Letter to The Phillippians

The first time reading through the Letter to the Philippians I did not find much figurative language. I probably only underlined no more than four or five examples. So then I decided to look up the literal definition of figurative language. Which is: “any language that is used in ways that deviate from standard significance, order, or meaning” (pg 1511).

I then read it through again trying to read it a little slower and purposely look for figurative language. The first one I came across was “I have you in my heart” on page one. Another one being on page three at the bottom “ beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.”

One’s perception of the letter’s meaning drastically changes with understanding of the figurative use of certain images or phrases. It is important for one to understand this. After reading through the second time I found at least 6 more instances where Paul uses figurative language. To understand the writing it is important to understand that Paul is many times speaking figuratively not literally. The literal interpretation would not make sense.

I think it was hard for me at first to recognize some of the figurative language spoken in here because much of it is figurative language I have become accustomed to. Such as “ I have you in my heart”, “God our Father”, “work out your salvation”, “for our citezenship is in heaven”… I guess at first I was not thinking of some of this as “figurative language… I also realized I actually liked reading this through without the numbers/ verses. I have never read it through like that before… 

The Man Who Came to Dinner

I went to Southeastern's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner on Sunday afternoon. This play was much longer than expected. It did loose my attention quite a bit... 

So, what can I say about the man who came to dinner besides… wow. Words cannot describe the randomness of this play. Short handed there was a man who got hurt, a doctor, 4 penguins, disappearing children and an axe murder. Like I said wow... 

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a comedy. It had three different acts. The play setting is in a small town a few weeks before Christmas sometime during the 1930s. A New York City famous radio wit was invited to dine at the house of a rich factory owner with him and his family. But before he enters the house he slips on a patch of ice and injures his hip. He is then attended by a Doctor and nurse in the factory owners home. Mr. Whiteside seemed to be the type of person to get into everyone’s business. He was very demanding and eventually pushed the limits of Mr. Stanley. Mr. Whiteside always wanted to get his way. When Mr. Whiteside was in a room his presence was known. My favorite character was Beverly Carlton I liked the liveliness about him. I did sometimes get lost as to what was going on throughout the play and had to have my friend explain/fill me in…

This was my first time going to Polk Theater. I thought the theater was very nice and I liked it. I also thought the set looked really good. I have been to a play before at the Kennedy Center in DC. I will have to say though that plays are not of high interest for me to go and watch.  I would much rather watch a musical or listen to an orchestra. But I don’t mind going to a play every now and then, just to have a new experience. 

The Boys Next Door Part 2

I did enjoy reading the play write of The Boys Next Door.  The Boys Next Door is a two act comedy-drama about four men who live together in a small apartment; and jack is their caring social worker who is on the edge of a career burn-out.

For this blog I am going to give a description for each of the main characters…

I’ll first start with Jack: He has been supervising five group apartments of the mentally handicapped. The idea of these apartments is to introduce the selected mentally handicapped housemates to mainstream society. Jack can a lot of times laugh at their escapades but it is wearing him out. The main conflict stems from Jack’s realization that he needs to move on in his life. In one scene addressing the audience Jack says: “you see, the problem is that they never change. I change, my life changes my crises change. But they stay the same.” Jack also seems to be having difficult finding his own life’s purpose…  Even when Jack manages to find another job as a traveling agent, the audience is left to decide whether or not this will provide fulfillment for him…

Arnold: He is the first character that the audience is introduced to. He exhibits several OCD traits. He tries to function in mainstream society, but sadly many people take advantage of him. This occurs in the first scene when he returns from the grocery store. Whenever he is dissatisfied with his life, he declares that he will be moving to Russia. In the second Act he actually attempts to catch a train to Russia.

Norman: I would consider him the romantic of the group. He works at the doughnut shop, and has gained a lot of weight because of all the free doughnuts. He worries about being fat because he has a love-interest, a mentally handicapped woman named Sheila. He does not want Sheila to think he is fat. Sheila and Norman meet twice during the play. Each time he becomes bolder until he finally asks her on a “date”. But he has a conflict with her because she wants his keys, which he refuses to give up. He claims he needs the keys to unlock things. 

Barry: Barry spends a lot of his time boasting about being a Golf Pro (even though he does not even own a set of golf clubs). He puts up an add and attempts to give golf lessons but that slowly dies out as his pupils realize he is out of touch with reality and they all abandon his class. Throughout the play he boast about how wonderful his dad is. In Act II his Dad stops by for the first time ever, and the audience witnesses the brutal verbal and physical abuse that obviously worsens Barry’s already fragile condition.

