Chad's spot for various thoughts, musings, poetry, ideas and whatnot

Friday, September 30, 2005

Over the course of the last several weeks the campus ministry I sponsor has been looking through the parables in the accounts of the Gospel. One of the great assets our group has is an older Othrodox Christian who is very well versed in the writings of the church Fathers, specifically the Desert Fathers. As we have gone through our study, he has pointed out that many of Fathers wrote of the Kingdom of Heaven as not being a place "out there, in the future" but as a here and now thing. Not only that but that the Kingdom of Heaven is a place and a state inside each follower of Christ. In their writings and their theology God is as intimitely inside us as we might imagine. Metropolitan Anthony Bloom wrote that God is closer to us than we are even to ourselves. God is not some sort of distant, omnipotent sky God but rather a personal, even sensitive God that knows us by a name that even we don't completely know yet and wants us to know Him in the same way.

At the same time, Christ, in His statements to His disciples at the time and also now, makes it clear that whenever we are going outside of ourselves to help another person we are doing that for Him also. Whether the person is great or small, wealthy or poor, sick or in good health whatever we do for the least of these, Christ tells us, we do for Him also. Thus we are called to look upon our fellow human beings as Christ. We are to see that outside of ourselves and our personal concerns there is a world full of God.

So often, as I listen to popular Christian media and thought, I hear the desire articulated over and over that we are to seek a personal relationship with our God. I hear from my students in our discussions and from others through print, radio and TV that they seek to really hear from God, to really connect with Him. As I think of the God that is both inside and outside I wonder (OK, I more than wonder) if our Christian culture has become infected with a "to have a 'real' relationship with God it has to be miraculous in a blatantly obvious way" mentality. He has to 'speak' with us and give us 'signs' and all the other or somehow we don't think our faith is real or that our relationship is lacking in some foundational way.

While I certainly don't practice what I'm about to preach very often I really think this kind of thinking is sort of an insidious rot from the inside. If we want to find God we don't have to wait for Him to 'speak' to us in some sort of Bill Cosby "Noah" voice. He's right there deep inside of us waiting for us to sit and be still with Him. Not only that but He's all around us, waiting for us to look outside our lives and to sit down and start a relationship with Him in the form of a hurricane victim or the victim of domestic abuse or even person who is the victim of their own choices. He is the child in our own home who seeks to be loved and the unwed mother who needs a little help to get through the week. Like Lazarus at the gate of the rich man, He sits on our very doorsteps waiting to be noticed.

Why to do we struggle so hard to find Him when He's right there? Why do I struggle so hard?

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

For the first time since the crash I rode my time trial bike yesterday. The crash has sprung the old frame and shattered the fork of my original bike so I had to replace both. After several weeks of stops and starts with All3Sports (I can no longer, in good conscience, recommend them as a shop to get work done at) I finally got my bike back and with the help of EBay I was able to replace my damaged or destroyed wheels.

Knowing the tendancy of the bike to ask more of me than I usually plan to give I waited until after I had finished my recovery week to take her out on the shakedown cruise. The plan was that I would go hard but not all out over a 46 mile route I usually like to use for TT training. I had hoped to do the distance in under two hours and six minutes but didn't really think I'd beat 2h10m.

As I set out I was surprised to find myself settling into the aerobars with almost no trouble and little uncertainty. It was like riding a bike as they say. I did the first couple of miles in the small ring to remind my legs and back which muscles I had to use now in this once familiar position. I was rewarded with a few twinges from my left gluteal muscles that soon disappeared and after my brief warmup I was able to switch up to the by 54 tooth front ring and begin to power.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to ride the TT bike. The whole way in which power is applied is different. You don't really do intervals or surge but instead give a strong, continuous effort where it's as important to have a good rhythm as it is to be able to produce power. Over the course of the next two hours I powered my way around the course, flying though the tiny country villages that dot the area: Milner, Orchard Hill, High Falls, Unionville, Liberty Hill. I expected for my wrists and shoulders to give me problems after an hour and they didn't. I expected for my hip flexors to start complaining after ninety minutes and they didn't. I was haulin' the mail and loving it.

