meditation on mid-terms #5

Meditation on mid-terms #5

We’re tested on the Main things and what’s most recent. What we want to include as well is what we know and what is most recent and most exciting. Can they go together?


This is the last day for first semester mid-terms. Of course, we all know that’s not true. It may be the last day for the official calendar, but enough of you have commented to me about mid-terms coming next week or even the week after when there’s a more appropriate break for material to be assessed. One of two have even said last week was the big test. Whatever your specifics, there are some things we’ve learned about preparation.

The Main Things
First, be prepared to recall and assess the main things. An instructor will always want to know the material that forms the basis of the course. Whether muscles or formula, verbs or the key players and dates, we must always know the main things.

I had sort of a mi-term exam yesterday at the health fair in the MBSC ballroom. At lest forty groups were represented and students, faculty and staff were free to wander with bingo cards and learn. After setup, I approached or was approached about campus ministry for about 5 hours, non-stop. I needed to know the main things: our gatherings for food, our worship together, our justice issues and being useful. What most students wanted to hear about was the labyrinth, since that’s what they’d seen on the floor of the fireplace lounge. Folks often referred to it as “that round thing. I didn’t know what it was.” What I wanted to talk about was Tuesday night’s Inclusive Spiritual Seekers (see Wednesday’s meditation on our blog) and theeffects of tree climbing (at our retreat on Saturday).

Travel light

A pen, a clear head and #2 pencil are usually what is needed for most tests. That and a clear brain can do a great deal.

Taking only what was needed was a new event for me. For the past two years rolled into the health fair with gongs, TV set and DVD player. Last year I even brought an electric palm tree to draw attention to the site. I don’t know if this year’s display board and laptop was better, but it was surely more compact. Videos of our trips and work were shown directly from our website via my trusty laptop with attached speakers, and were easily referred to without being overwhelmed by “stuff”. The display board was put together by students in late spring, just prior to an annual church meeting. Student’s favorite pics and projects, with a few updates. I added “The Faith Club” to the books we read.

The “stuff” pack got lighter as the morning wore on. I gave away contact cards (designed by students, of course), bookmarks with ribbons (more contact info) and even a couple of our famous campus ministry T-shirts. A couple of blue shirted staff women wanted them “so they could work out.” After all, they have our blog on the back. More shameless marketing.

What to remember for your life today:

How would you market your test taking to an instructor with a display board? What’s the foundation of what you know?

On a “connect others with God” basis:
How would you market your faith to others? What is it’s foundation? Can you travel light, put the main markers on a display board and take it around with you? What pics and books and music and videos would you show?

Jesus gave a few instructions which are helpful and remind me of what we’re about:

Mark 6
6Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.