Well, we are feeling movement, for SURE. I've been feeling topsy-turvey-tummy feelings (like the feeling you get on a roller coaster) for a few weeks, but I thought I was just a little nauseous still. Not so-- that is baby Norquist making him/herself known! Now the swirling feeling is often accompanied by little nudges from the inside. Ben got a high-five from the baby yesterday morning, and a couple more last night. The nudges keep me company during the day, bringing a little smile to my face at otherwise uninteresting times.
Tomorrow night we start birthing classes... stay tuned...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Piano?!!
While Ben was gone, I was busy refurbishing an upright piano for him.
I bought it at a thrift store for $100. All of the keys worked, and nothing was broken, exactly, but it had quite a few sticky keys, no key tops left, and about 40 years worth of dust everywhere. there were, in fact, areas on the inside which I thought had been painted black all through the vacuuming and first and second washings-out. The third time over, I discovered... beautiful wood under all the grime, not black paint. Yuk!
With the help of directions from the Internet, my dust mask, vacuum and Murphy's oil soap, I cleaned, filled holes, turned pins, filed felt, glued on new key tops and shined it up over the course of about 25 hours or so last week. (By the way, you, too can be a piano technician. Steve will help you at: www.stevespianoservice.com)
It is a gorgeous piece of furniture, but more importantly, a lovely instrument. There are still a few sticky keys to adjust and tuning to have done, but it's well on its way.
Ben was... "flabbergasted," when he walked in Monday evening, which was, of course, the idea. It's not so easy to surprise him, but he really loves a good one, so this was pretty fun to pull off. A big thanks to the RA guys who lugged the piano out of the store, into a truck, up our front stairs and into the living room. It was quite a job, and a substantial part of the gift! Maybe we can get a pic on here at some point. It is a walnut color, with thick pillars on each corner and under the keyboard. There are neat little sliding doors above and under the keyboard exposing the working parts of the soundboard (I don't know what that is called-- the area where the hammers hit the wires).
Ben had fun revisiting some pieces he used to enjoy playing, and is excited to get back into it. The piano will also be nice to use for some class times and Christmas parties and all of that!
I bought it at a thrift store for $100. All of the keys worked, and nothing was broken, exactly, but it had quite a few sticky keys, no key tops left, and about 40 years worth of dust everywhere. there were, in fact, areas on the inside which I thought had been painted black all through the vacuuming and first and second washings-out. The third time over, I discovered... beautiful wood under all the grime, not black paint. Yuk!
With the help of directions from the Internet, my dust mask, vacuum and Murphy's oil soap, I cleaned, filled holes, turned pins, filed felt, glued on new key tops and shined it up over the course of about 25 hours or so last week. (By the way, you, too can be a piano technician. Steve will help you at: www.stevespianoservice.com)
It is a gorgeous piece of furniture, but more importantly, a lovely instrument. There are still a few sticky keys to adjust and tuning to have done, but it's well on its way.
Ben was... "flabbergasted," when he walked in Monday evening, which was, of course, the idea. It's not so easy to surprise him, but he really loves a good one, so this was pretty fun to pull off. A big thanks to the RA guys who lugged the piano out of the store, into a truck, up our front stairs and into the living room. It was quite a job, and a substantial part of the gift! Maybe we can get a pic on here at some point. It is a walnut color, with thick pillars on each corner and under the keyboard. There are neat little sliding doors above and under the keyboard exposing the working parts of the soundboard (I don't know what that is called-- the area where the hammers hit the wires).
Ben had fun revisiting some pieces he used to enjoy playing, and is excited to get back into it. The piano will also be nice to use for some class times and Christmas parties and all of that!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ben's African Email Journal
Well, Ben arrives back from Africa this afternoon. Here are some excerpts from his emails. This is sort of a long entry, and somewhat repetitive, but it will give those of you who wonder what Ben's job involves, exactly, a peek into the life of Ben. I've added a few explanatory comments.
[Ben was in Tanzania for a few days before going to Uganda. He was able to call me from there, so no emails to include here...]
April 22
I've arrived in Uganda without a hitch. The flight was quick--reading Supper of the Lamb made the short flight seem like moments. Enos picked me up. He was right there, holding a sign that read "Ben Norquist, Enos Ekato." He is such a happy, smiley person! I'm having a great time with him. We stopped in Kampala for Ugandan lunch, local fare that's just like I remember, and we ran right next door to the bus terminal and purchased tickets for tomorrow morning. We'll leave the house at about 6:30 tomorrow morning to fight through traffic to our bus leaving at 8:30.
