So this past weekend I went to Trinity Music Fest with Julie (props to Jennie W for the sweet ticket hook up). The main pull was David Crowder Band , but other greats like John Reuben and Jeremy Camp were there (oh and God too, let's not forget that, gosh*).
Although nervous ("what am I even going to say to him?"), I mustered up the courage to go say hello to the ever intimidating-just-as-thin-if-not-thinner-than-David-Crowder John Reuben, as he stood by his merch after most of his fans had passed through.
My interaction follows (I hope this is not just hilarious for Julie and I):
Me: Hi John...(move closer, shake hands) I'm John
John Reu: I'M John
Me: Hahaha, hey I saw you out in Soulfest (that's in NH if you don't know) a few years back
John Reu: Oh yeah? What were you doing out there?
Me: Well I live out there but I go to school out in Valparaiso
John Reu: Oh yeah, Valparaiso University, gotcha
Me: Yeah, you're from Texas right?
John Reu: Nope, Ohio... uhhhh ummm (he literally forgot) Columbus, Columbus. David Crowder is from Texas
Me: Yeah I know that... ...it's you skinny scruffy guys (John Reu had a large amount of scruff for himself that day, but nothing close to Crowder) like you I think are from Texas, clearly
John Reu: Hahahaha
Me: Hey, well I really appreciated Boy Vs. The Cynic, I haven't heard your new stuff yet but I will definitely get to it
John Reu: Oh thanks man
Me: Hey well can I grab a photo with you?
Julie: Yeah I want to get a photo of you guys
John Reu: Yeah, yeah sure thing
Me: Cool, cool (put arm around John semi unconfidently but doing so nonetheless)
Julie: (takes photo)
Me: Well thanks dude, good to meet you
John Reu: Yeah sure thing man...
The End. Well, much laughing about Texas ensued as we walked away.
*this is serious thought I have that needs to be fleshed out some time
Alas, it is the end of the school year.
From the beginning: Opening the year at the dunes, playing frisbee and being terrified of stepping on nails, thank you Alfred.
To the end: Breaking glow sticks in the dark and splattering them all over each other in the woods, and of course, finishing the night with sporcle.
And now, having a slumber party in Kyle's room:
On to the Summer, Spain, and Mexico, God willing.
I did a lot today. After today I think I've had about 4 different and recent experiences of the Passion of Christ. These experiences start back about a week ago when we covered the four accounts of the Passion in one of my classes. It was a really enriching experience; I understand much more of the difference of the accounts and how their four views of the same event enrich our understanding of them. My experience of this holy week would surely not been as good or powerful had I not read the four Passions.
Then today, I went to an interesting Good Friday service at the University Chapel. They read the Passion according to John and the choir sang the the parts where the crowd speaks, an interesting way to place emphasis on the crowd. Later, after doing some baking for our Chile fundraiser on Sunday, I participated in La Via Crusis, which is done by the Gloria Dei Mission. It's a reenactment of the Passion that actually takes place on the streets of Valparaiso.
For me it was powerful especially because I felt self conscious following 'Jesus' in the city where a lot of people were staring at us. It was a lot like my moment in the 9th ward of New Orleans when I had to choose between doing what felt right and what felt safe. However powerful, it was astounding to me how many people had cameras and camcorders. More participants were using them than media workers! I was pretty frustrated by how distracting they became; when 'Jesus' was being 'nailed' to the cross there were about four people recording it, most of them smiling like it was just another event their loved one was participating in. In today's culture we need some media for publicity, but couldn't just one person take video and another photos, which could then be made available to anyone wanting it later.
Finally, just a few hours ago I watched the Passion of the Christ movie with a couple of friends. It was the second time I saw it, and by far the most powerful. I was about 14 or 15 when I first saw it and I think my understanding of the importance of Jesus has developed a lot since then. The most powerful moments for me were as follows: when there's a flashback of Jesus falling down as a child, Mary hurriedly runs to his side, just before Jesus falls while carrying his Cross and Mary runs to him; when Jesus teaches about Love with the message to love our enemies - also saying "If you love those who love you, what reward is there?" (Matthew 5:43); when Jesus is on the cross and he pleads "Father forgive them, they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34); and finally, when one of the bandits next to Jesus on the Cross states that it is right for himself to be crucified, but asks Jesus to remember him, and Jesus says "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Well this has turned out to be a heck of a long post. I really enjoy writing when it just ends up flowing like this.
I'm eager for the life that comes with understanding Jesus' life and message, and his promise that what we ask for in accordance with his word will be given to us (in God's time).
So I made it to the weekend. Thankfully at VU we get Good Friday off, so I'm finally able to relax a little. A lot has been going on as I've been fundraising to go to Chile this summer (the 5 of us made over $300 on a raffle, not a bad start), been staying on top of reading for classes, and enjoying the outdoor weather whenever possible. I also finally got fundraising letters out to family and friends. My goal is about $1,450.