As I pulled up to my home I looked at the time and I had done the route in 1h57m for an average of over 23 mph. Wow! That was without any areodynamic stuff like a skinsuit or TT helmet or disk wheel. The State TT Championships are a little less than two weeks away and I might just be able to go and do something or at least avoid embarrassing myself.

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Monday, September 26, 2005

This weekend I was reminded about what can be good about athletics at the collegiate level. CNNSI ran two stories about games this weekend wherein the power of athletics to encourage and inspire was showcased.

The first was the story of a 40 year old former Army ranger who has walked on to the University of South Carolina football team and earned a spot. This weekend he caught a pass for a nine yard gain and, in doing so, became the oldest person to ever catch a pass in a college football game. The story's cool because it shows that in college there are always opportunities if you're willing to sacrifice what is needed to take advantage of them whether they are found in the classroom, on the athletic field or in extracurricular activities. This guy paid the price to make the team and Spurrier rewarded his effort by putting him in the game and giving him a chance to perform.

The second story was about Charlie Weis at Notre Dame following through on his commitment to run a play called by a 10 year old fan who had died the night before the game from a brain tumor. Weis had promised the young man that he would run the "pass right" call on the first Notre Dame offensive play of the game. When that play happened following a ND fumble recovery on their own 1 yard line, Weis would have been a lot wiser to have called a running play. Instead he followed through on his commitment to the young man and his family. It's not a big thing in the grand scheme but it sure meant a lot to the family of the boy that Weis followed through on his commitment. In the coaching merry-go-round that college football seems to be sometimes, it was a nice thing to here about. I'm sure I'll get an "Amen" from the Alabama readers in the audience...Dennis Franchione comes to mind here.

Given the seemingly unending litany of drug busts and academic scandals and fights and all the rest that plague division I collegiate athletics it was nice to see a couple of coaches act with integrity. While there may be some question about whether this wins games, I know that if I were a parent I would be a lot more comfortable with my son playing for one of those two men.

Thanks for reading.

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Saturday, September 24, 2005

In the wake of Hurricne Rita and the possibility of gas shortages caused by production disruption on the Gulf Coast, our Governor has asked the public K-12 schools to close on Monday and Tuesday. As I sit and consider this request, I am confronted more and more by its knee-jerk stupidity.

Now, i understand that it will save more than 250,000 gallons of deisel not to have to run buses and it might also save some regular gas due to teachers and administrators not having to drive but there are a number of factors not being taken into account. I seriously believe that the teenagers that now don't have to go to work will burn up that extra gas running around in their cars on those days. There's also the economic impact of the parents that now have to find daycare options. Many will have to take time off work while others will end up leaving kids without supervision leading to all kinds of trouble.

If the Gov was so concerned about gas shortages why doesn't he close all non-essential state offices and order state employees to stay home and conserve gas? How many gallons would be saved by grounding the state's transportation fleet for those two days? Why doesn't he do what California is doing and vigorously pursue moving the state's vehicle fleet to alternative fuel/hybrid technologies. Why didn't he cancel high school sporting events on Friday night?

No, the Gov is showing his true feelings regarding education this weekend. It's the least important thing the state does and the most easy to cancel in his mind. This pretty much seals the deal electionwise for me. I can't vote for him. What remains to be seen is whether I can vote for any of the other candidates. If the Dems put Mark Taylor forward I'm pretty sure I can't vote that way either. Why can't the Democratic Party put anyone but weak, special interest hacks on the ticket? Just like on the natinal level, the Georgia Dems seem to only be able to lose races rather than looking to inspire and win them. I'm a registered republican but that's only because I'd rather be in a party than be counted as an independant. If the Dems actually gave me a candidate that seemed to be free of the special interests I would vote that direction.

The thing that burns my bacon the most is the thought of having to listen as our college students whine and complain that they have to come to school when the K-12 students don't like it's some sort of personal affront. I'm really sick of some of our students. This is the first year I've really considered whether teaching at a four year school wouldn't be a better optioin. I love the two year mission but I'm really tired of my student's underachievement this year and their continuing attempts to justify it as someone else's unrealistic expectations.

