Reader, I apologize for the tardiness of this latest blog. In truth, I do not think I have done much this past week worthy of utterance and to the interest of those of you who read about my short residence here in Scotland. So I have felt some repugnance to sit down once again and relate to you a couple events that have recently occured.

What shall I tell you? What would you care to hear? Studying occupies much of my time. During the week, I spend the bulk of the day reading a long Victorian novel, or translating a short Greek passage in the New Testament. But not without a feeling that I am constantly catching up, as if my professors know just the right amount of work to make me feel rushed and always slightly behind. Is that not the general feeling of every student? I have learned that it does no good to speed-read, or to do any sort of work, with half a brain, merely for the sake of completing it. How little satisfaction can be found in that way! Doing the smaller and seemingly more insignificant things - which for an English major would be: reading the introductory material, looking up words I don't know, reflecting after each chapter, etc. - is the only road which ends in satisfaction and understanding. In short, I am trying to slow down my life; add a few more pauses in between the exciting stuff; for no one can truly understand the meaning of a certain event or experience at the time it happens. One must stand back afterwards to see it in its true light.

Do you feel like I'm being over-dramatic? As if now that I'm thousands of miles away, I think, no, I am bound to become some extremely changed, cultured, wise person? I hope not. Indeed, I have had these sorts of thoughts at home; it has only needed a little quiet solitude to shape them into clearer forms. One of my biggest fears is to come back home and feel as if I'm better than everyone, because I have 'studied abroad.' I think of a quote by George MacDonald: "Is there anything better in doing something where God has not placed you, than in doing it where he has placed you?" I do not think anyone ought to travel merely for the sake being cultured or even from a desire to do something great in the world. We were not made to be ambitious, but loving, selfless people. The smallest act of kindness or justice will be just as beneficial to both the giver and receiver, no, even more so, for it cannot lead to pride, than being elected President, or starring in a movie, or even finding the cure for cancer. I have come to Scotland, having entered a strange land, with many different habits and customs, but I remain with the same people - people with the same virtues, same faults, same bad habits, same good habits, same ambitions, same aspirations, same keen desires for knowledge, same keen desires to party, and so on. And that is a great comfort! But what does it mean? Every human on this earth essentially owns the same stuff inside his heart and soul! Ah, if that does not make one believe in a God, nothing does! We are all streams of the same source, threads of the same spool, hearts of the same heart! I have expressed my biggest fear: my biggest hope is to leave this country with just a little more faith in He who gave us faith; who did not make everything known, so that we may learn to hand ourselves over to Him in complete and utter trust!

I apologize if you were expecting something about Scotland. I promise I will have something to say about my ever-increasing adventures next week! I have indeed skipped over a couple events, which I will have the pleasure of relating in due time. Cheers!