rbm001's blog

I chose to come to Morningside because it was close to home and because I could play baseball.  I think that being so close to home has helped me because I can still see my family when I want and my mom can still do my laundry.  That is a big help because then I don’t need to spend money to do laundry.  The other big reason to come to Morningside was to play baseball.  I have enjoyed baseball a lot this fall and it is really fun.  I like the camaraderie on the baseball team and with other kids in the dorm.

Morningside being a liberal arts school really didn’t have much to do with me coming here.  It seems like most schools were liberal arts schools.  If i wouldn’t  have gone to Morningside, I would have ended up at a big university like Iowa.  That was actually my second choice and it a really close call between the two.  It turns out i’m a die-hard Hawkeye fan which sometimes isn’t good.  A liberal arts school really didn’t impact my decision in coming here at all.

Today in Intro to Religion we mimicked the hajj, the pilgrimage for Muslims to the holy city of Mecca.  First, they would would wash their feet and hands before they enter the Mosque.  The second step in the pilgrimage is the walking around counter clockwise of the kaaba.  This must be done 7 times.  After this, the third step is to run back and forth from two hills seven times.  This symbols the search that Hajer, Abraham’s wife did when she looked for water for her son.  The next step is to stand and reflect on the mortality of the inner self for nearly an entire day.  Stoning the devil is the next step in the pilgrimage to Mecca.  Pilgrims gather pebbles and toss them at the three pillars to signify their defiance of the devil.  Then, the pilgrims must walk counter clockwise around the kaaba seven more times.  The final step is the sacrificing of the lamb by a qualified butcher.