Princeton Theological Seminary reunion, Part II

I just want to update you on the results of my reunion “wish list”….

First, I wanted to sit on a bench in the quad and reconnect with the squirrels. Several days of rain made the quad a soggy mess so even Wednesday’s sunshine didn’t make me want to walk through the wet grass to sit on a wet bench!

However, I did go early to skip the travel in the rain, which meant I had time to walk to the Borough Park and remember how much I loved that place!

Princeton borough park

 

I also wanted to sit in my favorite seat in the cafeteria, overlooking the parking lot… Did that the first day but felt none of the old longing to escape! Maybe it was the gluten free brownie!

A view of a parking lot.

 

Similarly, the desire to sit in the library was met several times, along with an unnamed desire to sit in the chapel!

The library atrium.

Miller Chapel before opening worship.

And finally, sitting with friends, remembering the fun and fury – well, that happened over and over! Along with catching up on what has happened since! And even getting a hug from a favorite professor!

Fortunately, it wasn’t all just sitting! We were challenged throughout the reunion, too. Challenged about the past, the present, and the future. How do we make amends for the past, how do we live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves in the present, and how do we preserve a future for the next generation – in church and in creation?

Princeton Theological Seminary at its best.

25th Reunion at PTS!

I don’t know how it happened but 25 years have gone by since I graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary! Next week, I’ll be attending our class reunion and I’m looking forward to doing the following, in random order:

1. Sit on a park bench and see if the squirrels remember me! (I used to keep bags of peanuts to feed them…)
2. Sit in the cafeteria and look out the window to the parking lot! (I used to look longingly at my parked car from Monday through Thursday till it was time to drive back home for the weekend…)
3. Sit on a comfortable chair in the Library for an hour or so! (The chairs were so uncomfortable 25 years ago…)
4. Sit with friends almost anywhere to remember the fun and the fury of seminary life…

If you were part of that experience – faculty, staff, students of any year – even squirrels – thank you for making it such a memorable time in my life! And I hope to see you Monday!

Blessings,

Beth

 

Women Mystic Awesomeness!

“To be one with love is an awesome calling and those who long for it should spare no effort.”  Hadewijch, 13th century, p198, Medieval Women Writers

I’m so excited about a “new” workshop I’m leading!

Okay. It isn’t new at all – I’ve been doing this in one way or another for about 20 years! But it is newly refurbished for 21st century online training. And that’s the awesome part!

You see, when I went into the course to edit some of the materials, I realized how much was missing from it! There’s so much more we could see, hear – almost taste and smell – than I had previously included.

You may have seen a blurb about it in my last newsletter but my excitement is kicked up a notch now so I have to invite you again! Women Mystics in the Christian Tradition runs from May 20th to 24th on BeADisciple.com. It costs $50 and offers .5 ceus.

I hope this all sounds awesome to you, too!

 

Random acts of kindness

Someone at church last week pointed out that it was Random Acts of Kindness Day and shared some of the ways she had been doing those random acts here in New York City. So I thought of that when someone in one of my online courses, did an act of kindness for me the other day.

He told me the name of a bush that had been in my grandmother’s yard when I was a child. She just called it “the shrub,” and when it was blooming, she would let me take a single blossom, crush it in my fist, and then breathe in the most intoxicating smell! I can remember the bush like it was yesterday but never had a name for it nor could I ever find the search phrase that brought up a picture of it.

But as soon as I described it, I got a response: “Was it a Carolina Spice?” And after a quick Google search, there were dozens of pictures of one of my childhood traditions!

I hope there are some random acts of kindness waiting for you these days – and maybe some from you to others!

Blessings,

Beth

Happy New-ish Year!

Well, a new year means some changes to the website – hopefully a little easier to see what you need to see! Let me know if anything is missing…

And as I’m here for a few minutes, let me add a hope for your new year: That it might be blessed, healthy, productive, and restful! They are what I long for so I imagine that you might, too. And if I, or my courses and trainings, can help you to be more of that, let me know!

Blessings,

Beth

Winter Newsletter

I looked at the dating on my winter newsletter and this is the 21st edition I’ve sent! At 4 a year, one each season, that’s more than five years! And I have enjoyed writing every one of them – I hope you have enjoyed reading them!

You’ll most likely receive your copy tomorrow morning but if you are anxious to see what I’m Enjoying this winter, here’s the link.

And if you aren’t already on my mailing list, here’s where you can sign up!

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Beth

Fall arrives!

Hello, everyone! Fall is finally here and my fall newsletter just went out. There’s a lot going on this fall, including two new courses on a new campus for a new college!

I’m teaching two religion courses in the fall semester at The College of New Rochelle. It’s a traditional college with an interesting history and a great community of faculty, staff, and students.

Coming right after being recognized as the Distinguished Faculty of the Year for UOPX’s Jersey City Campus, its a humbling experience to learn a whole new system and process – to say nothing of 45 student names and the countless faculty and administration that I’ve met!

But like most of our humbling experiences, it is a great space for growth and learning – I hope your fall is starting off just as well as mine!

Blessings,

Beth