I'm trying to figure out what to give to Enos and his family, with whom I'm staying, as a gift of thanks...I'm going to notice if they have a CD player in their truck. If so, I'm going to give them a copy of John Piper's "Fire and Light" CD, of which I've brought several copies. By the by, I listened to Pipers latest sermon podcast--"We are to be Midwives in the Second Birth for Other People."[Who else would title a sermon that way? Ha!]
April 23
I just arrived in Kigali, not too road weary, but certainly glad to be out of the bus, and now with friends, anticipating dinner at Emmanuel's [Emmanuel is an administrator in the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, and our close friend and contact there. He has visited Bryan twice]. Emmanuel picked Enos and me from the bus station upon arrival an hour ago, brought us directly to his office to show Enos (a good friend of his who has never been outside of Uganda in his life).
The bus ride was nine and a half hours--quite a long trip admittedly, but it felt to me more like two hours. Supper of the Lamb hurls me through hours without my really noticing. We bought water off a hawker who boarded the bus and rode with us from one town to the next (and, I bet, jumped on the next bus heading in the opposite direction from the town we dropped him in). The view, especially in southern Uganda, is majestic, just jaw-dropping. God is gracious to give us such overdone grandeur to enjoy.
Mary, Enos' wife, is a kind, a spiritual leader in her family (at her instigation we sat in the living room for a full half hour of prayer and scripture reading before dinner), and soft-spoken. She is quite the person. I will look forward to showing you the picture I took of Enos and Mary on their front steps early this morning as we readied to pull away to catch our bus.
Yeah, it's April in Rwanda [the anniversary of the beginning of the genocide and time of the mass panic and horrific killings]...that occurred to me as well, yesterday, as I watched the Kampala news and the anchor mentioned the date. Yes. Please pray for the church to do a good job of offering God's comfort. Please also pray for me:-That I'll be able to simply fellowship, connect on a human level with Emmanuel and our other friends - I'm afraid that I could easily be all business and end up failing to strengthen the relationship. It could even feel worse--like I'm using people.-That we'll be able to construct a vision for the interns for this summer that Emmanuel, ministry hosts, Bryan, etc. can get excited about.
April 24
Today was wonderful! I say that because my meeting with Michael at MOUCECORE [a Rwandan Christian organization that does community development and reconciliation work. We stayed at their guest house last October. Two Bryan students will be interns there this summer.] was so successful. We had a great time connecting on a personal level (I've shown our picture to many people already today). We talked about having children, naming children, and other family-related items. We also got to business, which was pretty good. There may be some internship costs (hiring a translator, fuel for several/many special trips throughout Rwanda), but Micheal said that MOUCECORE would be willing to share the costs with Bryan, which will be helpful.
April 25
Hi, baby,I'm quite ready to come home now--I've completed the business I came for with great success. I had a wonderful meeting with John, the director of Solace this morning [a Rwandan Christian psychological counseling and community development center], who was full of ideas as to how Bryan and Solace could partner. I think I'm going to enjoy John's company whenever I'm in Rwanda, same with Michael of Moucecore, both wonderful men, easy to get along with, and passionate about their work.
I also had a great time with the IJM staff today. I met two of the interns (actually one fellow and one intern Alistaire and Marissa) for lunch at the Novotel (four star restaurant) [Poor Ben...] . Great fun. Hey, Marissa is a student at Bethel U! Who'da thunk it. It was just us for lunch, but after we went to their offices which were abandoned for lunch, so we went to where they were finishing lunch. They were celebrating two birthdays for two of the Rwandan lawyers. It was fun chatting with them all there, but it was even better when they finished up. I walked with the whole staff to their offices, got the tour, sat with Dieter, the director for a while, talked with the director of programs, and really, just made friends with them. I won't feel uncomfortable calling them for lunch now any time that I'm here. Dieter and I spoke about their internship needs here, which was helpful. And Merissa, the one intern, is excited about connecting with our students this summer, orienting them to Kigali, and introducing them to an ex-pat Bible study that's been meeting recently! Oh, man. Very good.
April 26
I'm so pleased with how my visit has gone--I'm coming home having truly connected on a personal level with Micheal, Emmanuel, John, the American team here, a few staff from Solace, Enos and his wife from Uganda, and several staff and interns at IJM! Oh, man, I've seen that God has been generous in the last few days. But I'm so glad to be starting my long way home tomorrow morning!
