Cockroaches, Fireants, and Humidity- oh my!

So, what has the Texan college kid been up to?

well... in my first week, I got bitten by fire ants, encountered numerous cockroaches, sweated 20 times more than I do back at home, had an upset stomach (and more...), and got weird rash/bumps on my skin.
Plus, I was told about Texan snakes, spiders, and other random critters that don't exist in the snowy north. And I guess "pop" doesn't exist either. It's "soda." And they think I say "bag" funny too...

Overall, though, it's been a great experience! I've met a lot of new friends and suprisingly, many Christians- including Christian musicians and honors students. The distractions are pretty bad, though. Sometimes, you feel like it takes a lot of willpower to say "no" and go study instead. As a person who's tried to get his hands on everything in high school, this will be one of the biggest things I need to work on as a college student.

While the "switchover" to freedom has been a little weird (no, mom, I don't always eat my vegetables at dinner...), the biggest change was actually in the professors.

A few deep thoughts:

Being in the honors college, you are influenced heavily by academia and there is a lot of intellectualism. Now, obviously, this is not bad in and of itself, but typically when you mix non-christians, liberalism, and academia, it can start turning your world as you know it upside down. For one particular honors class, I get the feeling of a quasi anti-christian environment. The discussions are circular, because there really is no answer if you leave religion or Christ out of the picture. Topics like "why do you think humans developed a social contract structure, and why can't we just kill people if we feel like it," have no meaning if you don't believe that there is more to human life than just life itself and our "Freudian" instincts and desires. Just having the knowledge that we must shape our world is not enough. Knowledge without action is useless. Yet, knowledge is also a good foundation and grounds for argument, debate, and discussion about what we believe. It's just that it is very difficult to debate without Christ in the picture. If you're in a class where the professor refuses to let your beliefs influence the "purely academic nature" of the discussion, then what do you glean out of it as a Christian? nothing. It's the worldly view, not a Christian view. In fact, this view may cause you to question whether or not you can validate your faith in the midst of logical, academic thought. Both views, "worldly" and "Christian" are entirely different in thought, intent and also foundation. As Christians we believe in something more than the world. If you have a worldly view point, you see this as "it," with the necessity of "making it big," or creating a sense of false harmony in an undeniably unharmonious world. Making life just work for you and everyone around you- is that it? What is the point, if in the end, we die, and it comes down to nothing?

After just 2 sessions of the class, I can see why it is so easy for college students (and philosophy majors.. lol) to question their faith in college and turn away. We debate about things that nobody can come to a conclusion about, but yet, the professors make it seem like it IS the answer.

I chose music as a major because I love it. But another reason is that I really dislike certain aspects of academia. As much as it can be good and necessary, it is so easy to get sucked up into the mindset that you know enough that you don't need anybody or anything to tell you otherwise. As you delve in and study in your fields, it is no suprise that some professors reflect their interpretations of certain texts or theories that they study. It's undeniable- for example, you couldn't say that I'm a pianist but that I don't believe in playing music. How the professors teach, you can tell what they think and believe- skepticism.
****************************************************


On an entirely different note, I have gotten in really close contact with the Intervarsity Fellowship on campus. I'm praying that this is the right group that God has called me to be on. I'm also praying that God will lead me to a good older Christian mentor. That definitely encouraged me during my high school years back at home.


I hope all is going well in all your lives as well. If you're actually taking the time to read this, I know you're a close friend or one that knows me well, and I really appreciate it.

More to come later.

blessings,

-KKZ