In some ways I long for the thrill of waking up on Saturday morning with the sole and express purpose of watching cartoons. Our family growing up had a limited number of channels which did not include much cartoon programming throughout the duration of the week, so Saturday morning cartoons were a special treat. The thrill of getting up on Saturdays, however, has waned for me and actually turned into a longing for sleep. I would rather spend my mornings in bed so as to relish in the relaxation and lack of responsibility that comes with the weekends. Yet, seminary study has brought change to my Saturday routine.
On this blessed Saturday I am reading heavy, heady texts for my Systematic Theology course. Systematic theology requires a lot of every student, forcing one to reflect and analyze every aspect of one's belief system. The course is challenging to both heart and mind through in depth exploration of what it means to be a Christian and a Lutheran. This exploration is a lengthy process that requires a lot of time and effort to adequately reach its aims and destinations, which is why I am devoting my Saturday morning to it.
In some ways it is lamentable to sacrifice little moments of beloved free time that I have cherished for a long time such as my Saturday mornings. Studying seems to be a never ending process that is hard to satisfy. Thus, one can never really be done studying. There is always more to read and always more to write. This fact would seem to add even more to one's regret over sacrificing free time to a pursuit that can never be accomplished, but for those of us with a clear call to full-time ministry it is unavoidable. We enter into study that requires us to sacrifice time, relocate our lives,and interrupt our plans. This is a process that places a number of undesirable claims on us, and yet, we can do no other. God call's us from whatever we are doing to give up things like free time on Saturday mornings into theological study, reflection and preparation. So, while there are many moments in which I say to myself, "There are a thousand other things I would rather be doing right now!", I have to honestly admit that there is no place I would rather be. Instead of sneaking theological reading time into lunch breaks and coffee hours, I am here, immersed in theological reflection and preparation at Wartburg Theological Seminary. There is no place I would rather be...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What's with the Castle?
After my last post I realized that it may not be clear why this blog is titled "Castle Connection". Hopefully the "Connection" portion of the blog is relatively straightforward as it to implies that the blog is intended to give those outside the Wartburg community a look at different things happening on campus. The "Castle" portion may not, on the other hand, be quite as clear.
The name "Wartburg" comes from the castle in Eisenbach, Germany in which Martin Luther hid from those seeking his life following the Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther's stay in Wartburg Castle could be considered a sort of reformation era witness protection program. Living under the alias of "knight George", Luther finished the first translation of the Bible into the German language, opening the door for those without knowledge of Latin, Greek or Hebrew to access scripture for themselves. His translation also served as a unifying document for the German language itself, which varied greatly in different parts of Germany at the time.
When the founder of Wartburg College and Seminary, Wilhelm Loehe, sent pastors to America to found the college and seminary and eventually to Dubuque in 1854, they took with them the name "Wartburg" (the college and seminary are now separate institutions). When the building in which the seminary is housed was complete in 1916, it was modeled as a replica of the center portion of the actual Wartburg Castle in Eisenbach, Germany. The building, now resembling the actual castle, is affectionately known around the seminary as "The Castle". Thus, when one gets connected to Wartburg Seminary they connect with "The Castle".
-Seth Nelson
MDive Junior
Wartburg Seminary
(Wartburg Castle history from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/wartburg-castle )
The name "Wartburg" comes from the castle in Eisenbach, Germany in which Martin Luther hid from those seeking his life following the Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther's stay in Wartburg Castle could be considered a sort of reformation era witness protection program. Living under the alias of "knight George", Luther finished the first translation of the Bible into the German language, opening the door for those without knowledge of Latin, Greek or Hebrew to access scripture for themselves. His translation also served as a unifying document for the German language itself, which varied greatly in different parts of Germany at the time.
When the founder of Wartburg College and Seminary, Wilhelm Loehe, sent pastors to America to found the college and seminary and eventually to Dubuque in 1854, they took with them the name "Wartburg" (the college and seminary are now separate institutions). When the building in which the seminary is housed was complete in 1916, it was modeled as a replica of the center portion of the actual Wartburg Castle in Eisenbach, Germany. The building, now resembling the actual castle, is affectionately known around the seminary as "The Castle". Thus, when one gets connected to Wartburg Seminary they connect with "The Castle".
-Seth Nelson
MDive Junior
Wartburg Seminary
(Wartburg Castle history from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/wartburg-castle )
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