Biola University First Year Student Journals

Apple Bowling

October 27, 2005 | 7 comments

Early morning. This quiet campus is floating around in dense, wet, cold air. It's chilly enough to stay inside and not go to breakfast. But breakfast is the best time to center myself for the day - it's perhaps the only time when solitude comes at no extra cost other than that of getting out of bed at 7 o'clock on Sunday morning. As I ride my purple road bike from Hope hall to the cafe, I pass the baseball diamond, object of a recent development: apple bowling. Let me explain.

Apple bowling (hence the name) involves rolling apples down the only real slope on campus. Although certain circles seem to disapprove, there really isn't any harm with this sport. It only takes place a few days out of the month and borders on tradition.

Despite my efforts to draw it out, the morning is quickly gone. I now find myself sitting in a chair, trying to study or look like I'm studying, but really just scratching my head, waiting for someone to walk by and interrupt me. I feel distracted, not because there's anything that deserves my attention, but because I will procrastinate when it comes to certain classes or assignments. Today is no exception.

In a moment of distraction, about an hour ago, I had a friend and next-door neighbor (Josiah) cut my hair, except he doesn't know the meaning of the word cutting. His definition of cutting is my definition of butchering. I was just laughing and so was another friend watching this spectacle. This went on for another five minutes; afterward, I looked at the damage done to my hair. The front isn't so bad but the back is awful. What will I say to people? The Butcher of Hope went to town on my hair. Woe is me! The whole event ended with a razor to even out the bald spots (and now I find myself without any hair).

Not only did this minor incident teach me about whom not to let cut my hair, it also made me realize that whenever I get overwhelmed with work before me, I tend to procrastinate. Don't get me wrong, there's a special place in my heart for all procrastination under the sun - but there's a time and a place for everything, and as for procrastinating, some times are more efficient and appropriate than others. For instance, procrastinating about when to do a major photo assignment: bad idea. Procrastinating about when to read my favorite book: good idea. Although I don't mean to debase my favorite book, it seems that all too often my procrastination is not logical.

The real battle begins when it's time to put away scissors and Robinson Crusoe and get my act together. Of course, this is often easier said than done, but being here at a university seems all about striving to find a balance between academics, social, spiritual, and ministerial - all of which should be integrated - and finding out where you fit in God's broader picture. Because God does have a broader perspective than any of us - I know this both by faith and experience. And in all circumstances, contrary to what the world throws out to us, this is possible and logical and balanceable.

Journal Entries

• The Reality of Growth
• Apple Bowling
• The People of Breakfast: Food for Place
• Where To Go
• A Method to Student Filming Madness
• My GYRAD With Amy
• Roadtripping to Seattle

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