Sounds of joy
December 13, 2018 |
As ever, the waning days of the semester teem with the season’s bustle: final papers and projects, anxious exam-making and taking, and more grading than a good soul would wish on anyone.In the dean’s office too, we’re hustling to finish out the year’s duties before the university closes for Winter Break. We’re still looking ahead too, of course. Today, for instance, we’ll gather with all the department chairs and degree-program directors to write drafts of five-year program plans, first fruits of the summer task force on Program Review.
Amidst this too-crowded calendar, I have recently been reminded of two graces—graces that inform my hopes for you all in the days ahead.
First is the university’s Winter Break itself, enveloped this year by a longer-than-normal gap for faculty and students between semesters. For my sake, I'll be happy to accept the time away from campus between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, as a seasonal gift of Xavier's Catholic heritage.
So whether you plan to mark Christmas, its calendrical predecessor Saturnalia (as I did recently with our Classics & Philosophy HAB students), another holiday listed below, or just a vacation, I wish you all peace and some much-deserved rest in the days ahead.
A second seasonal grace arrived unexpectedly at the dean’s office recently, in the form of the Edgecliff Vocal Ensemble. Their beautiful caroling surprised us with a welcome mid-day moment of joy.
However you choose to spend the days ahead, and whatever travel or other challenges you may happen to experience, may your Winter Break be graced with moments of joy and music.
