Crystal Vaughan

    Thursday was the first day of classes for the Zeta class and  the first class on the first day was the honors class. The theme for the class for this term is "Perspectives, Approaches, and the Gospel." The festival of beginnings and the school year theme that it stood for both incorporate the idea of the class. Going into this new year, it's important for each and every person to have a focus, or an idea of depending on God as one's refuge and strength - both a safe place to flee to, and a mighty defender. This approach and perspective are good models for the way the student body, faculty, and staff  should go about their year. This is only the beginning. The assignments have just begin to pile up, procrastination has already begun to set in, and a feeling of fatigue will quickly set in as all struggle with balancing commitments, responsibilities, relationships, personal time, and everything else that will come during the semester. Approach, and perceive the year (see what I did there?)  with the slant of totally and depending on God to be a place of peace, comfort, and fortitude will be key to success this semester.

   I am constantly needing to be reminded to slow down - to "let go, and let God." Many times I fall into a rut of thinking that I can handle things and that I don't need His help. I am time and time again proven incorrect. I greatly appreciate the theme for this year, and the fact that it was presented as one of the first things on the first day for the year. During the service I was feeling already overwhelmed with everything that was going on and that would soon come to be. I needed to hear that God is my refuge and my strength. Reis made this intresting juxtaposition that I'd never chosen to think about previously. "Refuge" and "strength" can often have opposing connotations - the first being soft, peaceful, and calm, and the other being one that can overpower and destroy. God is both. Through all of the blogs, book reports, service learning hours, new instruments, concerts, readings, and exams, God is the stronghold and the protective fortress where we can and should turn to for all that we need.

     First - it unfortunately reflected last years concept and idea that the human brain (more specifically... MY brain) has started to falter. I have become a less efficient reader and am slower at processing the print material because of all the damage that a summer full of movies and facebook and my iPhone have done to it. I felt like I was continuously having to restart paragraphs in order to sort of understand the point Kinnaman was getting at.

     Second - I was working a "38.75" hour a week job... which turned into many more hours than that. I was working as the Youth and Children's Ministry Intern at my church back home in Chesapeake, VA. I had every intention of knocking out reading on the beach when I would chaperon beach days, and then again in the car on the way to a trip, and then again when all the kids were showering and having "free time" on a mission trip. Long story short... I did the bulk of the reading on the plane to MN. But aside from the fact that I'm bad at procrastinating and get sort of anxious when I don't have things done early... it was still interesting to see how much of what I'd done and learned at my job this summer was evident in the pages of this book! At last - it is finished and I am blogging.

     unChristian was a very specific exploitation of some of the negative images that society has on Christians. David Kinnaman conducted a series of studies with Gabe Lyons and the organization Barna.  These studies were primarily completed in polls where non-Christians, Evangelicals, Born Again Christians, Busters, Mosaics, Boomers, and other labels were given to different groups of people and information was collected on some of the stereotypes and prejudgments that are commonly procured at the thought of someone who is a "Christian." Some of these include the characteristic of judgmental, hypocritical, anti-homosexual, and too political. Each of these topics were discussed at length, elaborated upon and then called the reader (by reader - I mean all of those who are Christians) to action to change the negative perception. The chapters included examples of people who have had an encounter with a Christian that made them more firmly attach a certain label to Christianity as well as articles from speakers and pastors further calling the religion to action and confirming the ideas that Kinnaman outlines in his book. 

    The examples, articles from pastors and speakers, and data all pointed in a direction for change that would allow Christians to maintain their core values and beliefs while being turned into a religion that was more able to reach out and really fulfill the intentions that  Jesus had when he gave The Great Commission saying "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19.) Reading this book makes one sort of disgusted with oneself in how Christianity is viewed by the rest of the world. It's easy to have tunnel vision and not  be able to see how outsiders are receiving Christian messages - and maybe it really is that they are seeing the messages as they are intended which then brings up an infinite number of problems because that's absolutely not the kind of "persona" that Christianity should embody.

