the best part about the weekend...

At the half-way point of a 4-day weekend, I think  its fitting to remember why weekends are so great...

Football.  Yesterday there were some great games!  And on the weekend, we actually have time to watch them :)  This is especially note-worthy because, after having weekends off for 5 years, I was nervous I might have to miss the games this year.  Thankfully, I only missed a part of one game due to work.  But now that I have weekends off again, it is great knowing I can watch all the games :)

Breakfast.  During the week, breakfast is normally the muffin I grab on the way out the door.  Sometimes I'll have enough time to make a smoothie or pour a bowl of cereal to take with me.  But on the weekends?  I can fry up some sausage, bake a German pancake, pour some OJ, and smother my toast with homemade jam.  On this 4-day weekend, I'm having German pancakes twice.  Because I can.

To-do lists.  Yes, this is a benefit of the weekends.  Like it or not, life includes a to-do list.  And on the weekends, I actually have time to scratch a few things off.  When Monday (or the case of this week, Tuesday) comes along, my list will be a little shorter.

Yes, I love my weekends.  This weekend I may not have the luxury of a nap, but that's okay.  I have football, breakfast, and accomplishment underneath my belt!

At the half...

42-0.  USC v. Cal

The last time USC had a lead over 40 at the half?  2008 in Pullman, WA.  At that game, the score was 41-0 at the half.

In 2008, USC was ranked 6 going into the game and WSU was dead last (or somewhere near that), not winning any games in the NCAA that year (though they did win against PSU that year).

So what does this say about today's game? USC is not even in the top 25.  Cal is not too far behind them, wherever they fall.  Either Cal is having a very off day today, or USC has finally pulled things together.  I have to say, the defense... looking pretty good so far today.

Integrity

What does integrity look like?

- following through with your word
- honesty, despite the cost
- doing what's right when no one is looking
- a clear conscience
- a healthy fear of the judgment of God
- obedience amongst the disobedient
- not caring about the reward

How it plays out can be different for every person, because we all face different situations where we must choose to exercise integrity.  But the most common thing I see at college is the student who answers correctly the question that shows up on most quizzes: "Did you read the assigned chapter(s)?"  That is integrity.

At the half...

USC v. Stanford.  14-14.

Here's the problem: USC defense.  Wrap up, guys!  You can't just tap a guy on the shoulder and expect him to fall down.  You've gotta wrap up and drag him to the ground.

So why is USC missing this?  Because they had no contact all summer.  When you don't hit in practice, you get used to tapping a guy on the shoulder and expecting him to stop.  That's not the way it works during the season!

Who's doing well?

Havili.  He's getting yards and he fights for them.

Why does he have so much success?  Because he doesn't go down.  Even when he gets flipped around by the defender, he keeps fighting.  He back-pedals and picks up extra yards. 

Barkley.  He's threading needles with his accuracy in passing.  Sure, there have been some missed throws, but can you complain when his pass completion is well over 60% (65.9% to be exact)?  And he's continuing to improve.

God's strength and power

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sometimes I am so thankful for the pain that wracks my body.  Those moments are typically preceded by times when I wish I could be free of pain and live like a normal human being. 

During the times when I wish for healing, I get frustrated.  Recently, the pain has been causing uncontrollable groaning.  I wake myself up in the middle of the night because I am whimpering from the pain and discomfort.  Sometimes, when I'm not feeling prideful, I ask for prayer. 

And sometimes healing comes.  Not complete healing.  And not permanent healing.  But relief comes.  God gives me the strength to do the task in front of me (tonight, the task was finishing a paper and studying for a midterm).  It is in these moments when I feel God's power rest upon me. 

I might still be uncomfortable.  I might still be in pain.  But God's power fills where my weakness fails.

"The Lord gave and the LORD has taken away.Blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21b)

Beowulf - envy and jealousy

Beowulf has some interesting things to say about envy and jealousy.  On the one hand, it presents jealousy as a socially acceptable motive for violence.  When a death-price isn't paid, the family member has a right to avenge the death of their loved one (which ties to the jealousy they have of that relationship).  But yet, in action, we see Beowulf standing against this type of vengeance.

