A two week break from John and Jacobus

I am home on Christmas break and people keep asking me, "Are you glad to be home?" Mostly, I am not... life in Massachusetts is great and I love most all of it. Of course, I am glad to be able to see friends and family for a short while, but outside of this, what makes me most excited about being home is the fact that I am surrounded by people who have no idea who John Calvin or Jacobus Arminius are, what Openness Theology or the New Perspective on Paul are... heck!... who don't even know who Paul is! I do not sit down to meals and expect the conversation to turn to theology or the Church or anything else academic. It is so freeing and relaxing! Don't get me wrong, I love discussing theology and other academic topics, but too much is too much. It is great to be back with people that I feel like I can really relate to, having grown up in a very non-academic culture, and just talk about life that is not found in a book. In essence, it is great to be surrounded by people who do not spend their life trying to think about issues only a small percentage of the world has ever cared about. In general, it is great to be around non-Christians from hickville who enjoy discussing farming, motorcycles and snowmobiles, and the going rate for coon hides! As much as I am loving this aspect of being home, though, I am definitely looking forward to starting the next classes and being challenged in my thoughts once again... at least in the classes and homework. Not so much over ever meal.