Knight Light

It's Homecoming Week out at BYU this week, which means the Y is all lit up.  Apparently in yon olden dayes, the lighting of the Y was accomplished by soaking hunks of mattresses in oil.  This was carried out by (no joke) the Intercollegiate Knights, a service fraternity based on the Arthurian legends.  In addition to the glowing Y, the Knights are also responsible for such BYU landmarks as the Victory Bell and the statue of Massasoit (AKA "The Naked Indian"--which coincidentally was the site of the best flash mob I've ever witnessed, a "modest is hottest" protest of gratuitous half-nakedness).  Huzzah!

In related news, there is a U on the mountain in Salt Lake, a G in Pleasant Grove, and a Y in Provo.  We just need Lindon to get with the program for a north-to-south statement to Nevada, who don't got no alibi.

Stop, Animate, and Listen

Sorry I'm Late from Tomas Mankovsky on Vimeo.  Courtesy of my new favorite web-curator, thekidshouldseethis.com

2011 Bez-Boll

When my teams are out of the playoffs, I root for the worst-remaining teams, as determined by number of championships and time since last championship.  Here's looking at you, Brew Crew.  (Doing that two-handed monster gesture.)

The "Phoenix" Temple

Almost a year ago, I posted the following comments:

My favorite building in Provo burned down early this morning.  Is it weird to have a favorite building?  Is it weird to feel sad, almost mournful, about a building fire?  Because that's kind of how I feel right now.

I attended services at the Provo Tabernacle maybe a half dozen times--that's all--but I still have a sense of loss.  One Easter morning I went to an early morning concert there.  As usual I sat in the balcony, climbing the spiraling stairs to the narrow wooden pews.  As the choir belted out "Come Thou Fount" the sun crested the mountains and streamed through the stained glass windows; it was truly triumphant.  That moment taught me something about God, and I think that's the Tabernacle's legacy-- it was a place to experience the Divine.  I'll miss it.

Yesterday, President Monson announced that the Tabernacle will be rebuilt as a temple. Amen, and amen.

It may be melodramatic, but I want to one day look back at my life and see the Provo Tabernacle: having become meaningful to those around me through a lifetime of useful service, and having faced life's vicissitudes great and small, being able to rise triumphant as a better version of myself.

The refiner's fire, indeed.

Utah, October 1st

For this one week, Utah is the prettiest place on God's green--and yellow, and orange, and red--earth.

Photos courtesy of my favorite photographer, John Scanlan (with apologies to you, Ansel).

Reflection

"We learn by neither thinking nor doing, but by thinking about what we are doing." - George Stoddard