In late November, I traveled, for the first time, to Exeter to meet with my advisor and visit the university. It was a wonderful trip! Sitting in Paddington Station after a 12 hour ordeal of flying, drinking a cinnamon latte and watching the people walk by was one of those great moments in life for someone who loves watching people. The train ride to Exeter was amazing - rolling green hills, hedgerows, sheep in the fields. Exeter is a beautiful European city - a wonderful mix of old and new - with a beautiful cathedral one block off the main pedestrian shopping area.
My meetings with Dr. Higton, my primary advisor, went really well. My project took shape much along the lines I had hoped. It will be primarily a commentary (on the Gospel of John or on the post-resurrection narratives) in the context of ecclesiological concerns. My first writing assignment is to consider the monastic practice of Lectio Divina in conversation with Gadamer's hermeneutics, in an attempt to articulate a methodological approach to interpreting the texts I am to consider. So far, as I'm finishing up on Gadamer's Truth and Method, I'm enjoying the reading. I've also finished an introduction on Lectio Divina (by Magrassi). Next, I'm going to read Andrew Louth's Discerning the Mystery, which works from Gadamer back to an appreciation of the allegorical nature of Scripture.
The journey continues...all is well!
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