I finished The Supper of the Lamb, so I'll spend a good bit of time in the Bible, sleeping, reviewing notes from the trip, and, once I board my transatlantic flight, watching some films I bet. I reason I've e-mailed again is that I think that once I check out of Solace in a few hours, I'll have passed to the dark side of the moon until I get to Amsterdam, where I may have a chance to find an Internet terminal.
[Ben was in Tanzania for a few days before going to Uganda. He was able to call me from there, so no emails to include here...]
April 22
I've arrived in Uganda without a hitch. The flight was quick--reading Supper of the Lamb made the short flight seem like moments. Enos picked me up. He was right there, holding a sign that read "Ben Norquist, Enos Ekato." He is such a happy, smiley person! I'm having a great time with him. We stopped in Kampala for Ugandan lunch, local fare that's just like I remember, and we ran right next door to the bus terminal and purchased tickets for tomorrow morning. We'll leave the house at about 6:30 tomorrow morning to fight through traffic to our bus leaving at 8:30.
I'm trying to figure out what to give to Enos and his family, with whom I'm staying, as a gift of thanks...I'm going to notice if they have a CD player in their truck. If so, I'm going to give them a copy of John Piper's "Fire and Light" CD, of which I've brought several copies. By the by, I listened to Pipers latest sermon podcast--"We are to be Midwives in the Second Birth for Other People."[Who else would title a sermon that way? Ha!]
April 23
I just arrived in Kigali, not too road weary, but certainly glad to be out of the bus, and now with friends, anticipating dinner at Emmanuel's [Emmanuel is an administrator in the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, and our close friend and contact there. He has visited Bryan twice]. Emmanuel picked Enos and me from the bus station upon arrival an hour ago, brought us directly to his office to show Enos (a good friend of his who has never been outside of Uganda in his life).
The bus ride was nine and a half hours--quite a long trip admittedly, but it felt to me more like two hours. Supper of the Lamb hurls me through hours without my really noticing. We bought water off a hawker who boarded the bus and rode with us from one town to the next (and, I bet, jumped on the next bus heading in the opposite direction from the town we dropped him in). The view, especially in southern Uganda, is majestic, just jaw-dropping. God is gracious to give us such overdone grandeur to enjoy.
Mary, Enos' wife, is a kind, a spiritual leader in her family (at her instigation we sat in the living room for a full half hour of prayer and scripture reading before dinner), and soft-spoken. She is quite the person. I will look forward to showing you the picture I took of Enos and Mary on their front steps early this morning as we readied to pull away to catch our bus.
Yeah, it's April in Rwanda [the anniversary of the beginning of the genocide and time of the mass panic and horrific killings]...that occurred to me as well, yesterday, as I watched the Kampala news and the anchor mentioned the date. Yes. Please pray for the church to do a good job of offering God's comfort. Please also pray for me:-That I'll be able to simply fellowship, connect on a human level with Emmanuel and our other friends - I'm afraid that I could easily be all business and end up failing to strengthen the relationship. It could even feel worse--like I'm using people.-That we'll be able to construct a vision for the interns for this summer that Emmanuel, ministry hosts, Bryan, etc. can get excited about.
April 24
Today was wonderful! I say that because my meeting with Michael at MOUCECORE [a Rwandan Christian organization that does community development and reconciliation work. We stayed at their guest house last October. Two Bryan students will be interns there this summer.] was so successful. We had a great time connecting on a personal level (I've shown our picture to many people already today). We talked about having children, naming children, and other family-related items. We also got to business, which was pretty good. There may be some internship costs (hiring a translator, fuel for several/many special trips throughout Rwanda), but Micheal said that MOUCECORE would be willing to share the costs with Bryan, which will be helpful.
April 25
Hi, baby,I'm quite ready to come home now--I've completed the business I came for with great success. I had a wonderful meeting with John, the director of Solace this morning [a Rwandan Christian psychological counseling and community development center], who was full of ideas as to how Bryan and Solace could partner. I think I'm going to enjoy John's company whenever I'm in Rwanda, same with Michael of Moucecore, both wonderful men, easy to get along with, and passionate about their work.