     The bottom line is that Christianity can not and will not continue to thrive in this setting. Change doesn't mean abandoning values and morals - but working to accept and love people who don't necessarily share those same ones. At a middle school mission trip that I chaperoned this summer, the speaker talked about relationships using Ecclesiastes 4:12 which says "Though one may be overcome, two can defend themselves. A chord of three strands is not easily broken." He made a terribly worded point that came across as "don't have friends who aren't Christians," and I remember my dad once saying "I don't want you to hang out with him because he's gay" in reference to a friend that I wanted to have dinner with. I do not agree with the lifestyles and choices that some people make, but how are they going to receive the Word of God and have encounters with people who reflect the light and love of Christ if those people choose to not be a part of their lives? Avocation and acceptance are two entirely different things. One of the messages that I really took away from the book was that we as Christians must be intentional about changing these perceptions, and the only way that we can do that is by proving that we aren't stuck-up hypocrites who think gays are not loved by God and do not know anything about what's going on in the world outside of our churches. We have to be out in the crowds taking a stand for what we believe in. Weren't we always taught as children not to bully or put others down? Why not practice the same thing as responsible adults who know better? 

     I have been telling people to read this book. The change that needs to happen can not be done if others do not realize what's going on and Kinnaman does a fantastic job of displaying the perceptions in a rather naked fashion. He calls us out on our treatment of others and then continues on with examples and ways to fix the problem. I am purposefully very intentional about being a "social butterfly" and having friends from all different walks of life rather than just white collar Christians who "know what's up." Mingle. Intertwine. Connect. Be in the midst of the growing population of non-believers and show them how it really is. Christians should be seen as people who can be related to,people who are accepting, and also people who are loving. Knock down walls and perceptions and build new ones that show us for who we are and who we were created to be. 

Ready.

Set.

Go.

     The quote above especially stood out because it applied to discussions that the class has had throughout the year about whether menial jobs count as a calling as well. Does working in a factory hold the same merit in being a calling as being a second grade teacher does? This quote gives somewhat of a concrete answer to that.  The calling isn't necessarily about the job that is being held, but it is about the position that a person holds in the clockwork of society. Every part is crucial and needs to be working so that the group as a whole can function.  A screw needs to be put in the left corner of a dresser, a teddy bear needs a nose, and a shoe needs a good sole. The calling may be for a person to hold one of these jobs so that they can be that part in society, or so they can support their family. There's something there for everyone.

     I was really pleased with the things that Merton said in this reading.  I appreciated his inclusion of everyone, even if had a hierarchy of the callings that are most important, and then found it interesting that he included marriage in it.  This is something that I've come to appreciate after being in a committed relationship for almost two and a half years.  There's something about being the perfect fit for someone - the perfect support system, best friend, confidant, and caretaker. The role in a family is just as important, if not more so, than one's individual role in society.  The partnership between a couple is powerful and something that flourishes most when it is firmly grounded in Christ.  All of this has held true between Ben and I, particularly in the last six months or so. We've begun to really realize the value that we each hold in the other's life and there's a mutual understanding that God has put us together so that we can be everything that I listed above for one another. Especially as we move into the big picture for the future with seminary and his calling to be a pastor, it's really been a big deal to me to see that my calling could be (and I'm fairly sure that a facet of it is!) that of being a pastor's wife and a support system for Ben in his ministry and in his personal life. 

    This show is really a depiction of a man discovering his calling.  Not in a spiritual standpoint, but it can definitely draw a parallel between the class discussions and this show. Pippin struggles, and after trying  again and again, he finds the niche where he feels the most whole, and the most fulfilled. One thing that has been a really interesting realization throughout the course of the class this semester is that callings do not have to be in a "job" necessarily, but they could be a family role or through marriage.  I think that this inspirational show about what may be occasionally unrealistic, holds very true in the journey that every person takes in trying to find where they belong and who they are and want to be as a person.

   I absolutely loved Pippin. It made me desperately miss being in musicals since that is something that has been a big part of my life since I can remember.  It was also really wonderful knowing so many people who were involved in the show. Knowing the actors and actresses personally adds a new dimension to the characters that they create, especially when it's easy to see how the show fits into the bigger picture of their lives.  Specifically, AJ Longabaugh and Brittany Pitts have been doing auditions recently to find "what's next" for them since they both want to make performance a career.  This is the last show for them at Concordia, and it was really great to have a small understanding of this transition that they are making into the real world. Being a musician, actress, and dancer brings another level of appreciation to shows that are done well, and that are done in a way where the message is so apparent and so heartfelt that it sticks with the audience, and I think that this is an element that showed itself all the way through Pippin.

