A bit of an update, should anyone be interested.
I moved into my new residence hall a week and a half ago, and my “taking possession of the cathedral,” so to speak, has been a mostly peaceful one. No major surprises, apparently the fellow who was planning one has a reputation for “talking a big game,” but not following through on it. I made a big impression with some of the other reputed troublemakers the first night: they had gathered outside to smoke a cigarette, and I emerged from my room with a nice, long cigar, introduced myself, and stood around talking to them for a good while. Apart from noise issues with a few of my neighbors, things have been fine. The new room is great, so much bigger than the other places I’ve lived on campus, so I’m doing alright with it.
Spiritually, I’m sort of calming down now. I’ve been exploring the spirituality of the Christian East, which has a far more meditative character than anything I’ve investigated previously, something I need–I’m somewhat high-strung at times, and it seems that there’s not enough silence and stillness in my life. I plan on taking a retreat at an Eastern monastery fairly soon, and I have back-to-back retreats lined up over Spring break–one with the Men’s Household group here on campus (we’re going to Alabama to stay with the Knights of the Holy Eucharist), and then a Holy Week retreat at the Benedictine house that runs my college. All is going a lot better, and I’ve been wrestling my focus back onto my studies fairly well too.
Thank you all for your prayers and support, and you can be assured of mine as well.
-ACEGC
