Lord willing, it will change sooner than later; but, as it
is, Fanny is on the shift schedule at her work. One of the benefits it offers
is highlighting how pervasive the chiasmus
pattern is in our experience...God indeed orders all things beautifully. Check
it out.
A. 7 Day Break
B. 4 On
C. 3 Off
D. 3 On
X. 1 Off
D. 3 On
C. 3 Off
B. 4 On
A. 7 Day Break
Another thing this does is demonstrate that, when we recognize chiasmi in literature, especially biblical literature, we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that the chi, the X, the center, is the author's primary point. In this example, one would think that whoever authored this schedule structure wanted to highlight or emphasize the drudgery of the job, since the chi is the meager one day off, which separates a three day stretch of 12 hour days on top and a three day stretch of 12 hour nights on bottom, which can turn one's sleep pattern upside down, literally (it ain't healthy).
Moreover, it illustrates that each set of members plays an important role in the author's point(s), which may be far more dynamic than our Westerner's linear reading-hermeneutical methods generally allow for. In fact, if the context were an HR situation, and I was trying to make the job attractive to interested folk, I would want the cycli members (A/A') to be the readers' focal point(s). And the fact is it likely would be. In such a case, we wouldn't point to the chi, the center member, and say, "But, hey! You missed my main point!!" That would be counter-productive.
A. 7 Day Break
B. 4 On
C. 3 Off
D. 3 On
X. 1 Off
D. 3 On
C. 3 Off
B. 4 On
A. 7 Day Break
Another thing this does is demonstrate that, when we recognize chiasmi in literature, especially biblical literature, we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that the chi, the X, the center, is the author's primary point. In this example, one would think that whoever authored this schedule structure wanted to highlight or emphasize the drudgery of the job, since the chi is the meager one day off, which separates a three day stretch of 12 hour days on top and a three day stretch of 12 hour nights on bottom, which can turn one's sleep pattern upside down, literally (it ain't healthy).
Moreover, it illustrates that each set of members plays an important role in the author's point(s), which may be far more dynamic than our Westerner's linear reading-hermeneutical methods generally allow for. In fact, if the context were an HR situation, and I was trying to make the job attractive to interested folk, I would want the cycli members (A/A') to be the readers' focal point(s). And the fact is it likely would be. In such a case, we wouldn't point to the chi, the center member, and say, "But, hey! You missed my main point!!" That would be counter-productive.
Neither should get so focused on the chi when we find a chiasm in scripture that we marginalize or even
miss the author’s real point with the structure. We should first determine the
author's broader rhetoric, mood and tone, etc. and then begin searching how
each set of members contribute to those more general aspects of the unit or
chapter.
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Addendum: God be praised! Fanny’s soon to be off the shift
rotation, as God has blessed us—and her employer—by promoting her into an assistant
admin position in the maintenance department. For the first time in seven years
our schedules will be nearly parallel! Her last day in her original position is
02/28, then the new adventure begins!
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