Sigh.

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Thursday, September 22, 2005

If someone would have told me yesterday that I would have a 15 minute conversation with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy about educational methodology and the man/machine interface I would have chuckled politely and then slowly backed away looking for the nearest safe exit.

Today, however, that's exactly what happened. It was a really cool few minutes to talk with this guy and see how he was thinking about training in the Navy and how he was thinking through the process of creating systems around people rather than trying to force people to fit systems.

The conversation has spurred some thinking on my part about a "multiple pathways" approach to learning material. I have a class full of students with different learning styles and I have to try and find a way to teach to those. While the in the classroom time has to be organized, maybe there's some thing I can do that would allow students who wish to come more prepared multiple ways to to interact with the information that best suit their learning style. Of course, the problems that arise is that the students actually have to care enough to access the appropriate pathway and they have to know enough about their learning style to know which pathway works best for them.

Things to think about...

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Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Thanks to the generosity of a good friend, the lovely wife and I were able to go and see a performance of Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theater last night.

The production was fantastic from a technical point with elaborate sets, fairly cool special effects and excellent lighting.

The Fox was magnificent as a space. It's one of those rare spaces that makes you yearn for the days gone by where people spent lots of money to create spaces that were exotic and sought to transport a visitor to another place and time. Maybe it's because we are all so worldly now that there is a lack of wonder but it just doesn't seem like places with the same level of elegance and sophistication are created for the public to enjoy anymore.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed the performance but I didn't. The actors gave fine performances portraying their cahracters and the singing was technically excellent. I just don't enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber's stuff. I know that makes me a Philistine but I just don't dig it. His stories are needlessly melodramatic and sacchrine in my mind and everything said seems to take forever to say. Once said the plot then takes a quantum leap to the next place with little or no subtlety. Oftentimes, it seems that the only point of a song is to display the virtuosity of the performer, not to move the plot along. Now I have no problem with displayed virtuosity, whether it be Wynton Marsalis on the trumpet, Yo-Yo Ma on the cello or Eddie Van Halen on the electric guitar. It just seems to me that the point of music is to transport the listener to the state of the emotion of the composer. On Sketches of Spain, Miles Davis' first trumpet notes nearly bring me to tears every time I listen because I can feel the heat and the pathos of the Spanish plains in every beautifully held and drawn note. When Sting recorded the Soul Cages album I could hear the catharsis of singing about a father recently lost and a son's desire to reconcile. Much of what I heard last night seemed to be singing for singing's sake, much like some of Stanley Jordan's jazz guitar compositions which sound so perfectly crystaline and sterile. What music there was that was melodic and lyrical was over done and, to me, lost in a see of soap operaish blech.

Now, I understand that there are literally millions who would be willing to take me to task for what I've written and so I know that this is a case where I am more likely discussing my lack of taste than I am the artlessness of the show. In the future, however, I'll look for something less "pop" I think.

The most important part of the evening was getting to spend it with my wife. We both dressed up and she was radiant. We don't get a chance to do that very often and she was truly a vision to behold. Even the poor audience manners (yes, it seems that the crowds at the Fox aren't much better behaved than the crowds that attend our local theater) couldn't dim what was a wonderful evening with my wife. That was the true beauty and grace of the gift given by our friend; the time to spend together doing something special that we'll treasure for many, many years. I would go to a lecture on Eastern European shopping customs as they relate to the class conflict dielectic given by Wall Street pit traders on crack if I got to get dressed up and go with my wife to a place as special as the Fox. I hope that we can do this a lot more often (though I would rather avoid Wall Street pit traders regardless of whether they're on crack or not).

Thanks for reading.

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Monday, September 19, 2005

Not a long post today but instead a few tidbits.

Dauset was excellent as I had hoped it would be. It was nice to get back out there again. Neither me nor the bike broke so there'll be a return trip planned for this Thursday.

My physics students just trainwrecked their first test. I keep thinking that they'll do better, that something I can do as an instructor will help but every fall it's like this. Half the class failed the exam badly and it looks like several of them plan to stay in the course. I was really hoping this year it would be different. Very big letdown.

