A Mid-West Vacation: Part I

Last week, Andrea, Kellie and I visited South Bend, Indiana to visit Jessica Zekus, a friend and fellow alumna of Alfred University.  Currently, Jessica is a graduate student working to get her MFA and works with ceramic art.  Back in March of 2010, Andrea and I came to visit her, and this was Kellie’s first trip out to Indiana.  As we traveled, I did my best to blog and remember as many of the more notable details.  All the pictures in this installment are used with permission from Andrea.

Day 1: Monday, May 23, 2011 – Travel Day

The journey from Binghamton, NY to South Bend, Indiana encompasses about 655 miles and times out at just under ten hours if you drive non-stop.  Needless to say, it takes a bit longer to get there considering gas breaks, food breaks and bathroom breaks.  Before even hitting the road, Kellie had her stitches taken out while Andrea and I put air in the tires.  But at 10:45am, we were on our way. 

Apart from the typical roadway hazards and annoyances (like construction, rush-hour traffic and poor driving), the most notable event occurred just as we arrived on the Ohio Turnpike.  A hailstorm was making its way across the highway along with some intense wind and rain.  At one point, we were unable to see more than a foot or two out our windows.  Taking the lead of my fellow drivers, we pulled off to the side if the highway and waited the storm out, which only lasted about five to seven minutes.  I regret not taking pictures of the storm and its marble-sized hail, but I had become preoccupied in scanning for potential tornados.  The rest of the trip was actually quite pleasant and clear weather-wise.  In fact, Andrea produced some sweet pictures of the Ohioan landscape, including this beauty.

A farm in Ohio at dusk

But all in all, the driving wasn’t too bad, and it was lovely to be greeted so warmly when we finally reached Jessica at Notre Dame University.

Day 2: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 – A Day on the Campus

After a good night’s sleep and a wonderful breakfast, Jessica gave us a tour of the campus.  When Andrea visited last spring, it was still a bit chilly and very few of the flowers or other floras were in bloom yet.  This time the campus was in full blossom, and along the backdrops of the campus architecture, the entire university becomes a delight to the eye.  Apart from visiting the typical sites like “Touchdown Jesus,” the four of us also monkeyed around a bit in a low-branched tree.

"Touchdown Jesus" gets its name because the mural is centered
between the two uprights of Notre Dame's football stadium 

 

South Bend is actually home to three different higher education facilities.  Notre Dame University gets most of the attention, but tucked away is Holy Cross College, a liberal arts school with an emphasis in Catholic tradition, and also St. Mary’s College, which is an all-women liberal arts school that focuses on having their graduates make meaningful and spiritual impacts on the world after graduation.  All three of these schools neighbor each other and between them are two small, but gorgeous lakes.  Our afternoon was spent on walking around the lake trail, observing wildlife, and making conversations.

When the grand tour of the campus concluded, we bought some groceries to last us the week, had dinner, and played Sequence and ate ice cream for the rest of the evening.  It was an awesome first full day.

What's that Ruckus? #4

Over the past month or so, I've been on a World War II kick regarding my music.  Below are two songs from two different bands that I listen to and enjoy on a regular basis.


Specifically, House of Heroes, a lesser-known Christian band, released in 2008 the thematic album "The End is not the End," which is based entirely on the events before, during and after WW2.  With that considered, I could choose any track to feature, but I'm going to bring "By Your Side" to attention.  It's a heart-jerking acoustic song about brothership in the midst of battle, and in particular how the destruction of war changes families and lives forever.


A Rotterdam November actually derives its band name from the devastating events that occurred in Rotterdam in May of 1940.  In fact, the band offers this insightful excerpt:

What’s up with the name?  Well, Rotterdam is a city in the Netherlands where the downtown was destroyed by bombing during WWII.  At that time, Rotterdam was nicknamed, “the city without a heart.” However, the citizens rallied to replace the destruction with a new downtown and the city was reborn with a new “heart.”  Metaphorically speaking, Rotterdam became an old city with a new heart.  Translating this analogy to the human experience is at the core of the band.

In contrast to the first song, City without a Heart demonstrates that it is the people and not the structures or systems that make the hearts and passions of a unified community.  The parallels to Christian doctrine are numerous.

