My Graduation Testimony

No, this is not me SIMPLY being egotistic, as some people have asked to see it. However, it is MOSTLY egotistic, 'cause I enjoyed myself.

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(I have been asked to say a few words regarding how LST has formed me. It seems, unfortunately, that word has got around that I actually like the place).

What is LST? What makes up the London School of Theology?

To start, it is a small collection of aging buildings on the edge of London, some more aging than others. It is a world-known institution, having some of the best lecturers in the business, (if theology paid anything). But above all that, it's a community of people that live, breath, sleep, eat, worry, love, and with the express permission of our esteemed Principal, kiss.

I asked someone what I was like when I came here, fresh-faced, naive, and just out of school. They told me I was an odd mix of confidence and insecurity: being willing to shout my mouth off about numerous issues, but not actually having anything to back it up. Now, the cynical among us may giggle behind their hands and perhaps suggest that I have just described perfectly an LST graduate.

But I would want to disagree with that. LST has taught me the highest academic standard, training me how to think critically, how to shout my mouth off, and most importantly, how to footnote that shouting in a way that is academically appropriate.

Not only has it taught me academically, but spiritually as well. Many different elements of what LST teaches come together to help form and fill its students, to prepare them for life after LST in the best way possible.

But how is this all done? It's not through the slightly aging set of buildings we have. It's not through the syllabus, although that is an element of it.

It is through this community that I have learnt. Where's my theology at eight in the morning and they've run out Coco Pops? Where's my theology when someone puts in a crunching tackle on the football pitch? Where's my theology when I graduate and I have to deal with real people, God forbid?

And therein lies the answer. LST has taught me to take the theology we learn, and make it work in the real world. And for that, to LST, I'm truly thankful.

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And here is the video:

Check this bad boy out.

Music

I played at Aldis Stock last night, our end of year concert. Played a fairly wide variety of songs, and enjoyed myself. Amusingly, had a lot of people come up to me afterwards and say that they didn't even know I played the guitar and sang, and saying that I had done well to keep it hidden.

Well, no, not really. I've never hidden it, just never been given the chance to use it. Which is quite sad, really.

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I have created a playlist of those songs that make me want to air drum/make the hairs on the back of the neck stand on end. (The two things are roughly equivalent). The problem with this is that it is very difficult to stop the playlist - you can't wait for a bad song to come on, because they never do.

My Day

I was writing a post about the entirety of my day. It got boring. But I shall bring out the main points:

- I got a 2:1.
- I struggle when I find friends are in new relationships. Knowing that I shan't see much of either of them, and that I shall have to work extra hard at the friendships is difficult.
- I'm not very social after sport. Both football and athletics leave me drained and wanting time alone, which never seems to help.
- I like taking photos.
- I like spending time with people that just allow me to be. These precious people are few and far between, and I cherish them dearly.
- I am astounded, wiped out, and incredibly blessed by my Lord and Saviour. Deeper this evening was incredible, and I wonder to myself why I don't make effort like that normally. Silly me.
- I want to make all my friends happy, and I regularly fail at doing that, and this makes me sad. To any of you that are reading this, know that you are being thought of.

Apologies for the fact that every sentence starts with 'I'. This is bad. Sometime, I will write on things that are interesting.

Good photos?

So people keep asking me if I've 'got any good photos' while I'm wandering round taking pictures. I don't know quite why this question annoys me so much, it's a perfectly reasonable question to ask, I suppose. However, as I never look at the photos properly until they're uploaded, I end up answering with a surly and slightly arrogant 'I don't know, yet' which annoys me further. Silly me.

I need your help...

Yes, you, honoured and unfortunate reader of this blog.

From the first of September, I shall be the Lay Assistant at St. Paul's Finchley. Now, I have this blog, which with its current title, suggests studentdom. Now, technically, I will always be a theological student. However, I will no longer be a student as such. So, I propose changing the name of this blog to That Lay Assistant.

Any opinions, or does it really not matter?

Oh, me.

Lots of little thoughts, and not much time. I shall try to keep it short.

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I got arsey yesterday 'cause things didn't go as I wanted. I can't believe I was so willing to throw a silent tantrum because of such small things. Well, I suppose I can believe it, and I don't like it, at all.

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Got into Idlewild recently - I say recent, I mean in the last two days. They write catchy, meaningful rock tunes, always with edgy guitar riffs. Wonder why I took so long.

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This graduation/moving on lark is getting to me. I honestly have no idea what to expect of myself. Excitement at a new life, or moroseness at my little niche in college whipped from under my feet?

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I have realised in the last couple of days that we give our government far too hard a time. While there is certainly a place for criticism when they get things wrong, as a Christian, I should be praying for them, not shooting them down. Even when they're completely inept, we're supposed to respect those in authority. Not sure we do a great job.

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Wales, beach, holidays, photos, playing lots of sport, enjoying nothing, &c. Maybe another blog is necessary at some other point.

Done. Fin. Owned.

I have finished my degree. I have not another word to write for it.

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I shall send you in this direction. Although, a disclaimer; it won't be funny or enjoyable if you don't care for football.

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Yesterday, having finished the last exam of my academic career, I was considerably tired and wiped out, having run on adrenaline for the last however many weeks. I had to play the drums at a half-night of praise and prayer, which meant carting myself into Uxbridge on inept buses that don't run when they should, and turning up at the church for a sound check at 5.

Being tired and out of it, my drumming probably wasn't fantastic, and during the practice I must have looked worse for wear as Carol, one of the wisest people I know, asked how I was. I responded saying that I really couldn't be bothered. She looked at me for a moment, and then said the sentence that got me through the night, and shall remain with me for a long time, I hope:

'Remember, He's still worth it.'