Journal Entry 7
March 31, 2008
Confession: I have never “loved” the New Testament or even the Gospels. Paul’s rhetoric seemed dry, Revelation was a puzzle and a half, and the differences between the details of the Gospels messed with my overall sense of orderliness. Something about the New Testament was out there just beyond my grasp. I didn’t get it.
Of course, we all have to take a New Testament class. While I expected a good class, I maintained a sense of foreboding that I would have to do a lot of my own work to make this subject make sense. How wrong I was! The New Testament class has become the surprise “hit” of the semester. In only a few classes I discovered what I really didn’t know about the New Testament was the culture of the people in it. I didn’t know much about their real world. Learning just a little about the context has knitted together some of the loose yarns that, for me, surround the Gospels and Letters. I don’t have all the questions answered, but at least I know better how to look for some answers. I have a lot left to learn yet.
The coming month will be filled to the brim with school work. If I allow myself to dwell on what must be completed before the end of this semester, I could easily shift into panic mode. In fact, that almost did happen in Greek Readings class last Wednesday. I read the project assignment and suddenly realized the blood, sweat and tears it required were in short supply on my end. But the class and the professor swooped in to the rescue. Dorothy Jean assured all of us that the project was manageable, that we would learn everything necessary before it was due, that we could find help in her office at anytime. And so my breathing returned to normal.
Everything will be finished in its right time (or at least close to it). Meanwhile, I am very grateful for the Ah-hahs that come along the way.
