This morning I had to go my university's library to find some books for a paper I was writing. It has been about 19 years since I have been in "The Stacks." In my undergraduate studies, I went to the library often as I needed many references. But now in my graduate studies and the availability of so much on the Internet, I have not needed to go to the library.
It was early in the morning, the first day back to school after spring break. "The Stacks" were super quiet - no one else there. The books I needed were at the opposite end of the room from the entrance. The smell of "The Stacks" is unique and it was very familiar. I marvelled as I walked amongst the shelves scanning the titles - so much research, so much study, so much information - was stored there. So many titles caught my interest.
And the familiar urge to seek more knowledge returned in great force. I wished I had the time to sit down and peruse some of these books and journals. Memories of my past of reading extra things while looking for what was needed flooded back. And I was sad. Yes, the Internet is great but it is frustrating to sift through. It is not quiet and it has no atmosphere!! And for today I was made aware of all the great writings that are out there right in front of my eyes. And it was all good.
In the advent of all the technology today, may we never lose the memories of "The Stacks."
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Wake Up!
Hear, hear O Christian America
You sit in your great "cathedrals"
Dressed in the finest fashions
You close your eyes in prayer
You lift your hands in worship
You fill the offering plates with your tithes
You tell of all the ministries you do
Yet when the unemployed, undereducated struggling alcoholic
Comes and sits down beside you in the pew
What do you do?
You wrinkle your nose
You look the other way
You hold tightly to your purse
You walk out the other end of the pew
You tell your friends who came to church that day
Do you know what you missed?
This man prays every hour of the day
He thanks God for every breath he takes
He praises God that he stayed dry one more day
He gives half his sandwich to the one more needier than he
He walks with Jesus hand in hand
When will you wake up and shake off your piety?
When will you realize he is just as faithful as you?
When will you be blind to his appearance and see deep in his heart?
When will you embrace this dear brother of yours?
When you do - you will be renewed.
L.M. Lent 2009
You sit in your great "cathedrals"
Dressed in the finest fashions
You close your eyes in prayer
You lift your hands in worship
You fill the offering plates with your tithes
You tell of all the ministries you do
Yet when the unemployed, undereducated struggling alcoholic
Comes and sits down beside you in the pew
What do you do?
You wrinkle your nose
You look the other way
You hold tightly to your purse
You walk out the other end of the pew
You tell your friends who came to church that day
Do you know what you missed?
This man prays every hour of the day
He thanks God for every breath he takes
He praises God that he stayed dry one more day
He gives half his sandwich to the one more needier than he
He walks with Jesus hand in hand
When will you wake up and shake off your piety?
When will you realize he is just as faithful as you?
When will you be blind to his appearance and see deep in his heart?
When will you embrace this dear brother of yours?
When you do - you will be renewed.
L.M. Lent 2009
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