steadying Aramaic with Hardy

now that the regular semester is done, I am completely free to do what I want, which in my case is an independent study on Biblical Aramaic and a self-imposed crash course on the book of Ruth. Normally trying to do either of these things independently is extremely hard to do. I have opted for not trying to do so. Instead, I am getting together with a buddy of mine whose name is Hardy Warren.

Hardy is one of the best student scholars I know. he is an older gentleman who is in his 60s. he is single and has never been married, and from what I can tell never cares to be married. he served as a nation and for a number of years in South America. he has said that while he was a missionary he had several opportunities to preach. after a number of preaching opportunities, people around him would remark that he had a gift for preaching. After the death of his mother several years ago, he decided that he wanted to go to seminary. presently he is working on a master's of arts in biblical studies. Although he is among the rare breed of MA students who is suicidal enough to plunge deep in the heart of the biblical languages. (I say "suicidal" because the biblical languages are only required for MDiv students). his vision beyond seminary is to help further equip the many pastors spread throughout Mississippi who are unable to afford further biblical training. Hardy would claim to be neither more confident or qualified than any other pastor for student out there and yet his powerful skill and humble attitude demonstrated otherwise. he has a careful eye for working through Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. He has a humble attitude when it comes to listening to his teachers (many of whom are young enough to be his son's or even grandsons). in my experience this is a rare exception. I find that many older students tend to be all too confident in their skill sets and way too assertive in their attitude. I find that older to students tend to bring their experience to bear on nearly any subject in a seminary classroom setting. however, this just does not seem to be the case for Hardy Warren.

I consider it an honor and privilege to study with a man who commands the respect of a grandfather and yet sees himself know different than a fellow student.