more peeks into my life

Just a few random snapshots of this past week- outings, lectures, friends, and research projects... a actually a fairly accurate microcosm of my life right now, come to think of it... !

I keep telling myself that no matter how busy or tired I am, I need to set aside time at regular intervals to visit the museums etc. which I have access to here in Oxford.  So above is the natural History Museum, to which is also attached the vastly interesting and truly weird Pitt Rivers Museum. 

This is my main lecture room in Wycliffe Hall, although I also attend lectures in some University venues and also the OCCA facilities. 

Hanging out with OCCA classmates:) 

The state of my desk in the midst of researching Christian Views on War & Violence for a presentation/ talk I am assigned to give at an upcoming discussion group. The flow of books across my desk would make for an interesting record... one week its laden with Ancient Near eastern mythology texts and archaeological research, the next its a heap of Dostoevsky novels, literary reflection, and books concerning Christology. Those were interspersed with Biblical interpretation, second century Church history primary texts, the problem of evil, Augustine's confessions... and now its ethics, faith and war... the wide range of resources I am drawing from here never ceases to amaze me...and yet it all seems really the tip of the iceberg, as it were.

on the calendar

A few highlights from my calendar:

DCM Conference
Next weekend I will be attending a conference on Developing a Christian Mind here in Oxford with several of my friends. I am looking forward to participating in a gathering of students from the broader University who are exploring the important intersection of Christian faith and academia. Seeing scholars from a wide range of disciplines (as I am frequently surrounded by theology students) coming together for these discussions has the potential to both formative and encouraging for me- I would appreciate your prayers as I explore this area of the more deeply by investing time in attending this event.

Another University Mission 
The second week of February, I am going on another University mission week- this time to Exteter! Much like the outreach in Cardiff last term, we will be going to the campuses of Exeter University and partnering with their student Christian unions. Together, we put on events, talks, Q & A sessions, etc. to open up opportunities for students to hear the gospel, for skeptical students to ask their questions and engage with a reasonable defense of the faith, and for Christian students to have open doors to discuss their faith with their friends.
We are interested in getting people talking about the things that really matter- encouraging students to think, ask, discuss, research, debate, explore... and not merely float unreflectively and reactively through life. We aim to provide open and encouraging environments where students can be loved (experiencing through his people the very Jesus they are hearing about), taken seriously, and their questions legitimately engaged.
Please pray that God's grace would be upon the many logistical preparations, as well as the individual team members personal affairs in these weeks leading up to the mission. Most of us are very occupied with meeting a major essay deadline which falls directly after the mission (which will take us away from the libraries and our work for the week right before the submission date.)
Above all, please pray for God's Spirit to be already at work in the lives of the students we will engage in Exeter!

inspiring environs

The hardest part of writing papers has to be the shift from reading and research to forming a thesis, outlining, and beginning to write. I reached that point on my project today, so I decided to pry myself away from my cozy bedroom desk and air out my mind with a change of scenery. It was a great choice. 

I probably spent my day in some of the most academically inspiring surroundings that could be imagined. The shelf in front of me was laden with enormous centuries old books ( I kept finding myself staring at a 1624 edition of the Vulgate), the widow beside me had a postcard view of Oxford architecture, the ceilings were tiled with the University's insignia reading "Dominus illuminate mea" (or The Lord is my Light), along the moldings hung imposing old portraits in oil... from top to bottom, it was a scholarly dream. I will definitely be studying there more often...

I started at a cafe just off Turl street

 Passed the Radcliffe Camera portion of the library to the main Bodleian library building beyond it- and the sun came out!!! 

Photography of the room isn't allowed in the Duke Humphrey reading room, so I pulled these images from online so you can see where I was working.

See what I mean about an inspiring change of scenery? 

I  was in that third study bay on the left:) Despite being happy to the point of distraction, the inspiring environs did not disappoint and when I finally turned to my work the ideas just flew together. I literally went from not knowing how to begin to sort my thoughts to having a clear thesis in minutes! It was the best research to writing transition ever. 

 The view from the window next to me back at the Radcliffe. It was such a beautiful afternoon- the drizzle stopped and the sky was blue for over an hour... and the sunlight came slanting through those ancient panes... I was pretty much smitten. I felt like I could stay there dreaming studying forever. 

Stopping by the historic Divinity School hall on my way out- simply because its beautiful. The inspiring environs of my study today just underscored again to me what a privilege it is to be studying here this year and how grateful i am for this opportunity. Thank you all who helped me get here, all who continue to support my study and ministry, all who encourage me, and all who pray. 

overzealous: and it was all yellow

While I find the weather more than sufficiently cool for my liking, apparently the UK has had an extraordinarily mild winter thus far. My first two days back in Oxford were really quite shocking as the sun came out for several hours! Collectively, the unseasonable "warmth" (seriously?!) and occasional hours of sun have fooled the daffodils into thinking its spring. I went for a walk in the University Parks since it was dry and the sun had emerged... only to find carpets of yellow blooms punctuating the curiously vibrant green lawns. Apparently when the temps soar to 50ºF daffodils go all in and call it spring. A  bit overzealous, in my opinion. But this from the girl that just bought bronzer and ordered a waterproof parka. But as a salute to the spirited and resolute daffodils, the parka is an optimistic shade of yellow.

Crazy little optimists!

home at Wycliffe Hall

I'm back in Oxford after my holidays in Scotland. It was wonderful to get to rest and be refreshed by the fellowship of old friends (to say nothing of lots of sleep)... but it was time to return and hit the books for a good two weeks before term starts. It took me a couple days to transition into a reasonable schedule and get in the rhythm of working again... but I am making headway at last. 

Finally- a room with a view! My window is still bedecked in scaffolding, but I am enjoying a stint with a clearer view: I rented my room for term times only, so during these breaks I have to move out. Loretta has gone home to visit her family and been kind enough to let me stay in her room whilst she is away. Conveniently, I am able to move back into my room directly before she returns. I am enjoying being able to see properly out a window at last... one of my dearest hopes for 2016 is for the scaffolding to be removed from Wycliffe Hall.

Still traces of the festive holiday warmth around Oxford- at least on the door of the University Parks North Lodge, the entrance right behind Wycliffe Hall where I enter the park for walks on fair days.

I marked my return to town with a coffee and pastry at Maison Blanc, the french cafe down the street which my friends and I frequented last term. ALL i feel like eating is coffee and pastries in this weather... sigh. There are so few hours of daylight that the sun is always low-  it legitimately always feels like its coffee and pastry time. 

I bought some vegetables. I am trying very faithfully to eat them.

Most of my time is spent in front of this pile, however. Its material for an essay project I have undertaken on the topic of Christ in Dostoevsky. Its quite a task... nonetheless,  I am hoping to have it drafted by the time term begins! Only a few of my classmates are in town and Wycliffe Hall is empty and silent- so I have had few distractions and already covered a lot of ground. This week however, the hum of activity and necessity of normal social interaction will gradually increase as the offices reopen and students trickle back. My days as a scholarly hermit are numbered... 

coffee in Queensferry

The day after Christmas, a couple of us girls went out for a coffee in Ruth's hometown of Queensferry, just across the bridge from Edinburgh. It was a mess of rain, but we went to a chic cafe-bar with glass windows looking over the waterway. Waves, seaspray, gulls... and us cozy inside with coffee, Christmas lights in garlands, and good company.