Devotion

The heart can think of no devotion
Greater than being shore to ocean-
Holding the curve of one position,
Counting an endless repetition.
--Robert Frost

That being said, I need to get back to my studies! (But first I'll update :) for "devoted" readers like Rach.) Today I'm analyzing and writing a paper on Frost's "Accidentally on Purpose," which is due Friday. I'm focusing on showing how the world has become a diminished thing and the redemption of man.

I picked "Accidentally on Purpose" over "Bereft," which I also really like. I was tempted to start two papers and then decide which one I like better, but I
A) do not have time for that (I'm also writing a paper for Birzer for Friday) and
B) the former is longer than the latter; therefore more to write on/ a longer paper is more plausible.

On the topic of devotion, I'm going to avoid being quaint, but I think it is a virtue undermined in today's culture. Even the word devotion seems to rankle; it admits a commitment to another besides yourself, and can be percieved as having a subservient attitude in which one's slavish actions in the name of another undermines that person's free will and true intentions. Blindly following anything suggests one does not think and if one does not think, one cannot have knowledge, which leads to a true (not contorted by popular opinion) understanding of the world, humanity and, ultimately, God.

On the other hand, devotion can be a very beautiful thing. A devotion to one's family and friends for instance; being willing to do everything within your power to keep them joyful in existence. A devotion to God, of course, is not blind adoration but another opportunity to serve and glorify Him. Husbands and wives must be devoted to themselves in their sacramental bonds of marriage. Without devotion, people fall into their self-serving and self-pleasing attitude where they put themselves first, which is not necessarily a bad thing, unless they are the only person they are serving.

Independence and being your own person (virtues in America) is completely complementary to remaining devoted to things that truly matter (usually within the realms of family, church and community). This, of course, brings up the Gospels and Jesus' message of denying thyself and taking up one's cross to follow Him. This is also plausible and can exist , but it gives people a different kind of freedom--a freedom from one's passions and instincts and a heart for Christ alone. This, of course, is a topic for another day.

I got my Mencken paper back. My teacher wrote "A--Well done; I suspected this would be strong after hearing your comments in class. As usual, keep doing your best to tighten and simplify where you can." He mostly check marked different paragraphs that he liked (but surprisingly not at my favorite sentence, which I thought he would like as well). There were two sentences on the second page he specifically marked out as needing further simplification and adjustment.

It was a strong paper, but I like getting slightly-negative feedback. I like knowing I'm doing well but am still on the cusp of my true writing potential. Will I ever get there? Who knows. Nevertheless, I am still seeking and striving in my prose (and will continue to, until I am no longer, my hand clutching a final draft! ha!), finding the good word and not yielding to writing lethargy (to paraphrase Tennyson). I'm devoted (to use the buzz word of the post) to my writing, improve with every article and paper, so I think I might just be a writer yet!

In other news, please pray for a classmate of mine who lost her father last week and another classmate who just proposed to him girlfriend a few days ago. Both are major life events that need the Lord's guidance and grace. Also for Emilia and me; the Forum's going to press TONIGHT. (We'll release on Friday so as to not steal the Collegian's thunder.) It's busy, to say the least, and it's my baby. The amount of work that goes into these issues is phenomenal and I like seeing the fruits of the staff's labor (and mine) well-recieved; even if people do not agree with the content, they can't deny we've got great style.

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Song of the day is "Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle and Sebastian

Today needs to be productive, so I shall be brief. Art History was marvelous. I'm really enjoying learning about the Greek art and architecture right now. It's fascinating to learn the frieze of the Parthenon, for example, was actually painted garishly and brightly colored, which has since the paint has since been worn away by the elements, leaving only the placid white of the marble. I'm printing off the slides right now to start studying. The first test crept up on me unexpectedly and I shan't be pulling another all-nighter to study for it. No bueno.

Robert Frost class continues to be my favorite. Dr. Sundahl was teasing me again today, but I served it back to him, which made him laugh and give me a "touche." Frost was very influenced by the classics and transcendentalists. It's fascinating reading about his life outside class, being immersed in what influenced him/ what was happening around him in the world that he felt the need to "take the road not taken" in class and then his actual poetry and prose. I feel like I could write a book, the thoughts are whooshing through me, my pen not able to keep up with my hand's motions and intent.

In other news, I have Joey tomorrow for an entire day of being my helper and I have nothing to do with him. I'm tempted to have him make photocopies for my research paper. We're also baking cookies and I'll have him deliver those. My only other plan is to have him paint the square at the end of the walk to the house blue because he said he can paint things solid colors well and that needs to be done.

The background is that I bought Joey during Derby Days at the Servant for a Day auction, which I know sounds completely degrading, but he really is the sweetest kid and the only EX I would have even considered bidding on, ever. I think it takes nerves to get up there and offer yourself up to the public, and that type of bravado should be rewarded. At least in Joey; I don't wholly believe so in a few of his brothers. Anyways, ideas of what to do with him would be readily welcomed. He can't write my two papers for me, so I think we're at a bypass.

Off to prayer in the fishbowl, then the library till Founding to read and write. This week is all ora et labora (prayer and work). Lots of prayer, lots of work!

Happy Monday!

"The dogma is the drama—not beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after death — but the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. Show that to a heathen, and they may not believe it; but at least they may realize that here is something that a man might be glad to believe."
--Dorothy L. Sayers, from "Creed or Chaos"

If I were a boy...

