Well it's been a while and just about time for another update on life in the world of Miriam.
The past few weeks have been filled with uni stress spontaneous escapades and bakehouse runs. My body aches for the fulfilment of real food but who has time to cook when your gallivanting around the countryside making music. We are in the depths of tech exam week and I feel so free. Mine was yesterday and though it brought some expected slipups I am glad to be out of the practice room for a time and into the second hand bookstore for a whopping eight dollar spending spree. Yes I am perpetually broke but you would be surprised how many books you can buy with eight dollars.
I am happy to announce that practice is finally underway without too much complaint, there's nothing like a deadline to encourage musical growth. Speaking of growth in recent weeks my friendship with two unamed (but certainly not undervalued) people has grown a lot and in many ways I didn't expect. I'm so honoured to have them as my friends. They have shown me how to trust and put others above themselves. Patience, kindness and love. I see so much Christ in them and in the way they love each other.
I can't help but see God in the trees. In the everyday. On Monday I wanted to catch a bus to town. I had no wallet and nine dollars in my pocket. I was afraid that nine was not enough and I would be stranded in Huonville. The bus came, I got on and anxiously said "Student fare to hobart please." the bus driver replied "Nine dollars thankyou."
I laughed, enough said.
I am going to Sydney with friends on Friday to see a long lost con student. Well maybe not lost, just relocated. I have no idea what our plans are once up there but that is so exciting in itself. The only organised events are the plane arrival and departure. Oh and a trip to Hillsong church. I have never been to a congregation that size. How exciting.
I read a passage in one of Dan Brown's books yesterday. It was a conversation between a Swiss guard and a priest on how God can be omnipotent and benevolent. How God could be good and loving and yet there was still pain in the world. This brought me back to religion class in grade eleven and the study of the problem of evil. I remember Ruth handing us a piece of paper and saying "Many theologians have spent years studying this problem and it has never been solved."

If God is willing to prevent evil, but is not able to
Then He is not omnipotent.
If He is able, but not willing
Then He is malevolent.
If He is both able and willing
Then whence cometh evil?
If He is neither able nor willing
Then why call Him God?

Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270BC)

I realised that this small riddle had been a catalyst for my time time away from church and God. Though I said to myself at the time I will solve it. This won't damage my belief. It took years for me to stop seaching and accept that I don't need to know. Only to find now three years after religion class ended that the answer was in this book and reading it I had known for quite a while subconsiously what the answer was.
For those few who are interested it is in Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Who would have guessed that this biblical truth could be hidden in a book famous for its promotion of catholic conspiracy. With that faure into the mind of me I will depart. Until next time.......