Last Sunday a small group of friends and I did a music Bible study. We've done about 4 albums now and it's been really enjoyable and insightful. This time we covered Jars of Clay's title album, which we found to describe and press the importance of childlike faith, and an educated faith; faith that makes us respond to God with the desire and dedication to living the way he shown for us. It's been a great way to talk about a lot of topics and broaden perspectives.
Battle of the Bands was also last weekend. It was a really good time. A lot better than I thought actually; VU's really got some musical talent. Photos:
DJ, guest playing for Stop. Drop. Rewind:
The next 5 are of Grant Goeman and the Magic Men:
Laura Hewitt from the winning band, The Still Life:
I spent this past weekend at Donaldson, Indiana, at a retreat sponsored by Valpo's Chapel. It was at Lindenwood, which is a ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a convent. The area was really beautiful, and I could feel that the air was cleaner.
We had a lot of time for meditation via different forms of prayer, as well as some time to play and take walks outside by the lake.
Their chapel was built in 1920, and is one of a kind for north west Indiana, a real catholic specialty. Here's a close up of their stain glass.
This is a long week for me. I had a test a couple hours ago, and I have three more on Friday. Also this afternoon for my major, International Economics and Cultural Affairs, we're doing a simulation on the U.S. response to international conflict, particularly in Columbia, which has been stricken with drug problems primarily with the Revolutionary party, the FARC.
In other news I'm locked into my trip to Chile this summer! It's organized by our local YMCA. I'll be there for two months assistant teaching English in primary schools. You know what's next: let the fundraising begin! We're starting a raffle on campus soon, and are hosting a huge babysitting night for YMCA members, hopefully it'll be a doozy.
We made it! Those words are surprisingly significant. We set out at about 1 PM yesterday and didn't arrive to New Orleans until this evening at about 5PM. 28 hours. The shocker, we never made it to our sleeping point in Memphis (Trinity Lutheran Church). There was a snowstorm in Arkansas that slowed us down to about 25 MPH for 3 hours, had we continued, we would not have gotten to the the church before 3 or even 4 AM. At that point we decided to get to a hotel. A decision we had made to late, we found when we called over 10 hotels that had no vacancies. We trekked on until the two lane highway that had become a one laner came to a full stop. We sat for over 45 minutes, and had finally come up with a plan to take shifts sleeping and turning the car on and off for heat, when things picked up again and we stopped at a gas station. After much difficulty getting the gas pumps to work and thorough contemplation of our plan we decided to sleep in our vans in the gas station lest we end up doing the same on a highway.
Sleeping conditions in the back of the van
My technique for blocking out the bright lights under the Shell station.
Breakfast of (Shell)Champions
Morning eyes at breakfast after about 2 hours sleep plus anything gained while driving
Finally, after settling in and having a sort orientation at the LDR site, we went to the French Quarter to have dinner at Cafe Masnero on Decatur and Toulouse. Here's the trademark New Orleans Muffaletta Sandwich (this one has meat, I got the one with olive salad):
and then we went off to check out the better/healthier (haha) parts of Burboun St.
Last night while walking back from frisbee practice I walked past a few other students, as usual. Three in a row we're talking on their cell phones and I was reminded of my love/hate relationship with cell phones. For me they allow easy communication with those I don't get to see much, easier organization of meetings etc., and an easy place to take a brief note. Seeing those students also reminded me of how whenever I set off on a walk that will be more than 5 minutes I usually think of who I need to call. It's only in the moments where my hate relationship for phones is present that I notice what a burden they are and how they keep me from enjoying the moment around me. There is no ordinary moment and I'd rather Be Here Now than Back There wondering what I "have to do" next. 
Back in the middle of January, Valpo had a pretty big celebration of Martin Luther Kind Jr. weekend. One of the guests was poet Lawson Fusao Inada. I attended his reading, and his focus group the following day. At age 4 he and his family were unjustly "interned" (held in a camp-like prison) in Fresno, Arkansas, for the duration of WWII, as were most families with Japanese heritage. Inada read poems from his book Legends From Camp. I really enjoyed his style of writing and reading. All this description just to say that during the focus group at one point cell phones came up. Inada was describing a moment he had had recently in line at a pharmacy. The girl in front of him in line was on their phone, and Inada shared what he wondered in the moment "What do you say on the phone while in line? 'Hi mom, yeah, I'm at the store, yeah, I'm in line, yeah I'll be home soon.'" He then laughed uproariously which alone was quite funny to behold. His tone of honest amazement in the girl's need to call her mom made me stop and think. I asked myself "yeah, what do we say on the phone?" The image he imprinted on my brain was someone talking at (not to) a phone, just a piece of plastic with electronic chips in it, not a tool for communication. It was simply a visceral, basic, earthly, ideal feeling that made me realize just how fake cell phones are to our true experience of life on earth.
On a side note, it's moments like I had listening to Inada that I've always wanted to write about. I'm really happy I can do that here.