   One of the coolest things about being a part of the honors program and then attending this lecture is that the basis of this program is faith and learning. This lecture embodied the entirety of the meaning of the program. So far the Zeta class has experienced faith incorporated with ritual studies, technology, and brain science. This lecture provided another dimension into a field that several of the students in the class are enrolled in. Additionally, the class has been discussing the idea of a calling over the past thirteen, or so, weeks. The next day was Dr. Thomas Trapp's retirement service in chapel. The two consecutive events proved to show the class a really excellent example of a calling come full circle.  Dr. Thomas Trapp talked about receiving his calling into the ministry at age five, and then through the lecture, the class was able to see the fruits of his work and study in religion and theology, followed by a culmination of his work at this school. 

     I remember having a conversation with my mom about evolution a few years back where she was telling me about an oceanography professor that she had when she was in college. Her professor used the idea of animals being perfectly made for their surroundings as a sign that there is a God, instead of the other way around. How else would these beautifully made creatures be so able to change with the world, and so well suited for their living conditions?  I think that often, people try to use science to prove that there's not a God, and I appreciate the ways that people use it to say that there is a God. Dr. Dale Trapp brought up really terrific points about miracles and mysteries. Miracles defy the laws of nature, so do science mysteries. I appreciated the lecture and the way that it sort of brought the things that I've learned and been a part of this first year in college to a close. I look forward to the continual application of faith in learning, and sharing that with students someday in the future.

     The honors class has been talking about callings for the past 13 weeks or so. One of the themes that comes under this is "What is a Calling?" and "Is a Calling always/necessarily a vocation?" This is something that can be exemplified through athletics.  For some, this could be a career and God may be calling upon an individual to play a sport and use that image to be a role model for his or her fans.  For others, a sport may just be a hobby or a stress-reliever for their full-time job as a businessman.  For those in this game that were playing and being scouted,there may be a call" in the next few months to play in the big leagues. Will he take it? Or will God have a different path? Here's also an interesting concept that can be applied here. Is a calling a "once-in-a-life-time" deal? or will it be an on-going process where playing baseball until he has reached his prime will in someway prepare him for something else that is really his "calling."  These are questions that have not been strung together in context before, but raise some really interesting points, which may not have an answer, particularly an answer that is the same for everyone.

    Going to the game on Wednesday was a lot of fun.  Being in the stands, and outside in the sun, really reminded me of how much I love going to sporting events and being supportive of my "teams."  The teams themselves were pretty evenly matched, which made for a good game.  It was nice having bleachers that were really close to the field, because unlike at Target Field where you'd have to shell out a wad of cash, one could be right up in the game. I appreciated feeling like such a part of this community, while having fun with some friends too! Although the season is over, I plan on attending more games next year. Hopefully, I can make that a trend among more of the student body at CSP!

    Part of where many college students struggle is with the idea of imperfection and the potential embarrassment that may come with one of these blemishes. As students begin to dive into majors and career paths, there's always this spoken, or unspoken fear of "what if?" The imagery of a dancer and a knight of faith leaping into a dancer's position in the same way is something that really identifies with this fear. There's this process of searching, and listening, and processing where one wonders if his or her calling is right. One thing that must be realized is that even after a magnificent leap toward the heavens, there will always be a shaky landing back to earth. To leap into the air is to try to defy the laws of gravity, one of the most constant things on this planet. To pursue a God given calling is to throw one's body, soul, mind, and heart up above the standards, expectations, thoughts, and feelings of others with the recognition that there will be times where faith will falter and tremble, and where fear will get in the way of the next jump upwards.  The imagery that Kierkegaard offers can be interpreted and interchanged in so many ways that it creates this beautiful picture that can be seen as relevant to a multitude of different people.

   This last explanation of the relation of the dancer imagery and one's calling is where I gathered my liking of this article.  I played with the images that i saw in his writing and took them to mean how I saw them, which didn't necessarily enhance his content. His language was remarkable and I found myself seeing this dancer and these Iron clad knights dancing in this impossible way that there is not hope in achieving until we meet the maker of the dance in heaven. I found myself drawn to the idea of leaping up into this sense of potential perfection and then the impact of the ground as the reality of life on earth sets in.  Being a dancer most of my life helped me to understand that. The joy of hitting that perfect position or pose, and then stumbling out of it, or not quite making the next one in the sequence. It can be invigorating and frustrating all at the same time.  There's a supreme beauty in this life that is speckled with the imperfections of the world. This article has really given me another idea of what heaven will be like. While I don't mean this literally, I now find that the strongest faith, and eventually life in heaven is like a flawless, absolutely perfect dance. One of joy, immaculate movement, and devotion.