House of Heroes - By Your Side

(sorry for the poor audio quality)

Born on the plains / a farmers sons and brothers the same
Raised on promises / we'd stay that way
As boys we believed / summers at the sea
We were free / to become men of good will
side by side

And we were children then / footprints in the sand
and where the ocean bends / we made our promises

Duty soon called / 1943 we enrolled
Together we would be / our family's pride

And we were soldiers then / our bodies in the sand
and like that sand through our hands / go our grandest plans

And just to see you face for one moment / I'd cross the ocean again
the end is not the end

And I'll be by your side / on the other side

And through the cloud of death / we find our way back home
and though I hold your hand / all must go alone
And when you see the face of our maker / you don't have to be ashamed
He knows the promises we made


Rotterdam November - City without a Heart




The sky was blue yesterday
but today it turned to the darkest shade of grey
I walk the streets of a European ghost town

When will we be assured? I feel so empty 
When will we be understood? Somethings broken here

I don't want to live my life thinking and pacing 
I don't want to say goodbye to all feeling

Once people talked amongst these markets 
But now, the cobblestone is all alone
These fires have burned to a few embers

We could rebuild this, City without a Heart 
This isn't hopeless, City without a Heart. 


After all that's gone wrong, City without a Heart, 
I'm stronger than a bunch of bombs, City without a Heart. 
These were our dreams once, what looks like piles of ashes. 
The fires of destruction burn hot, but not as hot as my passions.

I don't want to give up now, we've come so far
I can't do this alone, I don't care who you are


Resurrect these buildings, let the melodies ring. 
Set the captives free, set the captives free. 
We could rebuild this city without a heart.

7 Quick Takes: 2011 #6

-ONE-

I'm finally putting some quality miles on my bike now that the weather is nice.  Although I've only been out three times, I've put about 13 miles on it.  The biggest adventure so far has been a 5.6 mile ride starting from home and going to Good Shepherd.  Since it was on a Thursday evening, I was also able to score a free dinner as well.  Once I buy a lock for the bike, it will be my vehicle of choice for all my local needs.

-TWO-

Also because of the nice weather, Andrea and I cleaned our apartment from top to bottom.  A clean home is a happy home.

-THREE-

There is still a few duties to take care of, but I wrote the final exam for my statistics class today.  This is a wonderful achievement to have this (miserable) class over with.  Even though I eliminated an entire chapter, there is too much material and too little time to cover it effectively; it feels like I'm teaching a public school class with a regents exam.  I'm looking forward to teaching developmental and remedial classes from now until December for BCC.

-FOUR-

The annual mid-western vacation is returning for a second year at the end of the month.  Andrea, Kellie and I will be travelling out to South Bend, Indiana for four-to-six day vacation with Jessica Zekus.  Last year, when Andrea and I went by ourselves, we transversed five states and got a great scenic tour of Chicago.  Since we're heading out in late-spring instead of early-spring, I'm looking forward to spending a good time outdoors, and of course, geocaching.

-FIVE-

I was surprised by the Holy Spirit twice this week.  Once was when I called churches to advertise for Soli Deo Gloria's open house this upcoming Tuesday.  Considering that we worship at an Anglican church, but teach at a Methodist church, I was worried about how willing other local denominations would be to give us a hand.  But out of seven churches I called, six of them agreed to post the announcement flyers for us.  I am very grateful that this area has churches willing to give us a helping hand despite our minute differences.

-SIX-

The second surprise came after Mission Group was over on Wednesday.  It's not unusual for there to be a good amount of chatter after we formally end, however, a group of six of us felt convicted to pray for the city of Binghamton and how our group specifically can share Jesus with them.  Although it's difficult to put into words, but if you have experienced a communal prayer time when you know the Holy Spirit was in your midst, you'd know what I'm talking about.  And a prayer time like that doesn't go away and it impacts you for days, weeks and months.  So please pray for us as we make godly discernments and choices that bring the kingdom of God a bit closer to this city.

-SEVEN-

I have a few summer projects that I'm hoping to accomplish.  The biggest of which is writing an essay on how all churches should and need to be more tolerant and embracing of other denominations that are in good standing with Scripture.  Apart from 1 Corinthians and Romans, I would be delighted if anyone could send me other large passages of the Bible that deal directly with that message.

For more takes, see Jen.