I HAVE just completed my first term at university, and I’m ready to curl up and nap in front of a warm fire for a couple of solid days. I feel that my whole being has been stretched, in every dimension. I have been growing physically (ah the pains of early morning rowing), emotionally (it’s a sizeable step relative to my life so far), academically (12 essays in eight weeks can’t fail to affect your brain!), and spiritually. Yes, spiritually.
I suppose it’s not surprising that in an environment where ideas are constantly warring, fading and forming, human ideas about the divine are equally as open to challenge and questioning. I think it’s brilliant. My highlight from this term is not that one particularly excellent essay, or winning that race, or that day it snowed; it’s the midday, morning, late-night or dinnertime conversations that question what I believe and that offer a chance for others to question what they believe. It’s the shared exploration by inquisitive and genuinely open minds into ideas about humans and the world and - God?
Sure, I’ve learnt a heck of a lot about politics and anthropology and sociology this term, but I’ve gained just as much from dialogue, face-to-face, with people living and searching for truth alongside me. My challenge to you is that this could be the case anywhere, and you could be the genuine, open, inquisitive, humble questioner. I certainly don’t have all the answers yet (can we ever?), but I dare you to begin the journey - because what you find might surprise you.
Hannah Lawson, St James’ Church, Tebay
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