    Every department at Concordia is a representation of God's calling and of service to God that specifically tailors to an individuals strengths. This choir is an outlet for some of the musicians at CSP to give honor and glory to God, as well as to participate in a group that is centered in Christ and have the opportunity to connect with like minded people with similar interests. The message of this concert was very near and dear to every member of the choir because it's a theme of unity which is an important aspect of a close knit ensemble. Being able to spread the message of God's love and that every person is a child of God is really special. Singing is a passion for every member of the choir and they are able to use this God given gift to praise Him and to share His word and His love with others. 

   In hindsight, the concert went really well; in the heat of the moment, the concert was not close to being the best that Christus has sounded.  It was disappointing to feel like we didn't do our best. It's like playing a sport and having the "home field advantage."  It felt like we'd lost our game. It was hard to regain our positive energy once some of our solid pieces began to fall apart.  Under the circumstances, we did the best that we could. We are all running low on energy and have been battling allergies and vocal exhaustion. As a whole we weren't up to par and feeling comfortable with performing for another two hours, particularly for a recording.  The only hope that we had was going into the third section of our concert and hoping that "Lord, Listen to Your Children," and "Shall We Gather at the River" would bring us back into each others' good graces.  It was embarrassing to have to restart pieces and use music for pieces that we've had prepared for months.  Today though, I realized that we were all being way to hard on ourselves. The caliber of Christus is such that at our worst, we still sound presentable, and besides, our sound isn't what the concert was about. Sure, we were performing and there's always a level of expectation that the sound that we produce needs to be pleasing to the ear, but what really mattered was the meaning behind the concert. This was our last concert with a lot of this years choir, and the whole theme was that we are all one. We are all the children of God, and for that we are and will always be connected to one another. We have been blessed to have such a terrific group this year, and being able to share a little bit of the joy that we find in one another with an audience is a really great feeling.  I really hope that those in attendance were able to take away some of that joy in being one body of believers and one group of friends that we have been able to cultivate and share with one another this year.  

     This particular piece is very pertinent in where the class is in their lives right now. Every member is working with a non-profit organization outside of CSP as well as muddling through classes and the process of preparing for "the real world."  Some of the directions in this were very encouraging to someone who is trying to seek affirmation that they are doing the right thing and that the things that lead up to it are not pointless. Two things that stood out were: 1.) Baxter emphasized using what you can do best and what you most enjoy doing in what your profession and 2.) even low, menial tasks are not seen as worthless in the eyes of God. Summer jobs, and jobs just to be able to pay off college loans are not fruitless in God's eyes, which is really encouraging as some of us are going through the process of looking for work and having interviews for the summer and for the upcoming year. 

     I personally found this piece motivating.  I think that all of the things that Baxter pointed out are exactly the things that I have been striving to work towards as I work towards my future and looking at "what's next." I think that his hierarchy of what to consider when looking for a profession is actually still pretty applicable today. The way that he wrote about staying away from idleness and how we were created to work is something that can really be difficult to a student who has been used to not needing money and not having adult responsibilities. He wrote well, and in a way that was easy to understand. Things like this are good reminders that I can do it... especially as the last leg of the semester rolls around and things start to get stressful. This was a really great way of saying "Keep going Crystal, you're on the right track and soon it'll be summer and you will have completed yet another step in working towards pursuing your calling!"

     The most important part of this reading that really applies to vocation is that even works, like herding sheep, are pleasing to God and considered to be spiritual as long as the Christian's heart is in the right place. An individual does not have to go into the ministry field to serve God and do things that are pleasing to Him. Doing things for God may seem silly to those who are not believers. Externally, the joys of the Christian life are not understood because it brings a personal gratification in a different and deeper place than doing things with a selfish intent do. The shepherds glorified God in their herding. They went and saw the baby Jesus, and then went right back to their fields. Their job was still no less important than that of a priest because their hearts were placed in Him. 

     In the middle of last semester, I participated as a host for an "exploring careers" event that took place on campus. The whole weekend was about encouraging high school students (to come to CSP) and to look at what their future vocation may be. I remember one sweet girl saying "I want to be a nurse. But, I've been thinking that I need to be a DCE or a DCO in order to serve God." She really thought that being in a different line of work would not serve God because she wouldn't be working for the church. I really liked that Luther made the point that the thing that makes any vocation "spiritual" is the placement of the heart and the disposition of the one in the position. I think this piece of scripture, and also this sermon can really help clarify that understanding in high schoolers and college students who are struggling with "what's next."