Studies in language

Two days. Two scenes. Two moments captured in a single phrase...

Day 1: Scene 1:

I visited with a prospective student who came in with chewing tobacco in his lip.

Oh, yes. He did.

He is finishing a bachelor's degree and wanted to know if he used the university's exchange agreement with us to take a class at the seminary in the fall, would it also count toward his master's degree when he begins study with us. To which I said, "Oh, no. We don't allow double-dipping."

Oh, yes. I did.
_____________

Day 2: Scene 2:

While in chapel we sang a hymn this morning, the words to which were printed on the order of service so that we didn't need hymnals. Most of the hymn was lost on me when my mind stuck with an accidental phrase, a reference to "heeling love." I laughed at first, imagining love like a loyal, obedient dog. But then I was moved. What a marvelous image to picture love's step-for-step, constant presence, always keeping pace however fast or slow I might move.