I've got something to write on

A play on my last blog "I've got nothing to write on?" (which you should read before this one).

Okay, so I just finished writing about my spending spree. I justified it by saying that I've made a decision to accept that the path I've chosen has a certain set of expenses. FYI, my justifications are: USB hub - because I use a laptop and am always plugging in and unplugging 3-5 USB cables as I take it to and from home. External hard drive - because I have accumulated a large amount of seemingly irreplacable work through school and research, and that amount is only going to increase, so it seemed wise to keep a back up of it in case my computer was stolen or crashed. Cell phone - because I moved to a slightly rougher neighborhood a little farther from home, so walking is less feasible, traveling at night is less desirable, but I still have held off from getting a car, so getting in touch with others to coordinate rides is more necessary; also because my schedule is busy enough and dynamic enough that I need something to maintain it, and I'm going to start to need to be accessible to clients. All fine and justifiable reasons right? Not arguing.

But I have something to write about because I'm reading this book "The Irresistable Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical" (Shane Claiborne). You've just got to read it. This chapter is called Economics of Rebirth. Claiborne is someone who takes seriously lifestyle choices in relationship to the gospel of Jesus and the plight of the poor. So as I'm reading it, I just can't help but think that somehow, I've got to come up with a better reconciliation for the way I live my with respect to my spending habits. Because I'm not extravagent, just the opposite. But it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm generous either. I saved a lot of money this past year through simple living means, and obviously some of the above mentioned choices means I'll be living less simply. But I didn't ever calculate just how much I'm saving and then turn around and give it elsewhere. And I didn't love any differently - giving all you have away means nothing if it doesn't originate out of love. I guess if I think about it, he'd still say that my problem is that I don't know any poor people. I mean, I know lots of poor people, all my friends are students. But they're not poor in the same way, because they still have the opportunity for loans and to live in houses. So anyways, I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it. Like I said, read the book. It's great. But I'm not great 'cause I haven't lived very differently since I started reading.

A few of the quotes which have jumped out at me in the last 20 min of reading:

(Speaking on the problem with simply doing a social works program) "When the church becomes a place of brokerage rather than an organic community, she ceases to be alive. She ceases to be something we are, the living bride of Christ. The church becomes a distribution center, a place where the poor come to get stuff and the rich come to dump stuff. Both go away satisfied (the rich feel good, the poor get clothed and fed), but no one leaves transformed." (p. 159)

(Upon responding to those who use the scripture "The poor will always be with you" [Matt 26:11/Mark 14:11] to justify not acting to directly meet the needs of the poor) "I usually generally ask, 'Where are the poor? Are the poor among us?' The answer is usually a clear negatory." (p. 160)

(Gandhi upon being asked if he is a Christian) "Ask the poor. They will tell you who the Christians are." (p. 161).

Anything out of context like that can't fully do justice. But they're still good on their own.

I have nothing to write on?

Hi Friends,

So here I am at 20min to 1am on Friday night (Sat morning) and I am sitting at my computer because I couldn't fall asleep and decided my time would be better spent doing something than lying in my bed with the lights on. So here I am.

When I decided to blog, I had to decide what I wanted to write on. I concluded that I didn't have anything to write on. This is curious, because I haven't written in just under 2 weeks, and I certainly haven't been sitting on my ass for that entire time. I guess usually I am more interested in writing about a certain issue that I feel passionate about instead of a run through of my activities over the past little while.

But I don't have much formulated on the former, so I'll take up the latter...

Today was a bit of a spending spree for me. I bought a USB hub, an external hard drive, and signed up for a cell phone plan which included a PDA cell phone. Where did that come from, you ask? Well, I've come to the conclusion that after a year of penny-pinching on things that others would consider necessities, that I needed to make things a little easier on myself. I decided that I needed to accept that my choosing a course in life had, built into it, a certain set of decisions which I needed to walk into. I suppose you could see this as an abdication of responsibility (because I've said, well, I had no choice, I had to), but rather I'd like to see it as the acceptance of responsibility (well, I've made a decision to take this path, I accept the consequences of it).

I've already diverted from a list of activities and begun to reflect on them. Oh well, I guess I'll always be who I am...

Returning...Well, I've started classes and now had two weeks of school. I like it. This quarter I have the following courses:

PC 804 - Test Administration
PC 810 - Clinical Interventions: Psychodynamic Perspectives
ET 501 - Christian Ethics
ST 501 - Systematic Theology I: Theology and Anthropology.

So far it's been a really interesting schedule. I am definately interested in all of the topics, and I have great professors. I also think that the content will line up with my philosophical orientation enough so as to keep my interest, but will sufficiently new, technical and controversal to keep me challenged Short of getting into specific material, what else am I to say?

Besides classes, I've got lab (empirical and theoretical), which includes a few interesting projects. I submitted my first ever paper for publication (a response to another article with my faculty advisor; both will be presented concurrently in a journal, God willing). I also submitted a conference presentation proposal (mine is one part in a panel on ethics in psychology and I look at the role of psychologists in interrogations in Guantanamo Bay and other "black sites" around the world, and in so doing will challenge APA's response). And lastly I'm working as third author on a paper which we'd like to submit for a book on social psychology research. It is on social justice in research using two different exemplary thinkers (E. Levinas and I. M.-B.).

Okay, what else? Well, just trying to keep things straight. I got overwhelmed earlier this week and was paralyzed by the stuff I felt like I had to do. But a little support from one of my roommates and I learned how to improve my planning and scheduling. So now it doesn't feel so daunting. I still haven't been crazy social, though I did get out to the rooftop party to open the school year last weekend, which was a lot of fun. I'm finding myself up too late during the week and would look to the weekend as a chance to finally get to bed early rather than now get out. Also been out to the gym and playing basketball regularly.

Very excited about the Oilers season opener yesterday. Listened to what I could on the radio, and watched the highlights on tsn.ca. Here's to the 82 win season they're currently on track for!

Upon reflection about my list of stuff I'm doing, I struggle a bit. It's hard for it not to feel just like a big self-promotion. How do I not make it like that? And is there anything there that you care about hearing? What about things you'd like to hear about? That would be good. Then I could tailor my content a little more.

Okay, I'm gonna try to read a bit before trying to head back to sleep. Peace to you.