Disheveled in the Pulpit

Okay, I've taken far too long to post to this blog, even if I'm talking to an audience of one. Early in this semester, Kirby--in his Monday-night class on calling--asked us to describe last semester in a word, and our hopes for this semester in a word. My two words were "fog" and "joy," respectively. Well, this semester has become a fog as well, and perhaps in more pronounced ways.

My epigraph for this blog--taken from Annie Dillard--emphasizes the connection between verbalization and seeing. Well, I haven't had/made the time for verbalizing (as indicated by the gap between posts), and as a result, I'm not seeing very clearly right now. I'm very much in the fog.

Today was one of those days when I didn't even have the time to get naked (see the post titled "Naked in the Pulpit," below). Nor was I hiding behind an impressive if metaphorical set of threads designed to perpetuate in others some perception of control, authority, or even competence. I was disheveled today.

Part of the mess was the relative apathy that hits both students and faculty alike at this time of year. Part of it was a completely unproductive weekend. Also, by attempting to not let work overwhelm me, I've managed to let work overwhelm me. Tons of papers to grade. Lots of other administrative type stuff to be done as well. Plus the onslaught of more personal obligations and events that surface toward the end of the school year. To misquote Jerry Reed, in that masterpiece of American cinema--Smoky & the Bandit--"I've got a long ways to go, and a short time to get there."

I don't mind being "naked in the classroom." Indeed, that's my goal, really. Today, however, was one of those days where I simply couldn't get out of my sweats.

Now that I've run a perfectly apt metaphor into the ground, I'll try to get some grading done.