I also had a great time with the IJM staff today. I met two of the interns (actually one fellow and one intern Alistaire and Marissa) for lunch at the Novotel (four star restaurant) [Poor Ben...] . Great fun. Hey, Marissa is a student at Bethel U! Who'da thunk it. It was just us for lunch, but after we went to their offices which were abandoned for lunch, so we went to where they were finishing lunch. They were celebrating two birthdays for two of the Rwandan lawyers. It was fun chatting with them all there, but it was even better when they finished up. I walked with the whole staff to their offices, got the tour, sat with Dieter, the director for a while, talked with the director of programs, and really, just made friends with them. I won't feel uncomfortable calling them for lunch now any time that I'm here. Dieter and I spoke about their internship needs here, which was helpful. And Merissa, the one intern, is excited about connecting with our students this summer, orienting them to Kigali, and introducing them to an ex-pat Bible study that's been meeting recently! Oh, man. Very good.
April 26
I'm so pleased with how my visit has gone--I'm coming home having truly connected on a personal level with Micheal, Emmanuel, John, the American team here, a few staff from Solace, Enos and his wife from Uganda, and several staff and interns at IJM! Oh, man, I've seen that God has been generous in the last few days. But I'm so glad to be starting my long way home tomorrow morning!
I finished The Supper of the Lamb, so I'll spend a good bit of time in the Bible, sleeping, reviewing notes from the trip, and, once I board my transatlantic flight, watching some films I bet. I reason I've e-mailed again is that I think that once I check out of Solace in a few hours, I'll have passed to the dark side of the moon until I get to Amsterdam, where I may have a chance to find an Internet terminal.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The "Traitor-Heroine" of the Reformation
I just watched Lady Jane, starring a teenage Helena Bonham Carter. Quite interesting. Let me tell you the Lady's story.
Jane was a Protestant intellectual by the age of 15, reading the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, as well as other classic literature in the original languages. She engaged in debates with Catholic scholars and lived, as she said herself, for the purpose of study and prayer.
At age 16, her parents' close advisor Lord somebody Dudley arranged her marriage to his own son, Lord Guilford Dudley, a young man whom Jane initially despised as "ugly and stupid." Months into their cold marriage, the two discovered a mutual dissatisfaction with certain oppressive ways of the monarchy, a common vision for the service of the monarchy to its people, and indeed fell in love with one another over time.
Jane Grey was the 15-year old cousin of the sickly King Edward VI and fourth in line for the throne. On his deathbed, Edward "willed" her to power, superceding the succesion order that would have placed his Catholic cousin Mary Tudor, illegitimate cousin Elizabeth, or Jane's own mother, Mary Grey, as Queen. As Edward was but 16 or 17 years old, he was not yet old enough according to English law to will anything to anyone ( a right obtained at 21 years), so Jane's claim to the throne was tenuous. In fact, her reign lasted but 9 days. In those 9 days, she ruled side by side with her husband and swiftly enacted various social reforms, including revaluing the shilling, releasing prisoners arrested for treason under Edward, and returning commandeered lands to the populace. It is suspected that had she been more prudent with her power in those early days, her right to the monarchy might not have been challenged by her own advisors and Parliament. She saw her position as an opportunity to "set the captives free," though, and perhaps she had an idea of what was to come.
After those 9 days, Mary Tudor came to power and Queen Jane and her husband Gulford Dudley were charged with high treason. Initially, Mary made clear that she intended to spare their lives, but after Jane's father led a rebellion to restore her to the throne, the sentences of death were delivered and carried out.
Jane was beheaded at London Tower on February 12, 1554. On the platform, she forgave her executioner, dellivered a short speech to the onlookers, and recited a Psalm. Her last words were, "Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit."
John Godwin said she was "the most perfect young creature of the female sex to be found in history."
Pretty high praise! The movie is engaging, gracefully acted and pretty accurate (okay, I think so, based on my quick internet research of her life).
Check it out...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Things this Week
Last weekend Ben was in D.C. with a group of students attending the Global Prayer Gathering of the International Justice Mission. I wasn't there, so can't give a first-hand account, but it seems that it was a top-notch experience for all. He and the students came back with some new perspectives. Ask Ben more, or visit the website for details...
Tuesday night Ben took me out for my birthday to The Curry Pot for Indian. It was really wonderful-- incredible spice flavors (better than India Palace, which used to be my measuring stick for all other Indian-- can you believe it?)! The Curry Pot is owned by Christians, interestingly, and they serve beef! Ben ordered Beef Biryani, and I had Vegetables Korma.
Yesterday afternoon I told my Punjabi 1st-grade student that I had Indian in Chattanooga, and he got sooo excited.
"Did you have the circle things?" (I gathered that he meant the doughnuty sort of dessert
served in a rose water syrup-- I don't remember what it is called, either.)
