Tea and Scahnes

My Old Testament professor invited the class over to his apartment for tea and scahnes. You may be wondering what a scahne is...here in the U.S. we actually call them scones. My professor is charmingly British and would not allow us to drink out of anything other than a cup and saucer; in fact, we even attempted the British manner of holding the scahne plate and the cup and saucer in one hand.

I find myself quite amazed by this professor. He is jolly, lighthearted, and full of an incredible zest for life. During class, his dry British humor is accompanied by a twinkling eye that communicates such merriness that you find it impossible not to laugh both at his joke and his manner of delivery. He is the only professor I know that comes to class wearing bright purple shorts, bare feet, and some kind of t-shirt of a music group(on Wednesday it was Eric Clapton ). One night in class, someone's cell phone went off, and he began dancing a jig(I say jig because there is really no other appropriate word for what he was doing).

And yet, this is only part of the reason for which I am amazed. My professor has been married for many years, and about 20 years ago his wife was diagnosed with MS. Now, she cannot speak, cannot eat, nor do anything for herself. When we were over at the apartment, she sat in an immobile state in a recliner. Although I am enjoying the class immensely, I wonder if I am learning more from just watching the life of this professor- a life that is exhibiting a faithfulness of love, a life that retains much joy and hope amidst the sadness. This is a life that is clearly being lived to the fullest every day, and yet pointing towards something not yet seen in the future.