so i had a really strange epiphany in class today. we were talking about native american "poetry" and debating the accuracy of the translations since it was originally oral and pictoral instead of written and yada yada... and our professor was making reference to Genesis and the Gospels. and she asked if anyone was familiar with the jewish or christian texts, and if anyone had read any of the gospels. and only a few said they "kinda" were. and she proceded to talk about the parables, all the while explaining them as if the students had never heard of a parable and knew nothing about the Gospels.

that has NEVER happened to me before. after 12 years of catholic school and then another 4 at a christian college... i mean, i know i encountered people of other religions. but they all had to take religion classes. even the people in my classes who were jewish or muslim or atheist or whatever had knowledge of biblical texts because they had studied them in some context or another. the idea of being in a classroom where drawing a parallel to the bible, or to cs lewis, or to any bit of christianity might be beyond most people's understanding... just sorta rocked my world a bit. not quite sure what to do with that yet.

on a totally different note, a quote from Emerson's 'Cherokee Letter' written to President Martin Van Buren: "However feeble the sufferer and however great the oppressor, it is in the nature of things that the blow should recoil upon the aggressor. For God is in the sentiment, and it cannot be withstood." And that's my political thought to chew on.

on a much brighter note. karen and i determined today that i am on the right ladder.

and now it is time to answer the call of my growling stomach. yes, dinner at 11pm. as usual.