"No, but I've had that before. It's yummy, isn't it?"
"Yes, I want one. I really want one. I want a BIG one. I want one as big as an ELEPHANT!"
By this time, he had climbed up on top of his chair and was shaking with excitement as he gestured. Guess he likes to eat out, too. So cute. As for myself, I am ready to go out for Indian again tonight. I won't, of course, but I'd like to. I'd really like to.
Sigh. In all, we have had a busy few weeks. Right now there is are ENORMOUS piles of dirty dishes (the dishwasher is malfunctioning, which doesn't help that situation), dirty clothes, garbage (we haven't taken a trip to the dump for a few weeks), and the grass is about 18 inches long in the front yard. It's a good thing there aren't any ordinances in these parts limiting one's right to a lawn au natural.
Tonight I have about 2 hours after work before students come over for class. Hopefully these piles can be diminished. Except for the lawn problem, which will linger a bit longer, seeing as we don't own a lawn mower.
Tuesday night Ben took me out for my birthday to The Curry Pot for Indian. It was really wonderful-- incredible spice flavors (better than India Palace, which used to be my measuring stick for all other Indian-- can you believe it?)! The Curry Pot is owned by Christians, interestingly, and they serve beef! Ben ordered Beef Biryani, and I had Vegetables Korma.
Yesterday afternoon I told my Punjabi 1st-grade student that I had Indian in Chattanooga, and he got sooo excited.
"Did you have the circle things?" (I gathered that he meant the doughnuty sort of dessert
served in a rose water syrup-- I don't remember what it is called, either.)
"No, but I've had that before. It's yummy, isn't it?"
"Yes, I want one. I really want one. I want a BIG one. I want one as big as an ELEPHANT!"
By this time, he had climbed up on top of his chair and was shaking with excitement as he gestured. Guess he likes to eat out, too. So cute. As for myself, I am ready to go out for Indian again tonight. I won't, of course, but I'd like to. I'd really like to.
Sigh. In all, we have had a busy few weeks. Right now there is are ENORMOUS piles of dirty dishes (the dishwasher is malfunctioning, which doesn't help that situation), dirty clothes, garbage (we haven't taken a trip to the dump for a few weeks), and the grass is about 18 inches long in the front yard. It's a good thing there aren't any ordinances in these parts limiting one's right to a lawn au natural.
Tonight I have about 2 hours after work before students come over for class. Hopefully these piles can be diminished. Except for the lawn problem, which will linger a bit longer, seeing as we don't own a lawn mower.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Garage Saleing
I really love garage sales-- always have. I love the deals, of course, but also enjoy the stories a family's discarded possesions tell. I love exploring the neighborhoods and back roads. I love that it is a chore in one sense, but a pretty fun one!
I had a great morning of saleing this past Saturday.
Details:
In our parts, sales happen not just in garages, but in parking lots, yards, and along the roadside. Few take the time to price their wares, or even sit them out on tables. Often there are just piles or boxes of junk, through which the bargain-hunter sorts. The first few ventures I made at Southern garage saleing were totally unsuccessful. If things weren't priced, I would just wander a bit, say thanks, then leave quietly. How Minnesotan of me.
Major breakthrough in strategy this Saturday, though!
Here's how you sail the sales, Tennessee style:
1. Excavate the piles.
2. Load up your arms with the desired goods.
3. Approach the seller, "How much for this?" Point to ONE of the objects.
4. Seller responds, "Oh, 75 cents. Well, how about $2 for all of it?"
5. Deal! Pay up and head out.
A list of what I got for a total of $7 on Saturday:
I had a great morning of saleing this past Saturday.
Details:
In our parts, sales happen not just in garages, but in parking lots, yards, and along the roadside. Few take the time to price their wares, or even sit them out on tables. Often there are just piles or boxes of junk, through which the bargain-hunter sorts. The first few ventures I made at Southern garage saleing were totally unsuccessful. If things weren't priced, I would just wander a bit, say thanks, then leave quietly. How Minnesotan of me.
Major breakthrough in strategy this Saturday, though!
