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Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

I realized today though, that our times with these lovely people are not formal. Rather, they are an amazing chance to interact with some wonderful people with entertaining life stories and experiences. Our part in the interaction is minimal- all we do is bring a story, read it aloud to them, and ask some interactive questions. Their answers make each meeting priceless.

These people all come from different lives, different backgrounds, and different countries. One woman immigrated from the political unrest in Germany in between the two world wars. Another woman told us what it was like growing up in a large family with a deceased mother and a workaholic father. Yet another woman shared her childhood experiences of living in a Catholic boarding school in Canada.

Our printed, polished, literary short stories by Doyle, O. Henry, and Capote truly pale in comparison to the living, breathing epistles these people share with us. At the same time, it’s heartwarming to watch them listen to what we read- the peaceful, thoughtful expressions on their faces, and the way smiles creep onto their faces during humorous parts. They are so appreciative of us coming once a month to spend time with them, but really, I’m grateful to them for their willingness to open up about their lives.

I never leave Chesapeake Place without a feeling of regret- regret that I can’t spend more time talking with them, and regret that so many people are missing out on opportunities to interact with people like this. Local senior communities are a wealth of stories and experiences just waiting for an audience- why don’t you take an hour or two and invest in these wonderful people? You will never regret it!

So, on February 2nd at 7 pm, we will be meeting on the Library Balcony to officially discuss Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. We picked this book because it is engaging, interesting, and applicable to your life no matter where you are personally.

Blue Like Jazz is subtitled “nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality”, and this is exactly what it is. The book is a random collection on Miller’s journey from traditional religion, through his doubts and disbelief, to his revelation on what spirituality looks like in everyday life. He is practical, funny, and random. However, just when you think that you’ve figured him out, he throws something at you that makes you think about the way you live your life, and challenges you to make religion more real in the day to day.

If you don’t get the book read by the time we meet, please still come! You can also read the chapters in any order you wish- they are mostly independent of each other. Just enjoy the reading process, do as much as fits into your schedule, and then join us to share your thoughts and opinions. Oh yes, and there will be snacks! We look forward to seeing you there.

Any questions or comments? Leave them here, or feel free to email us at typeoh (at) regent (dot) edu!

Last semester, I had classes where I was writing some 10,000 words per week. It’s a lot of writing for an undergrad, even for an English major. My personal belief is that we are alloted so many words per day, and how we spend them is up to us. Some people talk a lot, some people write a lot, and some people just let their potential words go to waste. Those weeks where I poured out thousands of words, I wasn’t wasting any of my alloted words. I measured what I wrote, I avoided talking about frivolous things, I tried to make the best use of my word allotment. It felt good.

This semester, the English Club is going to have an exciting opportunity for YOU to make the most of your word allotment- a chance for you to show off your writing and creativity. I am very excited about this project, so keep checking back here for more details on what is to come!

We have other events and fun things coming up, and I resolve that we will keep this little blog more active. Be blessed, my friends!

What Kind of Reader Are You?
Your Result: Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
You’re probably in the final stages of a Ph.D. or otherwise finding a way to make your living out of reading. You are one of the literati. Other people’s grammatical mistakes make you insane.

I don’t know that I needed a quiz to tell me this, but it’s nice to have it confirmed! If you take the test, post us a link to your results in the comments, and we promise to check it out. Maybe my fellow English Club officers would put up their results as well? *hint hint*

I think it comes down to the fact that I feel incredibly inadequate. Not just in writing, but every area of life. Writing makes me feel so exposed, so vulnerable. I do not feel free when I write. I get overwhelmed and my thoughts become muddled.

Then I come up with excuses. If only I had studied English more in high school. If only I had a more inspirational space to write in. If only I had a window to look out of into another world. If only I did have all of these responsibilities to tend to.

A few weeks ago I was wandering along the halls of the Communication and Arts building waiting for my husband to get out of class. As I sat down next to the classroom door, I felt a sudden urge to read Scripture. I pulled out my i-phone, looked up a Bible website, and started reading 1 Timothy. This set of verses have stuck with me for the past few weeks:

“Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

1 Timothy 4:11-16

As English majors, we can remember that we are learning to write, to speak, to spread a message. What message we choose to spread is up to us, but I have chosen this: truth.

There’s also an interest meeting for the club beforehand, if you are interested in attending (so to speak). See you soon!

Oh, and as always, don’t hesitate to email us about any questions you may have: typeoh(at)regent(dot)edu.

We will be on the Library Balcony at 7pm, Monday, October 26th.

Following the interest meeting, we will be having our first book club meeting, but there’s another blog post for that info. See you soon!

Just think, all your questions will be answered…within reason, of course!

Questions about the meeting itself? We are always available at typeoh(at)regent(dot)edu, or just drop us a quick comment here!

Please take an hour out of your morning to join us in the Regent Village Community Room, Monday the 12th, at 10:30 am.

With that said:

As always, email us at typeoh at regent dot edu with any questions. We can’t wait to see you there!