself in a similar situation, and I can’t decide whether or not I’d like me to tell… me… about it.

Ah, to be an RA again…

Epilogue

If I were to write a book about my college experience, the events of August 2005 would make an excellent closing chapter — my first roommate gets married; Dimitri graduates, hops the pond and starts work in Germany; David, Alay, Rebekah and Melanie start med school; I dig into a new major and graduate program; almost of my original college friends are graduated, moved off, married, have jobs, or will be doing so imminently; The Commune at Walton Hall kicks off, along with the new football season; life, like the leaves, keeps on changing. No time to be wistful — a new volume is opening!

São as águas de março fechando o verão é a promessa de vida no teu coração.

Look Ma, I’m on TV!

(Sort of).

I don’t really have anything new to say, but the fact that my last entry was nearly a week ago is troubling to me. Boxes remain to be unpacked, funding needs to be sought, and freshmen need to be met.

One of the glorious things about home is that there’s so little to do. I’m compelled to read books, or clean out the garage, or talk with my sister. In another two days, it’ll be over — there will be trucks to drive, boxes to unpack, books to buy — but for now, there’s just peace, love, joy, good food.

Spiders!

Some time ago, the course registration server at Texas A&M moved from Sherwood to Mirkwood. Ominous? Yes.

I left Seattle on Thursday, arrived home in Dallas shortly after midnight on Friday morning, made it into College Station around noon, checked into San Antonio at nine o’clock that evening, helped with and attended a wedding, and drove back up through Austin on Sunday afternoon. That’s four of the top twenty-five most populous cities in the U.S. in 72 hours (I almost made it five with Houston on Friday evening, but that was stretching it). I’ll tell you about driving home in the rain with no winshield wipers sometime when I don’t feel like I’m about to die.

Before I forget…

Seattle has to be situated in the most beautiful area of any large city in America. Also, the high today will be 72 degrees, and I had to wear a jacket last night. Good-bye climatic bliss!