Here's how you sail the sales, Tennessee style:
1. Excavate the piles.
2. Load up your arms with the desired goods.
3. Approach the seller, "How much for this?" Point to ONE of the objects.
4. Seller responds, "Oh, 75 cents. Well, how about $2 for all of it?"
5. Deal! Pay up and head out.
A list of what I got for a total of $7 on Saturday:
- 6 pairs of Baby Gap socks, various sizes and colors
- Baby Gap sweater and hat set, off-white cable knit
- Answering machine
- 2 hardcover kids books
- Vick's brand humidifier
- 2 really nice Carter's onesies
- baby carrier (the soft cloth kind that fits on the parent's front or back)
- baby bottle drying rack
- "I love Daddy" bib
Pretty good, huh? 3 cheers for assimilation!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Atlanta? Gag me!
Today Ben is traveling to Atlanta with the missions class. Here is our conversation from last night regarding this trip . I was washing my face while Ben was already curled up in bed, so I was sort of calling across the rooms to him.
Me: I'm excited for your trip. I mean, I'm not excited that you will be gone, but the trip is going to be--(gag. GAG. blech sound.)
Ben: (laughing uncontrollably, now running into the bathroom in his underwear, laughing more) I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm not laughing at you. (laughing, laughing, laughing, now rolling on the floor and clawing at my knees, laughing)
The morning/noon/night sickness attacks quite unexpectedly. Ha ha.
Me: I'm excited for your trip. I mean, I'm not excited that you will be gone, but the trip is going to be--(gag. GAG. blech sound.)
Ben: (laughing uncontrollably, now running into the bathroom in his underwear, laughing more) I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm not laughing at you. (laughing, laughing, laughing, now rolling on the floor and clawing at my knees, laughing)
The morning/noon/night sickness attacks quite unexpectedly. Ha ha.
I didn't actually get sick, just gaggy. So it was funny.
So, about Ben in ATL. Here's their COOL plan, beginning Wednesday afternoon:
- Visit Hindu temple (several of the students will be in India this summer)
- Visit Operation Mobilization headquarters, eat supper with staff
- Talk strategy with OM staff
- Stay at horse ranch!
- Spend weekly global-prayer time with OM staff
- Eat somewhere fabulous, I hope; debrief
- Something else I can't remember
- Be home by Thurs. evening!
Hurrah for Edy's!
Surprisingly, ice cream seems to fit my pregnancy diet. Ok, not a super-food, but at least it has some of the good stuff.
In a 1/2 cup serving of Edy's Loaded Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream:
6 g fat
140 calories
3 g protien
2 g fiber
4% RDA Calcium (Why isn't there more? They should fortify this...)
Mmmm... The Baby and Mama really like ice cream.
In a 1/2 cup serving of Edy's Loaded Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream:
6 g fat
140 calories
3 g protien
2 g fiber
4% RDA Calcium (Why isn't there more? They should fortify this...)
Mmmm... The Baby and Mama really like ice cream.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I Love Luci
Lately I have finished Water my Soul: Cultivating the Interior Life, a spiritual devotional based upon the imagery of cultivation, by poet Luci Shaw. Shaw's writing style is quite close to the "Christian Living" writings of Madelience L'Engle. The two, in fact, were great friends and often conducted writing seminars together.
An excerpt from th chapter, "Growing in the Light":
"I join in our universal human longing to be with God, to have all my unsatisfied longings fulfilled:
Unless I am mistaken
'All of us wait for this--
To jettison the grasping hands
To lope through new-created lands
Where hope and have may kiss.'
Perhaps the growing seed wonders if it will ever pierce through the skin of soil and sod and burst into the light. This is, for me, a parable of the life of faith. It is across the gulf between the wanting and the having that faith carries us. Our belief in a God who is good, who understands our yearnings, who teaches us much by making us wait, and who will untimately reward our upward struggle, allows us to persevere, to persist. As the author of The Cloud of Unknowing challenges us: 'Smite upon the thick cloud of unknowing wth the sharp dart of longing love; come what may, never give up.'"
Delighted sigh.
An excerpt from th chapter, "Growing in the Light":
"I join in our universal human longing to be with God, to have all my unsatisfied longings fulfilled:
Unless I am mistaken
'All of us wait for this--
To jettison the grasping hands
To lope through new-created lands
Where hope and have may kiss.'
Perhaps the growing seed wonders if it will ever pierce through the skin of soil and sod and burst into the light. This is, for me, a parable of the life of faith. It is across the gulf between the wanting and the having that faith carries us. Our belief in a God who is good, who understands our yearnings, who teaches us much by making us wait, and who will untimately reward our upward struggle, allows us to persevere, to persist. As the author of The Cloud of Unknowing challenges us: 'Smite upon the thick cloud of unknowing wth the sharp dart of longing love; come what may, never give up.'"
Delighted sigh.
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