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Ever feel like your amibitions far exceed realistic possibilities? My parents (and I’m sure many of yours as well) drilled into me the mantra: “you can do anything that you set your mind to” and the oxymoronic “never say never”. But, an acknowledgement of our inadequacies gives us the benefit of not being misled by disillusionment. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to bash anyone who has an inkling of confidence or is even remotely self-assured. Confidence is indispensable. But, what I am trying to toss around is the idea that a dose of failure every now and then is healthy. It keeps us grounded.

Interestingly, I found that a number of my classes overlap with similar theological undercurrents–no surprise there right? The idea of God as Creator and Sustainer was consistently hammered home. A self-sufficient person has no need for a sustaining and redeeming God. Everytime we fail, we are reminded of the fact that, as the creature, we are bound to our Creator. It seems ludicrous to think that failure ought to be celebrated. However, there are numerous Biblical accounts that demonstrate God’s power at its best when we fail. David is a prime example of this. Despite his acts of adultery and murder, God considered David a “man after God’s own heart”. From this we can take comfort in knowing that failure is by no means a measure of our own personal capabilities; but, that failure can be a vessel for God to pour out His providence–which is inexhaustible.

On Friday night, the international, missionary and third culture kids (ISA MuKappa) hosted a BBQ to officially welcome the new Director of International Student Programs, Dorca Kisare-Ressler. Being out there, in the backyard of Rafiki House, brought back a flood of memories of my first year at Messiah. One of those fond memories turned out to be what a close-knit community we, as international students, have. This community fosters understanding, acceptance, and support. It was demonstrated through the willingness of upperclassmen to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed. Whether it was by extraordinary grilling expertise, Sarah, or by starting an impromptu session of soccer, Sam, it was truly refreshing to see everyone reflecting what Sam, our chaplain, terms “the Church of Galatia”.

As part of the requirements for my Theology class, I visited the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. From the moment we arrived, I became acutely aware of its unique ‘old world’ feel. Our guide informed us that not much had changed over the 1500 plus years when the Orthodox tradition was first started. I found it remarkable that their worship is pretty much the same as it was when it was first practiced by Christians in the Middle Ages. To me, that demonstrates how connected they are with their forefathers, making every effort to preserve what is most valuable to them for future generations.

The architecture of the sanctuary itself was quite impressive. Golden domes loomed overhead, as if they were beacons of goodwill. And a fount out front greeted congregants and visitors alike, with the soothing sound of trickling water. Once inside, the interior was equally astounding. Massive paintings graced every spare inch of wall space. Iconography, as it is called, depicts key events in the life of Christ or images of the saints. Flickering candles and pungent incense complemented the somber atmosphere of the sanctuary. Another element of their worship that I enjoyed was the chanting. Staying true to their Greek roots, the liturgy was sung predominantly in Greek; however, there were instances where English was used as well. But, in my opinion, English couldn’t compare with the Greek on the basis that, as you would imagine, the Greek seemed to flow better. The priest explained to us later that their tradition encourages active participation by all five senses: tasting the Communion; seeing the icons; smelling the incense; hearing the chanting; and feeling the icons by veneration, usually in the form of a kiss.

It’s important to maintain traditions. At times they may seem foolish or out-dated, but they have shaped us into who we are today. My experience at the Greek Orthodox church taught me a lesson in relativity. What I believe to be relevant now is subject to change in a heartbeat. But, I take comfort in knowing that a God who was relevant to Abraham and Moses, is relevant today. Although attitudes, societies, and people change, God is current.

This past Friday, the Messiah College Cultural Series opened with a concert by the band Cellofourte. For those expecting to hear traditional classical music, myself included, we were pleasantly surprised to hear classical music conveyed with a rock-infused twist.

Let me just begin by saying that I have no musical talent whatsoever. But, I do believe that musicians have the power to make persons like me, who don’t know a lick about music, appreciate music on another level beyond just what sounds good. For me, music speaks volumes culturally and provides a sense of belonging.

Cellofourte proved to be a funky group of college-aged musicians who, to put it bluntly, want to make classical music “young”. This was evident by upbeat tracks, complete with head-banging and all. For me, their rendition of Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” was moving. Even without the lyrics, the message of the song was very clear. As the doleful chords permeated Miller Auditorium, emotions such as anguish and pain were unmistakable. During intermission, the CDs flew off the table–we had been hooked.