Tuesday, September 2nd What’s In a Name?
The Chapel Service in Campbell Hall was inspirational – scriptures, hymns and homily with Dr. Skip Johnson exhorting us to “Go”. The scavenger hunt was a fun way to learn about our campus and to get to know our fellow students with the aid of nametags. Mine said:
C O L U M B I A THEOLOGICAL S E M I N A R Y
Alpha Stacer
WELL
DONE
MAPT HL2
TRUE CONFESSIONS: my full name is Alpha Omega Stacer III. There are stories that go with my name but suffice it to say it is a family name (The III is a dead giveaway on being a family name.) I have embraced Paul Simon’s simple imperative suggestion in one of his songs, “You can call me Al”. The short appellation “Al” fits into today’s lexicon more easily and requires less explanation than “Alpha”, which for most people, well, it’s Greek to them.
The nametag reminded me where I was and who I am. WELL DONE as it turned out was a positive affirmation used to identify our scavenger group. That was a relief. My first thought was it was a comment on my age as if I were a potato. MAPT is Master of Arts in Practical Theology. I really like the name of our program – Practical Theology. If there is any other kind of theology, I mean, what is the point? HL2 remained a mystery until we had been at Camp Calvin long enough to be directed to our sleeping quarters, which was HL for the men and room 2 for Ki and me. (HL stood for H-something Lodge. “H” was the beginning of somebody’s name like Henderson or Hart, but it could have been “Hunk” Lodge or “Hubris” Lodge, probably not “Humility” Lodge, however “Helpful” Lodge would be an appropriate reflection of my brief time in the big cabin.)
On Tuesday morning after chapel, Well Done (WD) and the other scavenger groups gathered to see our clues to plan our scavenging to collect some rich chocolate candy at different spots on campus. WD headed down the Campbell Hall stairwell, but we were called back by Bobby who figured out a clue that directed him to the arts and crafts room on the 2nd floor where he collected the first gold foil wrapped chocolate. Then we headed down to the first floor of Campbell. Entering the business office, a teammate Eunji introduced herself to me inquiring about my name.
Eunji: You are Alpha?
Al: Yes.
Eunji: And you are Omega?
Al: Yes.
Eunji: So you are God?
Al: NO
Eunji’s lilting flow of language added charm to her questions. Since “Omega” was not on my name card, she made the connection with that word from reading “Alpha”. Her question “And you are Omega?” was delivered with the hint of smile, so I assumed she was making a joke, but I answered honestly, “Yes”. Her follow up with “So you are God?’ revealed what a great sense of humor she has. To be funny in a foreign language seems quite an accomplishment. Intentionally or not she also put me on the spot. Did I think because of my name that I am God? Well, I’ve known the answer to that at least since the ‘60’s when I read Stranger in a Strange Land and considered Heinlein’s character repeating to his fellow creatures, “Thou art God”.
I have heard only a little bit of spoken Korean and a little more of Koreans speaking English. There’s a lovely lyrical lilt to their speech. In February I attended a class on polity lead by Dr. Joan Gray as part of Seminary Weekend. Because of some tragic circumstances in the Columbia Korean community at that time, Dr. Gray asked a Korean student to end the class session with prayer. I do not understand Korean, but the sound of her voice praying was melodic and moving. Maybe God is directing Koreans to this country in order for Americans (with ears to hear) to refine our language and possibly add some beauty to our speech? I wonder what Americans speaking Korean sound like to those fluent in that Asian tongue? Is there any hint of music or does it ring discordant?
I look forward to hearing more of the varied accents at Columbia.
The Chapel Service in Campbell Hall was inspirational – scriptures, hymns and homily with Dr. Skip Johnson exhorting us to “Go”. The scavenger hunt was a fun way to learn about our campus and to get to know our fellow students with the aid of nametags. Mine said:
C O L U M B I A THEOLOGICAL S E M I N A R Y
Alpha Stacer
WELL
DONE
MAPT HL2
TRUE CONFESSIONS: my full name is Alpha Omega Stacer III. There are stories that go with my name but suffice it to say it is a family name (The III is a dead giveaway on being a family name.) I have embraced Paul Simon’s simple imperative suggestion in one of his songs, “You can call me Al”. The short appellation “Al” fits into today’s lexicon more easily and requires less explanation than “Alpha”, which for most people, well, it’s Greek to them.
The nametag reminded me where I was and who I am. WELL DONE as it turned out was a positive affirmation used to identify our scavenger group. That was a relief. My first thought was it was a comment on my age as if I were a potato. MAPT is Master of Arts in Practical Theology. I really like the name of our program – Practical Theology. If there is any other kind of theology, I mean, what is the point? HL2 remained a mystery until we had been at Camp Calvin long enough to be directed to our sleeping quarters, which was HL for the men and room 2 for Ki and me. (HL stood for H-something Lodge. “H” was the beginning of somebody’s name like Henderson or Hart, but it could have been “Hunk” Lodge or “Hubris” Lodge, probably not “Humility” Lodge, however “Helpful” Lodge would be an appropriate reflection of my brief time in the big cabin.)
On Tuesday morning after chapel, Well Done (WD) and the other scavenger groups gathered to see our clues to plan our scavenging to collect some rich chocolate candy at different spots on campus. WD headed down the Campbell Hall stairwell, but we were called back by Bobby who figured out a clue that directed him to the arts and crafts room on the 2nd floor where he collected the first gold foil wrapped chocolate. Then we headed down to the first floor of Campbell. Entering the business office, a teammate Eunji introduced herself to me inquiring about my name.
Eunji: You are Alpha?
Al: Yes.
Eunji: And you are Omega?
Al: Yes.
Eunji: So you are God?
Al: NO
Eunji’s lilting flow of language added charm to her questions. Since “Omega” was not on my name card, she made the connection with that word from reading “Alpha”. Her question “And you are Omega?” was delivered with the hint of smile, so I assumed she was making a joke, but I answered honestly, “Yes”. Her follow up with “So you are God?’ revealed what a great sense of humor she has. To be funny in a foreign language seems quite an accomplishment. Intentionally or not she also put me on the spot. Did I think because of my name that I am God? Well, I’ve known the answer to that at least since the ‘60’s when I read Stranger in a Strange Land and considered Heinlein’s character repeating to his fellow creatures, “Thou art God”.
I have heard only a little bit of spoken Korean and a little more of Koreans speaking English. There’s a lovely lyrical lilt to their speech. In February I attended a class on polity lead by Dr. Joan Gray as part of Seminary Weekend. Because of some tragic circumstances in the Columbia Korean community at that time, Dr. Gray asked a Korean student to end the class session with prayer. I do not understand Korean, but the sound of her voice praying was melodic and moving. Maybe God is directing Koreans to this country in order for Americans (with ears to hear) to refine our language and possibly add some beauty to our speech? I wonder what Americans speaking Korean sound like to those fluent in that Asian tongue? Is there any hint of music or does it ring discordant?
I look forward to hearing more of the varied accents at Columbia.