10.05.2006

Travel and Basketball

So...I don't know if I've mentioned it on here or not, but I'm playing basketball for the team here at Franklin College. It's a small school, and this is only the second year of the program. They had an open gym/tryout sort of thing and me and my study abroad boys just went to play some basketball for fun. Then the coach really wanted us to play, so we did. It's a good way to be in shape and just have fun playing basketball. We're pretty awful, but it's still fun. Our coach actually played at Georgetown from 1985-1989 with the likes of Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutumbo. We had a game tonight and one on tuesday night. We lost them both, but it was fun to get out and play.

Oh, and the picture above, that's the fountain just below my room. It's a soothing sound to listen to with my windows open, but they turn it off at 10 every night, so I don't get to fall asleep to it. And they just drained it today for the winter. Sad. But also notice the very well kept lawn around it--a favorite for lounging freshmen (that's the freshmen dorm in the background on the left). Well that lawn is well kept courtesy of leaf blowers and mowing at 8 in the morning 3 times a week. I used to be a heavy sleeper. And I know what you all are thinking...8 isn't that early! Well I stay up super late and I'm in college dang it!

Tomorrow I'm going to Amsterdam with a few friends. It should be a good trip. I'm excited to see the Van Gogh museum, and all the Rembrandts. We're driving, which should be interesting since it's 8 hours each way. But a lot of it is in Germany...no I won't go that fast.

I've actually had something on my mind that I'm trying to figure out. Maybe some of you could help me out. So I go to all these places and see all these beautiful things--both natural and historical, and they are amazing. And I'm filled with a sense of awe. And yet I am now asking myself the question, as I see so many amazing things that I could take them for granted, "what is the deeper purpose behind viewing all this beauty?" Sure it's edifying and good just to behold beauty in general, but what is it all teaching me? What does it mean to me? It's more than just seeing God in those things. And also it's much more than just saying I've been to such and such place or seen this thing. What do you think it is? I have my ideas, but I would love to hear from you all. You all have the weekend to think it over, so let me know if you want to--I would be curious to hear your take on it.

2 comments:

  1. i forgot you play for them...that's pretty tight.

    sometimes i wonder if you even have class over there. :)

    as for the beauty stuff...i'm intrigued, and will be pondering this. it may turn into a xanga post. i wrote 20 page paper on beauty for my junior english class..its something that both thrills me and terrifies me. i'll get back to you.

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  2. With your question, the words of Nicki from the Alpha course rang in my ears as he shared a Scripture. So I had to look up where it was located and found it in I Timothy 6:17. It was the first time I had read the entire verse to hear the context from which Nicki quoted. Nicki quoted that God richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. I love my kids to have a wonderful time and enjoy the created world, and so does God. The first part of the verse puts an emphasis on where our focus should be, no matter what we're doing. We should all stop to smell the flowers so to speak, and be uplifted!

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