Research Papers

Hello All,

I just thought that I would give some thoughts on your process of writing.

First, the research papers are due no later than 4:30 on Monday November 23rd. This due date includes the papers for the creative projects. I will be in my office most of that day, so you can give them to me or to Molly at the front desk. If you are mailing in your projects, please talk to Jordan about where you should mail your papers. Officially, the creative portions are due the following Monday, the 30th, though you can turn your creative projects into me on Monday the 23rd.

Now, a little inspiration for all you writers, from Henri Nouwen's Theological Ideas in Education:

Most students...feel that they must first have something to say before they can put it down on paper. For them writing is little more than recording a preexistent thought. But...writing is a process in which we discover what lives in us. The writing itself reveals what is alive.

In another place he writes:

The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know....Writing is like giving away the few loaves and fishes one has, in trust that they will multiply in the giving. Once we dare to "give away" on paper the few thoughts that come to us, we start discovering how much is hidden underneath...and gradually come in touch with our own riches.

So, as you write, I pray that you will "come in touch with" your "own riches."

Grace and peace in the hard task of writing and analyzing crazy theology!!

Peace,
Chelle