students at the Campbell University Divinity School. In a folder, there is a list of 17 blog sites from my "Ministry of Writing" students, who were assigned to start a blog and post at least four entries for me to peruse. Next Tuesday, I'll add a tall stack of final exams to the mix.I was a bit surprised to discover that it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to read, mark up and grade each exegesis paper. With more than 40 left to go and deadlines looming, it looks like I'll be burning a lot of midnight oil.
Unfortunately, today's paper reports that working the night shift is a cancer risk. When I took this job, I didn't realize that it would involve such exposure to carcinogens.
At least, I thought, reading the exegesis papers gives me a chance to focus on the Bible for a while, free from worry about Baptist issues. Then I noticed some of the texts: conflict between the hypocritical Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38), conflict between the prophet Elijah and the overbearing queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19), conflict between Abraham's surrogate wife Hagar and his real wife Sarah (Genesis 16), conflict between Jacob's impetuous sons and their confused neighbors (Genesis 34), conflict between David's children that he refused to confront (2 Samuel 13), conflict between David and his takeover-minded son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18).
They don't seem so non-Baptist after all.
At least the papers are not without hopeful texts: Nehemiah leading the Israelites to work together in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2), the courageous leadership of the midwives, Shiprah and Puah (Exodus 1), the hope of promises to Abraham and Sarah fulfilled (Genesis 18).
My stack of student papers brings me a world of conflict and turmoil, but with glimpses of heavenly hope ... who would have thought that grading papers would so appropriately reflect the atmosphere of Advent?
[First image from my desk. The Advent candle art is from www.justpeace.org.]
9 comments:
We would have gladly given up the opportunity to exegete or take a final exam if you had only asked.
Dr. Cartledge,
Thank you for taking the time to grade our papers :)
Sometimes we take professors for granted. We appreciate your hard work and dedication.
However, I do have to agree with Terri's comment.
I just saw that I use a smiley emoticon in this comment. Is that appropriate considering we talked about this in class yesterday.
I would have to agree with Terri. If only you had asked.
However, I have learned so much from you in the writing class and have been stretched in my writing styles beyond my imagination. Thank you sharing your passion with us.
As the students work hard studying for all of these finals and working on papers, best of luck grading all of those papers and blogs!
Terri, April, Sara,
I'm gratified that you read my blog, and grateful for your offer of forgoing some of those papers and exams. Your generous spirit touches my heart.
Emoticons are fine in casual messaging, April, and I think this certainly qualifies as "casual."
Just leave them out when you write the president.
Enjoy getting ready for exams...
tc
As you can see from my post time I have no life when it comes to studying for finals. I thought I would take a break from a mind bending "Succession Narrative" and read a few blogs. I must say that I too have been burdened by the amount of work that my professors have to endure. Therefore, I have a proposal for you. Allow me to grade my exegesis and blogs, and for that matter, my exams. At least that will save you SOME time.
Seriously though, thanks for everything you do. I hope this semester has been everything you thought teaching would be!
Just thinking about exegesis papers makes me very glad that those days are behind me.
Tony,
Maybe Baptists are a people of the Bible after all. With all the conflicts finding their ways into the subject matter of your your exegesis papers I guess we get our cantankerousness legitimately.
Norman
We're just tired Divinity School students begging for grace.
It sounds like a conundrum of possibilities and a plethora of work in the last week of classes. We admire your diligence, determination, and desire to serve the students under your tutelage. Surely each and every one of them is honored and proud of your outstanding work ethic. It basically sounds like you do not need anything else added to your platter, so what say we just forgeddabout that pesky little ministry of writing exam.
We feel sure your M.D. would recommend a reduction of stress in your life during this Advent and Christmas season.
Always with your best interests at the forefront of our lives,
bp and the ministry of writing students
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