Similarly, when the dragon has a cup stolen from him Beowulf stands against the dragon's attempts to restore the cup to himself.  This is not quite presented as an acceptable motive, but there is a link between his motive and the motive of Grendel's mother.

At the end of the story, a big question looms: Was it okay for Grendel’s mother and the dragon to seek to avenge the wrongs done to them?  As pointed out previously, when a wrongful death occurred, a death price was supposed to be paid.  It is this very point which is held against Grendel: “he would never make parley… nor pay the death-price” (154-156).  In Seamus Heaney’s translation edited by Daniel Donoghue, a footnote provides insight to this line by explaining, “According to Anglo-Saxon law, a murder or any unlawful killing could be resolved by the payment of a substantial fine to the family of the victim.  It was the society’s means of preventing the cycles of feuds from the beginning” (Donoghue, 7). 

                If this can be held against Grendel, it can be held against Beowulf.  On the one hand, Beowulf’s killing of Grendel is not unlawful, for King Hrothgar has requested it.  On the other hand, the nature of the killing does not give way to being lawful.  There is no mention of a court hearing where Grendel is present.  It is granted that Grendel would likely not have shown up, should a court hearing have been scheduled.  Still, from his mother’s point of view the death would have been unlawful. 

                The dragon had similarly been wronged.  While he slept, an intruder had crept into his howe and selected the dragon’s prized gold-plated cup for himself.  He carried it away and did not leave payment to reconcile the loss.  The dragon in turn begins to search for the stolen cup. 

                Despite the justification which might be provided for both Grendel’s mother and the dragon, Beowulf still steps in to fight both monsters.  More than stepping in to fight them, Beowulf pursues them.  He travels to their homes (or closely nearby) and initiates the battles.  In both cases, it seems that Beowulf is stepping in to preserve the kingdoms and communities which are suffering the consequences of the vengeance of the monsters. 

                When the dragon searches for his cup, he creates a path of destruction.  Homes and lands burst into flame as the dragon breathes fire from the sky.  The bard paints a picture of fire stretching acre upon acre; the Geat land had become a lake of fire.  The dragon’s vengeance is not restrained to the intruder and recovering the stolen cup.  Instead, the dragon’s vengeance reaches “far and near” (2317).

                Similarly, when Grendel’s mother seeks to avenge the loss of her son, she should have been after Beowulf alone.  Instead, she takes the life of Aeschere.  Her vengeance is not restrained to the man who took the life of her son.  Instead, her vengeance reaches into the home of Aeschere, his family, and his friends. 

                When Beowulf attacks and kills Grendel’s mother, the “cycle of feuds” (Donoghue) is put to an end.  The deaths of the Danes were avenged with the death of Grendel and the death of Aeschere was avenged with the death of his mother.  Similarly, when Beowulf attacks and kills the dragon, another cycle of feud is put to an end.  With the death of the dragon comes an end to his harrowing of the land of the Geats.  Beowulf stands up for the nations under attack.  In essence, Beowulf says vengeance is not acceptable, for when it remains unchecked it will destroy a nation.

on the back of a Kawasaki

I'm so thankful for friends who take me on trips with them!  Yesterday started off chilly, but right when I started to think "I really hope it warms up soon!" the sun came popping through the clouds and the rest of the ride was very comfortable.  Beautiful weather for 250 miles.

Why do I enjoy riding so much?  Because sitting on the back of a bike forces me to slow down.  I wish I could figure this out on my own, but since I can't, I'm thankful for rides.  A day of thinking (and being able to take a break from thinking) was just what I needed.

And thinking gives me the opportunity to figure things out so I can make decisions.  It doesn't make sense, but I haven't had enough time to think so that I could figure out that I'm in over my head.  Working over 30 hours a week while trying to make school my focus just isn't working out.  But thankfully there are ways to recompense this!

It was also a chance to worship.  Allowing God to minister to my spirit was great.  How could I not respond with praise and adoration of Him?  Singing, praying, and praising God was the best way to end the long ride.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him, all creatures here below.  Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!