pool humour

it may just be lifeguard humour but i think this video is hilarious...the really funny bit is near the end so don't stop watching too early.

Modern Day Monastic

I have given up tv for Lent (especially downloads) and already I'm finding other outlets for my procrastination. But since I don't consider updating my blog procrastination I am going to make a concerted effort at posting a little more often. Currently I am 'procrastinating' from doing my readings for History of Christianity. Next week we will be looking at monasticism in the 4th century so that's what I've been reading about this afternoon...until I started surfing the net. But back to the monasticism, I am just floored at the parallels I see with our society. Or maybe I'm surprised at how much I can relate to these early monastics - those who were seeking solitude from the world.

The earliest monastics were hermits who simply wanted to escape the stresses and distractions of society. By isolating themselves they could dedicate more time to studying scripture and furthering their own spiritual growth. However, if they were 'successful' they would of course gain followers and their knowledge and spiritual discipline would gain them renown, sometimes throughout the empire. Soon they would find themselves being called back to the 'real world' to positions of leadership in the church (even against their wishes at times). Eventually monasticism became a communal enterprise and apparently many people became converts to Christianity because they were attracted by the ideals of simplistic living and service.

I find myself caught in this web between wanting to move to the country, far far away from the 'hustle and bustle' of the city life; to escape what sometimes feels like madness to be closer to nature and to God. But then I feel this call to ministry and service - something that of course cannot be done in isolation. Somehow it was very comforting to realise that my desire to cut myself off from the craziness of this world isn't a new thing. Although our globalised world is wholly different from the 4th century Roman Empire there were perhaps more similarities than we are sometime aware. And I know that no matter how often I try to escape the world I will be drawn back into it...and that's probably a good thing.

A Beautiful Thing

I came across this story today and thought it was one of the most beautiful things. An eternal embrace. I think I'd like to be buried like this...instead of locked up in some box.
Here's the blurb from CBC:

ROME (AP) - Italy's recently discovered prehistoric couple will continue their 5,000-year-old embrace undisturbed through Valentine's Day and beyond.

The two skeletons unearthed last week will be scooped out of the earth together to undergo tests before going on display in the northern Italian city of Mantua, archaeologists said Tuesday.

This file photo provided by the Archaeological Society SAP in Mantua, northern Italy, on Wednesday, Feb, 7, 2007 shows a pair of human skeletons found Monday Feb. 6 at a construction site outside Mantua. (AP Photo/Archaeological Society SAP, ho)This file photo provided by the Archaeological Society SAP in Mantua, northern Italy, on Wednesday, Feb, 7, 2007 shows a pair of human skeletons found Monday Feb. 6 at a construction site outside Mantua. (AP Photo/Archaeological Society SAP, ho)

The pair, buried between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in the late Neolithic period, are believed to be a man and a woman who died young, because their teeth were found intact. Archaeologists have hailed the find, saying that double burials from that period are rare and none have been found in such a touching pose.

The burial was unearthed on the outskirts of Mantua during construction work. The site is located just 40 kilometres south of Verona, the city where Shakespeare set the story of "Romeo and Juliet" and the discovery fuelled musings in the media about prehistoric love.

Archaeologists also said there was little doubt the couple's pose was born of a deep love, but warned it would be almost impossible to determine the exact nature of their relationship and how they died.

Mantua's archaeological office said in a statement Tuesday that, in some cases of the period, the wife would be sacrificed when her husband died and buried with him. However, the statement said that "at the current stage of research" there was no evidence that this was what happened to the Mantua pair.

After undergoing lab tests, the couple are to be displayed at Mantua's Archaeological Museum, the statement said.

The discovery was made in a region rich in Neolithic treasures, including some 30 burial sites, all single, as well as the remains of prosperous villages filled with artifacts made of flint, pottery and animal horns.

Montreal Here I Come!

Well it has been rather a long time since I've posted on here. What can I say? I'm just getting lazy...and honestly, I've basically just been doing a whole lot of school work. But just this morning I woke up to find that I had received a wonderful email. A blog-worthy email you might say ;)

From March 3-9 the Canadian Theological Students Association is hosting their annual conference in Montreal on the theme of Theology and Sustainability. My school, Emmanuel College, pays for two student representatives to attend and I am one of the lucky chosen! So yes, I will miss a whole week of class but I can't wait. To spend an entire week exploring issues of sustainability in a theological context with other students from across Canada representing all different denominations...it's going to be pretty neat. And a whole week in Montreal! All around a very cool opportunity.

Apart from this exciting news, since being back in Toronto I've been really busy with school. Again this weekend I have three assignments to write. But only one more week of class before reading week. And then some time to relax ;) Or more likely, get ahead on some of my work for March because God knows, there is a lot of it.