PUC Life Now
Spiritual Life
From small-group dialogue to campus church services to solitary prayer, there are many ways for faith to grow.
Student Blogs | David Ranzolin
Posted on March 13, 2009 at 10:41 am
PUC was blessed to have United States Senate Chaplain Barry Black (An Adventist who fills the highest ecclesiastical position in the United States) speak at both church services and the Heubach Lecture last Sabbath. Students, faculty, staff and a good showing of community members packed the sanctuary every time he mounted the platform. His magnetism as a speaker is unparalleled. I was amazed how he could expound upon such profound thoughts and apply them to a practical, everyday life.
I have remained unusually resilient to the age-induced lethargy known as "senioritis." While my friends stopped regularly attending classes weeks ago, I'm still a slave to routine. This is by no means self-congratulatory. Deep down, I fear that I will actually miss the rigid structure that school provides. People often call for the "freedom to" but I am content to rally around the cry for "freedom from." Specifically, the freedom from utilities bills. The freedom from a daily 9-5. The freedom from demanding employers. The freedom from real life. The freedom from responsibility. Somewhere, my parents are ashamed they raised a slacker and my girlfriend is sighing in disappointment at my alarming immaturity.
Seriously though, I imagine this "freedom from" idea is what makes Orthodox Judaism attractive to so many people. When your life is strictly regimented by routine and ritual, the existential angst that accompanies limitless choice slips away. Following all those regulations can actually be a liberating experience! This is in part what I feel school does for me. After all, my class schedule organizes my life for me. I don't have to do anything. I just fill in the gaps.
Let me tell you, the week before finals (coined as "dead week") has a way of filling those "gaps" for me. In light of what I've written above, you might think my reaction would be: "Hurray! More school and less freedom!" but I need breaks too. I can't wait for spring break so I can…work in an office every day. Hopefully, I can get in some much-needed golf.
David Ranzolin
Senior English and Religion Major