Oxford 14: Miscellany

Funny thing happened on Thursday (01 December 2005) at my Seminar. Each of the seven students in the seminar has had to give a presentation on one of C.S. Lewis’s major works and I was presenting on Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. My presentation covered a variety of themes including prayer, liturgiology, worship, God’s nature, and virtue. I intentionally avoided dwelling on the topic of liturgiology because it is a sensitive issue and I didn’t want my presentation to degenerate into an exposition of my personal views on contemporary worship services. So I was very startled when Dr. Harris zeroed in on the issue of liturgiology and began by explaining to the students, “Luis is a traditionalist when it comes to liturgy and the church.”

I couldn’t recall ever having talked with her about the contemporary church; and I had never before used that particular term to describe my position, though it certainly fit. And why was she talking about my views? Could she possibly have gleaned that detail from my other writings? I wondered, Were my beliefs really that transparent?

I was about to interrupt her but, thankfully, caught myself just in time. It’s probably obvious to you, and finally became apparent to me—she hadn’t said, “Luis is a traditionalist.” She had said, “Lewis is a traditionalist.”

Hey, I may not be fast, but I was fast enough to prevent my being made a fool of. That’s why I’m sharing this with everyone now.
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I can handle cold weather and rain and wind and overcast skies—that’s all good. But this business of the sun setting before 4:00 PM; I don’t know about that. When I leave the Bodleian library at 5:00 PM and it looks like its after 10:00 and I feel like I should be going beddy-bye. Goodness gracious!—these higher latitudes are growing intolerable.

Hey—does my astronomy-buff cousin David know why the sun sets earlier in the Northern hemisphere during winter? I’ll bet he does; and if not, he’ll learn it double-quick.
Hi, Uncle Dan! Hi, Aunty Joanie! Hi, David!
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Thanksgiving (24 November 2005) was wonderful. Turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and cranberries and casseroles and sweet-breads and pies (and pies and more pies and more pies). Positively delightful. Christy and I coordinated on the decorations; they were a smashing success.

On Sunday (27 November 2005) I went to Bath with Brooke and Joannie and Kate and B.J. Good times!
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On Thursday (01 December 2005) I performed with the New College Wykeham Singers; that was a lot of fun. About a dozen friends were in attendance—yay!

I shared music with an Oxford first-year, named James. He’s a theology major whose working in a program headed by Ravi Zacharias.

But here’s the kicker—his appearance totally reminded me of Kevin (APU-Kevin, that is). The goatee, the hair. And I know that if Kevin sang and was there, he would have been cracking jokes left and right. One of our pieces—“Rejoice in the Lamb” by Benjamin Britten—is an absolutely marvelous piece, fantastic polyphony and so much fun to sing, but it’s got the most bizarre lyrics. In the middle solo section the soprano sings (and keep in mind, this is a sacred piece):

_For I will consider my cat Jeoffry.
_For he is the servant of the living God.
_Duly and daily serving him.

_For I am possessed of a cat,
_Surpassing in beauty,
_From whom I take occasion
_To bless Almighty God.

And the alto follows:

_For the Mouse is a creature
_Of great personal valour.
_For this is a true case—
_Cat takes female mouse,
_Male mouse will not depart,
_But stands threat’ning and daring.

Huh!?! Maybe there is a profound allegory or symbolism attached to these words, but I don’t get it. Anyhow, I knew that Kevin would appreciate that and would help me to appreciate it.
Hi to all my APU friends. I miss you. Thank you to those who sent me e-mails.
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My birthday (02 December 2005) was cool, too. I did spend most of it in the Bodleian (work and responsibilities don’t disappear just because…), but that was alright because I’m really enjoying and interested in my last paper.
In the evening I decided to go down to the New College Christmas Bop. I stayed for about a half-hour. I always forget what insufferable affairs these school dances can be. Actually, I expect if I stayed at one long enough I could get into it. And it’s certainly my loss for failing to appreciate or fully enjoy them. (Some commented that this was an unusually ‘rowdy’ one, too. Not at all exemplary of the majority.)
Anyhow, I did get my first kabab from one of the Oxford street-vendors that night, so that was good. Then I hung out with Joannie and Kate for the rest of the evening. Hurray for birthdays!
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Oh, last entry in my critical The Narnia Chronicles (Film) series. Apparently the fault lies not with the story-writers but with the advertising department. I’ve been told that in Edmund’s first encounter with the White Witch, her sleigh is being pulled, appropriately by reindeer. And that’s all I’ll say on that.
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Most of my socks have gaping holes in the heel. I find this to be amusing. It comes of all the walking I do. Fortunately it is my toes and not my heels that get cold.
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One more paper—due Monday. Then a time of rest. Sort of. I really ought to work out a synthesis of my work in philosophy and theology. I’ve absolutely loved that course. Survey courses are okay, but it is so very illuminating to approach a time period or movement in history from the perspective of a particular discipline. Philosophy, theology, language, politics, science, art, you-name-it. Pick a period in history and examine the movements and impact on that particular discipline; it’s remarkable when things come into focus.
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Oh, and here are pictures of me and my Leibnizian philosophy tutor, Kurt Ballstadt, in John Welsey's room at Lincoln College.