I had a lecture and a discussion this morning from 9:30 to noon, and had the rest of the day free. I went to Ned's, returned a book, and then strolled around downtown berkeley for a couple of hours. I completed my photography class assignment by sitting in a location for 20 minutes and recording the experience.

Here is what I jotted down today:

There are wooden benches arranged in a circle near the Bart Station, and one person occupies each bench. For some reason, everyone is using the benches as footrests, choosing instead to sit on the brick dividers behind each bench. The spacing is very uniform, and it seems that no two strangers feel comfortable violating each other’s invisible bubble of personal space. As I was walking here, a middle aged woman at a bus stop asked me if I was waiting for the bus. When I replied that I wasn’t, she said, “Well I am.” “Okay,” I muttered, and continued down the sidewalk. The loud sound of artificial bird chirping rings out above the chattering of voices and the sound of cars passing, telling the hearing impaired that it is safe to cross, and demonstrating yet another way Berkeley accommodates every type of person. At the intersection south of me, warmly dressed police officers are stationed at three of the four corners. They have pamphlets in their hands, and shout at pedestrians who attempt to jaywalk. A blond and graying lady with a cane just sat down on the opposite end of my bench, defying the norm here. Maybe I’m friendly looking. A man with pink hair and pajamas just walked by in the front of me, and the smell of second hand smoke overwhelms me. The lady with whom I’m sharing a bench just lit a cigarette. As I’m preparing to pick up my belongings and relocate, she leaves. I can still smell someone smoking, but looking around, no one around me is. Looking down, I see the cigarette that the lady lit is lying on the ground. She had taken one puff and tossed it to the ground before walking away.

In the evening, we had a Dwight Night potluck, and invited some seniors and sophomores to our apartment for dinner. It was also Ivan's birthday, so we celebrated that as well.

As I was walking around today, I thought about my documentary photography class and historical photographs in general. If you look at old black and white photographs, they're actually quite ordinary. However, the fact that they're photographs of history makes them special. Thus, the thought I had while walking around and taking pictures was, "what I see now will become history tomorrow." It changed the way I looked at things, and changed the things I take pictures of. I tried to focus on things that would date the photographs.

Taking pictures of blades of grass, flowers, clouds, and other things like that aren't as special in this regard, since they'll exist pretty much the same as they do now fifty or a hundred years from now. The things I focused on were people, cars, and buildings, since those are the things that age quickly.

Devotion time notes:

Acts 20

Paul demonstrates in this chapter how necessary it is for people to minister the word to one another. Knowing that this was the last time he would ever see these people again, he speaks to them until midnight, and then until daylight after Eutychus falls. The raising of Eutychus from the dead seems to be an interesting warning on the important of staying away during sermons. Though he falls asleep, falls from the third floor window, and dies, he is miraculously raised back to life and does not even miss the breaking of bread for which they had come together.

Something noteworthy about Paul is that he encourages the believers wherever he goes, never failing to minister to God's people. Though the journeys were long and tedious, he did not allow personal comfort to get in the way of doing God's work. I need to learn to always take the time and energy necessary to benefit fellow believers, even when my own life is seemingly difficult to manage.

One of the main qualities Paul emphasises for a Christian is serving the Lord with great humility. We must exemplify humility in every aspect and circumstance of our lives. God, please help me to grow in humility.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

It is amazing that Paul considers himself innocent of the blood of all men. This means that he knows the extent to which he witnessed and shared the gospel with everyone he encountered in his life. There is not a single person Paul regrets missing the opportunity to share the gospel with. How opposite my life seems in comparison to this example that Paul has set for us...

I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.
Acts 20:33