Yesterday afternoon was the first day of YDS’s Before the Fall Orientation. There was a welcoming/kick-off event in Marquand Chapel. It wasn’t really a worship, but there were worshipful elements, including a hymn.
There was a wonderful welcome by the associate chaplain. Then Emilie Townes addressed the group, beginning by affirming YDS’s academic rigor (head) and its heart (that is, its attention to its students’ hearts and relatively nurturing atmosphere, compared to secular graduate studies in religion). She told us that we should tend to our physical selves, also, and regretted that this is often neglected among students. I’m not entirely sure what she means in this context. She mentioned that this year YDS will have a monthly hour in one of the reception rooms where students should come and be free of thoughts of academic success and progress… sort of an agenda-less hour. At first, I thought that this wasn’t very big. Then, I sat and thought of the possible implications. A real community hour where we were to be ourselves and support each other. Then I wondered if this would really be possible here. Could we put down our Ivy League Guard to be open and honest with each other? Should we?
She said that if we tend to all three of these things, head, heart, and body, that health in spirit and mind should follow. She spoke with grace and a tone of reassurance, as well as the underlying reminder that you are possibly going to have your tail kicked academically, so you better take care of yourself as much as possible.
In the end, it’s an academy and not a church. Yale Divinity School should foster the knowledge and love of God. YDS is not here to create spiritual growth, though it usually happens, or to affirm you in your faith. A church (and in my mind I believe it’s the same for many seminaries) fosters the worship and praise of God. This is a common question that I get about what a divinity school is, and how it compares to seminary or a graduate school in religion. There’s the start of an answer. Another big factor is its tie to a major research (secular) institution. I don’t think I would have either of these things any other way.
I was dehydrated from the previous day’s two-hour-and-change run and sat with lots of thirst through my small group introductory session. I haven’t found any outdoor water fountains for my runs, and assumed the campus buildings were locked on Sundays. I left a bottle of water on the porch and swung by two or three times. That was not enough. Thankfully the race will have water stations every two miles (or so). I have a new mission (other than survival in grad school) to find public, free water that I don’t have to carry with me while I run. The race is on Monday.
Still haven’t unpacked everything. I’d really like to find my coffee grinder. Pictures will come sometime after we get internet access at home.
I am nervous about juggling all these balls and Getting It Right. Get it right. Don’t miss an opportunity.