Lucien: He has the severest case of mental disability among the four men. He is the most child-like of the group. He has a limited verbal capacity. He was summoned before the Health and Human Services Subcommittee because the board might suspend Lucien’s Social Security Benefits. He stands and gives a powerful monologue, which speaks for Lucien and others with mental impairments.

I thought this was one of the most powerful moments of the play write.

Lucien: I stand before you, a middle-aged man in an uncomfortable suit, a man whose capacity for rational thought is somewhere between a five-year-old and an oyster. (Pause.) I am retarded. I am damaged. I am sick inside from so many hours and days and months and years of confusion, utter and profound confusion….But I will not go away. And I will not wither because the cage is too small. I am Lucien Percival Smith. And without me, without my shattered crippled brain, you will never again be frightened by what you might have become. Or indeed, by what your future might make you..”(pg 52).

The Boys Next Door

The Boys Next Door is about four intellectually disabled men who live together in an apartment and Jack is their caring social worker who is on the verge of a career burn-out. This play describes scenes to illustrate the daily lives of Jack and his four mentally challenged housemates. Sometimes the characters speak directly to the audience but most of the time the scenes are presented in ordinary dialogue.

As I was reading I couldn’t help but laugh at certain parts. Some of the personalities/ characters have funny moments. For example pg. 8-9 when Arnold goes off about Lucien having a bunny and they just keep going back and forth getting nowhere with the topic. And then they want to hide the groceries from Jack in the tub…lol… And the same when they are at the dance and Arnold is going around telling everybody his made up story (pg. 30)… It also has scenes to portray how society takes advantage of the intellectual disable as well. Like when Arnold went to the store and ended up buying seventeen boxes of Wheeties because the store clerk told him to. This is very sad but not far from reality. You would hope that everyone would find kindness in their heart and want to help others that need it, but unfortunately this is not true. It is sad to think that people actually take advantage of others but it happens daily…

Also as I am reading I have a vivid picture of what the characters would look like and their mannerisms. This may only be because I have seen the movie before and I can vaguely remember it… Although I think by having some sort of the memory of the movie it helps me understand the play write a little more. So as I read I picture/imagine what is happening. 

Nature Poem

Beauty in A Cloudy day

The sky was white and grey

as the clouds hid the sun from a sunny day.

Drops fell from the trees,

remnants of rainfall is left behind,

It seemed the sun wasn’t going to show its face all day.

Could beauty still be found on such a gloomy rainy day?

Then a Bright Orange colored butterfly fly’s across my path.

My eyes follow it to its destination.

Beauty it beholds. Landing on a blooming white flower.

His journey then begins again,

Making his way past trees full of color.

Landing on more remarkable flowers.

Bringing my eyes to the attention,

of natures beauty to be found.

Natures beauty on this cloudy day.

Beauty I thought would have to found another day.

Even when I think natures beauty is hidden by rain and clouds.

It is revealed.

Across my path He comes again,

Bright orange colored with a black trim

I then begin to hear the song the birds are singing.

Beauty in Nature It seems He is revealing

Beauty has been found on a cloudy, rainy day

By: Erica Welch

Lake Bonny Park Field Trip

I went to Lake Bonny Park for this field trip, and I stayed there for at least 45 minutes.

I didn’t realize there was a park so close to out school. I have never been to Lake Bonny park before this field trip. I personally love being outdoors. I much rather be out side or sit out side and do my homework or read than do it inside somewhere. Natures  has never seized to put me in awe. I am always amazed by the little things. Like I love sunsets and think they are beautiful. So when I see a pretty one I try and take a picture ( although the picture does not capture the full true beauty of it) and then send it to friends that may or may not appreciate it J.

While sitting outside I also took the opportunity to go ahead and read the poems by Mary Oliver. I liked the last two poems a lot, Praying and The Uses of Sorrow. The poem Praying expressed how praying to God does not have to be this elaborate fancy worded thing. It can be simple and sincere. It isn’t about who can have the best prayer. “this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks…” and then is says “and a silence in which another voice may speak.” This is talking about then just listening to God…

The poem The Uses of Sorrow was not one we were required to read and discuss. But it was really short so I decided to read it and I actually really liked what it had to say. It is only four lines long.

 “someone I loved once gave me

a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand

That this, too, was a gift.”

I think just these four lines say so much. When I read it I thought of the book A Grief Observed that we read previously in class. Of how C.S. Lewis had someone he loved passed away he then had darkness in his life but after time he then realized that the darkness he went through turned out to be a “gift”, it helped him understand his faith and understand what it was to grieve for someone. I think about how everyone has to go through some kind of darkness to then appreciate/understand the light. But it could take someone years to truly understand this.