I am about an hour from watching one of my students test for his black belt in the martial arts. I began teaching him over 11 years ago, and with the changes that life has brought him over that time, he is finally prepared to take the big test. This past year I have turned almost all of his training over to another black belt student of mine. I have been so busy with diaconate things, career and family that I have scarcely had time for much else.
I also am thinking today about St. Athanasius. We all read his writing today in the Office of Readings. Athanasius and his defense of the divinity of Jesus against the Arians. How much I wish I could talk face to face with some of these Church Fathers, and listen to what they would have to say about our contemporary challenges in the field of Christology. We have another set of misunderstandings which teachers of the faith need to address.
Anyway, black belt tests and St. Anthanasius. Amazing how one can hold in consciousness two very divergent trains of thought at the same time.
Got to go to the test!
