Catch this Blog, Homecoming Edition

Chance has been faithfully writing in his blog since this whole project started--and this week, he reflects not only on a slow internet connection, but on social connections--or the lack of them. Since one of the features of a Christian college that Holmes identified was "community," I thought Chance's reflections might prompt some of your own thinking about how you "connect."

Serving Time. . .

Just outside of Provine Chapel is a statue by sculpture and long time art professor Sam Gore. Jesus is down on his knees, washing the feet of one of the disciples, while a disturbed and unconvinced Peter looks on. I have thought a lot about that statue as a symbol for what Mississippi College says about itself and says about its students.

Truth be told, I would rather be almost anywhere than down on my knees in service. While I affirm the gospel message that the followers of Jesus should mimic his life of self-sacrificial service, I find myself using nearly every excuse not to give myself fully into that service.

In class last time, I tried to prompt some thoughts and discussions about service with questions about what constituted service, whether or not service could be required or should be required, how we choose the acts of service we do, and whether or not service could be beneficial. The response I got from you all told me a lot. We seemed to agree that certain acts constituted service--but few of us admitted to doing any service unless it was required. And required acts of service were met with resistance and even the suggestion that we wouldn't "do our best" in those situations.

So I have been wondering. . .why do we, why do I, resist serving when I claim to be following the example of Jesus? Why is "required service" such a bad thing, when I am willing to submit to requirements for most other areas of my life? What might "authentic service learning" look like?

That's the question we will be addressing in these next essays. . .

Another Blog to Catch

I had to chuckle when I read Katybeth's blog entry for this week--if you will read her most recent entry you will find out why. . . yes! English teachers do have "other lives" (and other clothes!). Remember that you need two copies of your essay when you turn them in this week. I know you are all ready for some Fall Break. . .Ms. Furby and I are as well.

Gotta Serve Somebody. . .

So there I sat--face painted, in front of screaming, foot stomping kids, watching the sun go down and trying to follow the football game. This is service?

Saturday, I joined Kim and Peng as we did a service project with students from four other ENG 101 classes, welcoming eight children from Hunter Oaks Apartments Tutoring Program to campus for parents' day and the football game. I chose this service project partly because I knew I was going to be on campus on Saturday anyway and figured it would be easy to extend my time. But also I used to live in Hunter Oaks Apartments several years ago, so I had an attachment to the place.

The service project actually went well. The kids had a great time--even if all of it wasn't focused on the football game. They played cell phone games, screamed and shouted (sometimes for the wrong team) and ate! Boy did they eat! Oh, and we got our faces painted--many of us did anyway--thanks to some other students who volunteered their time and paint.

So that was our service project. . . and I left feeling. . .tired? yes. Happy? yes. Glad that it was over? yes. . . but I wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel. I certainly didn't feel as if I were some "super server." I didn't feel as if my life had completely changed. I realized that while we had made the day happier for those children that we probably hadn't altered their lives dramatically. Some unexpected things did happen--I got to know Kim and Peng a little bit better and they got to know me a little bit better. I got to see very diverse groups of students working together--Black, Chinese, and White students all focused together on a task and learning from each other. Did you know that Chinese students already know about boiled peanuts?? They have them in China!

What I am hoping is that service will eventually seem less intrusive and more integrated for me. I am thinking that like most things that will have to come with practice--making it part of my routine, my schedule. Volunteering seems counter-productive: I give of myself for free. . . what do I get out of it? Well, truth be told, probably a lot more than a painted face. . .