Oh well, I have dates planned with the lovely wife of of different types over the next couple of days so I have those to very much look forward to. Also, I found out that there will be a state TT championship this year so maybe I can get in some kind of shape to be ready in a couple of weeks. I'm waiting for rim strips to come in so I can get my new wheels on the TT bike and start testing things out.

Soon.

The Physicist   Link Me    |

Thursday, September 15, 2005

I can't go into details but what a week it has been. Today I will go to Dauset Trails for the first time since before my accident and ride my mountain bike. I don't really care whether or not I ride fast or well, I just want to be out in nature. I need to return to a place that brings me peace and helps me find peace. I need to return to my cathedral and reassure myself that God is still here and that things haven't really changed much in that department.

The news from the Gulf has hammered me and depressed me. What's worse is the complete lack of personal responsibility that was displayed on so many levels. When the President finally came out and took responsibility for the delays in federal response I nearly shouted in relief. When will the Governor of Louisiana and the mayor of New Orleans do the same? Never probably. They'll go ahead and point fingers and say, "It wasn't my fault. I'm not responsible," when it's clear that they are just as responsible, if not much more so, that the President and the federal government. When will someone stop excusing the behavior of the preditors who roamed the streets of New Orleans by pointing to the actions of those who were surviving. Why can't the media seem to make this distinction?

My classes are mediocre at best. I wish I understood why. My physical sceince class is among the worst I've ever taught. I've already mentally abandoned most of the students in the class and am teaching to the few I know care and are willing to work. I had one student who took an hour long nap in class today. I told him not to come back if he's going to do it again. If he had struggled against the desire to sleep I would have identified with him but instead he just laid his head down like we were in Kindergarden naptime. Maybe if he thinks he's that smart I should be making the class harder so that no one gets bored.

Ppppbbbbtttttt!!!!!!!!! (I would like to write a derogatory word here comparing this guy's character to an orifice but I'll refrain.)

So I'm going to go ride. Maybe I'll stop at the chapel and spend some time in prayer if I can do so and be alone.

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Thursday, September 01, 2005

I think I hit my saturation point with things here in the Atlanta area today. I've been following the events in New Orleans with some interest but over the last twenty-four hours or so I began to become a bit overwhelmed with the level of tragedy in the area. Not just the loss but the dissolution of human decency.

What's really done me in though is the situation here in the Atlanta area. People on the Gulf Coast are mourning the loss of loved ones, homes, memories, cherished items and here we are up in Atlanta panicking about gas supplies? Are supplies tight? Yes. Will there be shortages? Yes. Do people need to freak out and drive to the gas station and fill up? Absolutely not. How about we drive a bit less, plan our trips a little better, carpool? How about we exercise a little rational sense and separate ourselves from the animals in New Orleans who feel it's appropriate to try and ransack the last functioning children's hospital in the city putting the lives of the patients and physicians at risk? How about we tell the gas station owners who are gouging their customers to screw themselves instead of whining all the way to Big Brother?

Call your boss and tell him or her you'd like to work from home one a day week (if you don't already). I mean, how much of your work has to be done at your desk? I truly believe that if people really wanted to we could cut our gas consumption by 10-20% without a loss in productivity. Go to church in your own community instead of driving 50 miles one way to hear the preacher that says what you already believe. If you're a Methodist, chances are that the Methodist church three blocks down isn't going to be preaching a message all that different than the church your going to. People in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are suffering in every way imaginable. Don't you think we could keep from adding to the suffering by exercising a little common sense? Not here in the Atlanta area. Hell, at least we have jobs and cars and homes! The folks down there who have survived the storms are grateful to be alive. Can someone in the Atlanta area please get a dose of perspective?!?

Damn!

And No, I'm not done yet! Just wait until I get going about the President's speech yesterday. Argle-Bargle! That'll wait until tomorrow. We now return you to your regularly scheduled perfect life with no real tragedy (my apologies to those who do have some...this isn't directed towards you).

The Physicist   Link Me    |