The "Intraview"

Or is that title too cheesy? I thought it was kinda relating to how we're both interviewing each other, which is already atypical, and we're the ones running or "intra" in relation to the blog. We are not interviewing someone outside of it. Yes? No?

Anyway... We figure it's time that our four readers got a chance to see what's going on with the two of us. I (Edmund) also just wanted to reconnect again.

So I guess the way it's gonna work is that Edmund will ask a question, Kathryn will answer and then ask Edmund a question. We'll keep editing and posting until we're finally done and you all can get a real-time update. Here it goes!

Edmund: So Ms. Scharnhorst, let's start out light. Maui or Germany? Family aside of course.

Kathryn: HA. Okay. *clears throat.* (I always find it annoying when people to the asterisk action thing but it was necessary. I actually did clear my throat because I just ate a Brötchen with butter and salami which necessitated the throat clearing. Mmm Brötchen). Brötchen give Germany a point. The word Brötchen literally means little bread because that's what it is. It's a miniature loaf of bread. And there's a baker like every five feet here so Germans get them fresh baked all the time. They're super delicious with meat or cheese or jelly or just butter. Yum. German food beats nasty Hawaiian food any day. Although I do miss seafood. There's fish here sometimes but I'm landlocked so none of it's fresh. It all tastes really fishy which is gross. But I'm not so into food that I would choose one place over the other. All in all it's really hard to say. I'll say what I find better about each place. Actually I'm not supposed to call anything better or worse just "different." But it annoys me how no ones allowed to disagree with anyone over anything nowadays, so I'm going to anyway. :P That smiley face doesn't accurately convey what I wanted to convey. Oh well. I already predict this is going to be a meandering novel when I'm done. Germany: The food already wins. It's all so delicious. I'm going to have a ton of recipes with me when I come back and throw regular German dinner parties. Also, I LOVE seasons. The only reason I'd like a little more sun is because my hair has gotten so dark and I hate it. But other than my vanity, it's amazing. Everything is so gorgeous as it changes. I took a billion fall pictures, and snow pictures, and when spring comes I'm sure the flowers will be amazing too. Also, Germany is so old. The history is amazing. The terrible parts of German history aside, Martin Luther is from here, and there are some incredible churches. And the really german architecture is so cool. I could just stand and stare it. And it's just amazing to think that this same society has been here for thousands of years. And just the culture is really fascinating and so much less irritating than Hawaiian culture. What I find better about Maui: It's so clear coming over seas that America was founded as a christian nation. The church is almost purely an institution and a tradition here. It's so dead and so not a real part of anyone that I've met's life. Religion as a topic doesn't seem that controversial here, because there doesn't seem to be anyone really on fire so as to make it controversial. People accept it as part of their culture and history, but I haven't met one on fire person. Whereas on Maui, there are tons of true members of the Body of Christ. And on a less important note, I do miss the ocean. Not terribly. It's not an ache or a longing or anything, but somedays I just want to go float in the water and see a turtle or something. But what I've really been learning and realizing being here, is that I am not of this world, just as Jesus it not of this world. Heaven is my home. (One of my favorite songs is "In Exile" by Thrice. Check it out). Everywhere has something wrong with it. And what I don't like about both Maui and Germany I'll probably find anywhere I go. People seem to be living in this strange dream world. They ignore, or are oblivious to, the real world. People have no idea what MATTERS. It drives me crazy when people waste so much time and effort on such ridiculously trivial things. Things that will fade. It's hard to convey exactly what I mean. I guess in conclusion it's hard to say. I'm a bit biased towards Maui so I'd say Germany. But to be completely honest, neither haha. I'm going back to home sweet Seattle. :)

Kathryn: Edmund, as a super rugged native, what has been your biggest cultural shock since moving to the Mainland?

Edmund: I'm sure we can all recognize that I'm hardly native, even though that's been hard to explain to the people of Vermont. However, I would argue in defense of my ruggedness. While it may be the specific people I'm around or the demographic I'm mixed into, but I find that people are lacking in that quality. I'm not sure there's a term for it, but I'm used to the spontaneous/rugged/relaxed mindset of Maui. I actually didn't really realize it until recently, and I didn't even think about it until now. I had taken the Maui attitude as lazy, but I suppose I was just fighting it too much.

Other than that... With the interconnectedness of the modern world, I'm not sure "culture shock" is the appropriate term. Perhaps you could use it for a person moving to Germany or China, but honestly, I felt that I fit in as soon as my cab arrived at UVM. However, UVM is something of a self-sustaining microcosm that limits my perception of the outside world, but I find it's been wholly enjoyable.

Now I'm just stalling. Shocking... Shocking... There has to be something... I'm really not sure. I can't really think of many changes outside of food or weather, and I appear to have adapted rather well to most other things.

