I've witnessed an interesting unfolding lately, a story that's mine but not my own, and I've come to some conclusions:

1. Friends are as bones, and their failure leaves the soft and fragile insides of us bruise-ably exposed. Imagine how careful you'd be with yourself if you had no ribs. Just picture it. Even wrapping your arms around you would not suffice. Is it strange? disgusting? disturbing even? Yes, but it's a good thought picture, nevertheless. And imagine how gentile you must be when you're around someone like that. You probably are and don't know it. Friends fail sometimes. They just do.

2. Everyone has a fear. I underestimated this coming to Oxford. Everyone. And there seems to be a top ten list that most people subscribe to.

3. Justice is vague when all sides are right, but not all right together--when two conclusions are 'fair' or even 'logical.' Under such circumstances, decisions seem to be drawn by an untrained hand...like a horrible caricature of what could have been were Agreement to be in our presence. This vagueness is found both in the wars of nations and of individuals (which is really one in the same, no?).

4. None of us really knows know what 'ought to be' in most situations.

5. Great souls expand under pressure, weak souls flatten.

6. There is a fine line between being meek and being cowardly. I don't know that I can see the difference yet, but it is there.

the organ of Christ Church.