Today was pick-up for the fraternities on campus. They usually drive by honking their cars with their flag and new members, looking ridiculous (in a mostly good, more silly way): DTD has the body paint, EX covers them in shaving cream, ATO dresses old-school (high socks, gym shorts, sweat bands, etc.) and DPS dresses even weirder in tight sports clothes (i.e. under armor), underwear on the outside and I definitely saw one of them wearing a gorilla suit. They usually come by the sororities and do their cheers, so that was a fun wasted hour. It rained on us, but we were blasting music at Kappa and having a grand old time.

EX wanted the sorority girls to buy/ wear a shirt saying "If I was a guy, I'd rush Sigma Chi." They initially sounded cute and I considered buying one out of loyalty to my Sigma Chi friends in Hillsdale and DC (not to mention both my grandfathers are EXs), but then I was talking to my dad about it and he said, "Julie, if you were a James, you'd be at UC and you'd be an SAE."

SAE, or Sigma Alpha Epsilon, is an old Southern fraternity my father, all my uncles and four of my five guy cousins in college are in (and all at the University of Cincinnati); the one, when my cousin Zach is rushing this semester, the one my cousin Jack and brother Mike will most likely rush as well next year. No, if I were a guy, I'd rush SAE. I didn't buy the shirt. That being said, I'm wearing my dad's old fraternity sweatshirt and loving it. I usually wear it when I get homesick, but I think today is as good a day as any.

I wonder sometimes if I missed out not going to the same school as four generations of my parent's family went to, not being part of that tradition. My sister Katie transferred there from Miami when she switched her major from business to engineering and my brother Mikey will most likely go there next year as well.

It's a wonderance, but not one I stay on for very long. I love UC--I bleed red and black--but I am so happy and eternally grateful that I go to Hillsdale because I'm better fulfilling my potential here. My mind is constantly growing, I'm meeting some of the best people who push me towards betterment and my relationship with God is growing deeper.

That being said, Cincinnati Bearcats are #1 in the Big East! They won their 5th game against Miami today, which I am sure was an easy, but a victory nonetheless. I think they're also ranked 8th in the nation as well.

Today I'm reading Maier/ reviews of Maier/ Frost biography/ Frost poetry, writing writing writing, editing articles and looking into internships and fellowships. The Forum is going to press soon, so that's exciting and a lot of work to add into the weekend.

Coffee's getting cold. Today's readings at mass were excellent and our discussion yesterday at Bible Study about them was fruitful; I'll have to write a little bit about it when I have more time. "Mr. Tambourine Man" just came on my ipod--the 1966 live at Manchester version.

Finally, here's the Pope's letter to the new Ambassador. It is very comforting, especially for Catholics in America, to see the Pope not falter against the pressures of modernity.

Happy first Sunday of October!

Friday (in a nutshell)

Today:
1. rainy
2. found my glasses
3. Hillsdale Forum

more later!

Kickin' off October with the Smarty Pants Award

Today was Fall Convocation. It was weird marching behind the teachers. I did KKG proud by wearing my black pencil skirt and heels, with an emphasis on the heels because I am notoriously known in the house for my dislike of heels; the entire house could be wearing black heels and I would still opt for my wonderful black Italian leather loafers. It's not a dislike, really, because I love wearing them; I just prefer to not as means of protesting the ridiculous notion many Kappas hold dear of wearing them during the winter, when the campus is covered in ice because Hillsdale has yet to learn that salt is a good investment, not a luxury item.

In baller news, KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA WON THE SCHOLARSHIP CUP!! I am incredibly excited by this, as one may tell. This is the third time we've won it, I believe, while I've been in the house, so I am absolutely heartened by this.

In the happiest of news, I got my computer back yesterday!! It's been a month since I dropped it off at ITS. Appropriately, when I put in my ipod before carrying it back across campus back to Kappa, I pressed play and Coldplay's "Fix You" started playing. My ipod has a funny sense of humor.

I wanted to take a nap after lugging Ned (I've decided to name my computer that right now; congrats, first people to know!) home, but I played tennis with Joy instead. It was a rusty game, but really fun. We also discussed things that matter while playing, like if the government should pay for abortions under its public health option and the Supreme Court debating gun laws. I'm sore now in my right forearm and left hand.

After tennis was dinner, and then, to finally make myself even more useless studying-wise, I went to the Hillsdale County Fair with Marisa, Heather and Kate. I've never gone before (minus going to the Demolition Derby with Brian and Colin freshman year) and I feel like it's something one should do before graduating college. It is, after all, "The Most Popular Fair on Earth." (Yes, my friends, Earth.) I had so much fun. I especially loved seeing all the animals; it reminded me of two summers ago when I covered Jr. Fair for the News Journal (my two favorite fair pieces I wrote for WNJ that summer were "Gobbling Tales of Showmanship" and "Confessions of a City Slicker"). I saw lots of college kids there, including my friend Will, who was taking pictures. Here's a sweet one from the swings.

Today is good. Tomorrow is Friday, which is even better. I am no longer going home this weekend, which is disappointing on one hand (I really miss my family) but good on the other (write papers/ write and edit articles/ research thesis/ socialize/sleep). I am determined to finish up Pauline Maier's "American Scripture" book today for Birzer's Founding by tomorrow.

Dr. Freeh is giving a talk on "The Resurrection of the Body-- Judgement, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory" at 8 in Lane tonight. It should be excellent. The reading is Luke 10: 27-38 and CCC 988-1060 (starts at 988, may have to push "next" to proceed on a few). Considering the topic, however, I feel like we should be reading Dante too! I'm missing Victor Davis Hanson's talk because of it, but he agreed to a little Q&A with the Forum for this up and coming issue, so I am stoked about that. This really is going to be a great next issue.

In other news, my glasses are missing. I think this might cause problems in the future.