I guess I could take this time to describe my spiritual landscape and such, then.

While the people around me are experiencing the ups an downs of moving and experience the "free life," I think God has made me immune to these problems so that I might be able to feel my spiritual landscape/experiences most keenly. While I only hint at my downs, they were there. I guess this doesn't give me much right to express my highs, so I think I shall be more objective.

Burlington has it's own fluctuating history. The state was overwhelmingly conservative until there was a call for liberals to move to Vermont in an effort to sway the vote. The effects are ridiculously evident, but I do not blame the spiritual condition of the place on this. It is merely an interesting parallel. However, it has since become and remained a liberal beacon. Surely they are doing what they think is best in the face of human morals, but this includes an effort at disillusioning the population. A noble goal, I agree, but I think people equate Christianity with oppression. Surely, I agree that (to quote Kathryn's facebook) "religion is death." Except, they have decided to kill religion and take the stance of self-defense.

However, I think there is hope. While people may be hardened to Christianity, Spirituality is stressed in wellness. While people try to fill the spiritual gap in their lives with other things, it may be better that they are searching for something at all. I also think that for Christians who do take up the challenge, it is a good place to grow in Christ. It is really evident that the Church is the remnant. And those who do hoist the flag of Jesus the Christ are genuine because there is nothing to gain from a religious facade.

Now, these thoughts may not be very coherent, but in my defense I say that it is a difficult idea to make into words.

Edmund: So Kathryn, what is one thing that God has shown you through Germany that he couldn't somewhere else? Or just tell us something that God has really imprinted on you. Or how you've changed since leaving. (This is to help prepare us all for what you've become.)

Kathryn: I think I've already indirectly answered the first two questions. God has really shown me that Heaven is my home. I don't belong here, I'm a foreigner (not just in Germany, but in the world in general). This has really taught me to be more heaven focused. Because who doesn't long for home when they're away? By realizing where my true home is it makes it so easy and obvious to yearn for Heaven. (I'm not sure if Heaven should be capitalized or not. In german all nouns are capitalized so it's confusing me). Also, it's shown me how ridiculous any other option besides Jesus is. Everyone yearns for Jesus without realizing it, and when they don't know that Jesus is the answer, they seek truly ridiculous substitutes. It's like they're blind but still trying to build houses and lives without having any idea what's even important and what's not. I don't even know. As far as what I've "become," I don't think I've become anything really. It's hard to answer that question objectively. I still have a half year anyway. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Kathryn: What do you really, honestly see yourself doing for the next ten years? Not IN ten years, FOR the next ten years. As of right now what do you think will happen?

Some Questions in need of Biblical-ness

On marriage. (danger, danger)

Paul says that it would be better if people would abstain from marriage and, as I understand it, that people who marry were not able to quell their desires, so they are given a sanctified setting through which to vent their fleshly yearnings. But then in Titus, it explains an elder, a spiritual elder to be exact. An elder should have experience dealing with money and managing finances. An elder should be the head of a family. But the only environment suitable for intercourse and children is marriage. So how does the Church, the body, produce elders to lead and to act as “apostles” to instill the younger sheep with the “healthy teaching” as described in Titus and Timothy? Is it that certain people are called out of the population to become parents and leaders of their household? And if so, then why does Christianity propagate the idea of marriage as a paradoxical, glorious norm?

Also, on the subject of actually playing out the sacrament of “marriage.” I don’t know of any biblical place that dictates any kind of marriage “ritual.” So why does modern Christianity subject itself to such lifeless acts? Surely the profession of marriages and the witnessing of some act, such as baptism is a spiritual resignation to God and to the Body saying, “I am dead to the world.” I wish that you could prove me wrong, I really do. Just maybe some verses on… anything really. I just have been mulling it over for a while and feel that marriage is something that spiritually binds you to your spouse, and is not something of a confession to Christ and the Body? Of course, I allow for some of the faults of marriage, especially as having many legal/financial benefits, as well it’s degradation into something easily thrown away, to the modern understanding and adoption of the practice by the world as well as “adopted Christianity.” I really couldn’t think of another term. Is there another term for Christians who have kind of “adopted” the beliefs of their fore bearers? I feel like second-generation or “generational” might be appropriate words.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts on marriage. And no, I don’t think marriage is an inherently bad thing. You would be hard-pressed to find something I thought was bad in itself.

Also, I'm sorry if it seems that I am asking questions that step outside of some unwritten bounds. The funny thing is, I don't think people take me seriously when I say that I am willing to be proven wrong. Sometimes I even hope to be proven wrong. Why would I like to see the entity with which I identify as so flawed? Alas, I am do not view myself as some spiritual leader, and as such, I suppose that means I need some guidance.

I apologize if I have ever offended you, and in advance for when I surely do so, accidentally.

-Edmund