I had a blog entry all outlined the other day, but then I didn’t have time to write it, and now, looking at what I’d written, I don’t really understand the flow of it. So…scrap that.

I’m back at Grove City, which is a relief. Sometimes I like myself better here, you know? I like the girl who reads for Storytime and takes late-night walks better than the girl who snaps at her family, and tells her best friends she just doesn’t feel like hanging out–it’s too much effort. Not that I don’t have my screwy problems here occasionally, like bursting into unexpected tears in front of a Bible study group I’ve just met, and taking too many Tuesday-Thursday classes, but overall, I’m better here.

I write to you from my room—MEP 119. Liesel and I needed a little table to go between our beds, so, a week ago Friday, when we went to Salvation Army, we bought one for $4. We were carrying it back down Main Street when a nice man pulled over and offered to take it for us. When we got home, fifteen or twenty minutes later, it was standing sedately on it spindly little legs in the mulch by the PLC. It looked great. And it looks great between our beds too, as do the teapots that cover the walls, and Dr. Jewell in his place of honor. Sometimes college is priceless.

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Just now, I got back from church. I go in the evenings here, to a place called Grace Anglican, attended by a huge sector of the Grove City English Department. Seriously, I think I counted four or five of my professors there tonight.

I love this place because of the way the liturgy constantly drags me into the presence of God with wonderful collects like “Almighty and everlasting God, who is always more ready to hear than we to pray, and disposed to give more than either we desire or deserve; pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.” The sermon tonight was about God’s righteous judgment, but it ended (as every good story does) with redemption, and the ever-new proclamation that Jesus died for you and for me that we may “live by faith” and be counted as righteous.

Also during communion we sang “Jesus Paid it All.”

Lord, now indeed I find thy power and thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.

My heart of stone is showing signs of life again. Like coming home for good.