Sexism in the Church

I don't think I ever had a problem with sexism until I entered church life. Even then the first few times that I had it happen to me I didn't catch on. I'm not sure what it is about the culture but I have run into more problems with Christians then with non.

Today after three of us have helped a gentleman out with catching up a course he is behind in I commented that in order to catch up he would need to do all of the exercises as this was essential to really understanding the material and connecting the different lessons. I could tell he had zoned out and was ignoring me. I have seen this before in the church context and at the time hadn't recognized it for what it was.

In the end it doesn't really bother me. We have collectively spent about 10 hours helping him catch up 3 hours worth of material. I like teaching others things that I have problems understanding - I "get" what confuses people once I have struggled through it. But you have to help yourself. He seems to think that learning Hebrew is about someone going through the text book with him as if that's all that's needed. Anyhow, teaching someone else is pretty helpful for my own learning - I had to review it myself!

So Hebrew is going okay. I know where I'm falling down - I'm lousy at memory work so have to really spend the time on it and I sometimes take awhile to catch on how to use what I've learned. I learned that this in Greek - the class that seemed disjointed from everything sooner or later is really essential. I got hung up on Chapter 6 in Greek in my first year and it haunted me for the next year and a half! Hopefully won't make this mistake with Hebrew.

Turning 40.

My brother is turning 40 tomorrow. Being unemployed over a year is not the way to ring in the 40th and we are both sensitive to the whole age issue. So I have been struggling to find gifts that recognize the big 4-0 and yet won't make him more depressed. I came across this helpful suggestion on a website:

Truly touching 40th birthday gift ideas take the sensitive and subtle approach of affirming a loved-one's value. The inevitable aging process can have a negative effect on self-esteem and general worth, particularly when decades pass in whole. Exclusion from youth-oriented culture often has a devastating impact, leading many to question their future and the nature of their place in society. Gifts that invest in a recipient's personal development send the message that they are still vital and worthy.

I'm more depressed then when I started. I'm hoping that this was originally written as copy for someone turning 70 - surely I'm not really as decrepit as this sounds!

BTW - as far as youth culture goes I get enough of it at Tyndale with the undergrad students. Obviously I'm old and cranky because I find them irritating! My friend picked me up from class and noted that she gave me a lot of credit! They are just so full of giggles and starry eyed optimism. I don't think I was ever optimistic :)