so many beautiful things ahead, my dear.

Mother Theresa, 2

Time: Humble as you are, it must be an extraordinary thing to be a vehicle of God's grace in the world.

Mother Teresa: But it is His work. I think God wants to show His greatness by using nothingness.

Time: You are nothingness?

Mother Teresa: I'm very sure of that.

Time: You feel you have no special qualities?

Mother Teresa: I don't think so. I don't claim anything of the work. It's His work. I'm like a little pencil in His hand. That's all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used. In human terms, the success of our work should not have happened, no? That is a sign that it's His work, and that He is using others as instruments - all our Sisters. None of us could produce this. Yet see what He has done.

Mother Theresa

"Do you know something? In Calcutta all we need is a little rice and some medicine, but here they suffer a worse kind of hunger; here they hunger for love."
Madre Teresa

"The fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love is service."

Merry-Posa

As humans, we move through the day by a progression of tasks.
Butterflies, by sweetness.

Maybe we have missed something.

Bobo the Watch Llama: In Memoriam

A trusty guard to all the barnyard animals at Stratford. Quick to spit on any foe...or friend. Loved this tribute to him in the lastest newsletter:

* We are sad to report that our llama Bobo died on Saturday.
We are not sure if it was related to heat or parasites. He will be sadly missed by all the farm campers and staff who interacted with him daily. As a memorial to Bobo, we list his full name here: Bobo skideeten datten neigh neigh neigh neigh boom boom boom ish kiddely oten boten bobo skideeten datten bobo skidoten doten boom. Shakalaka.

Travel (B)log 6

From Jena, we traveled to Berlin, Germany. Even though it was a brief visit, we still got a sense of the hard, cold tiredness of the surrounding culture, and the delight and refreshment the sweet, lively hearts there must bring to the community and to Berlin’s overall spiritual climate.
We left Berlin the next day for Austria. Here we had the privilege of staying at a beautiful retreat center. As the only group there, we enjoyed the feel of having a ‘home’ of our own, and had a great time preparing and eating dinner together as a team. The peace we received here turned frozen pizza and salad into all the pleasure of a home-cooked family meal. (The decorative candles may have helped a bit, too.) What a good (and refreshing) reminder of the rest our missionaries – and all who serve – need in order to have peace to offer others. In the morning we visited Axel, the pastor for a church just outside of Salzburg, the. most. beautiful city I’ve ever seen; in its surroundings and physical structures as much as the people inhabiting them. I remain fully enamored.
Though everyone we met to this point had been friendly, Axel had a special lightness about him, which I have come to learn can rightly stand described as ‘characteristically Austrian.’ He gave a nice overview of the history of the Church in Europe (one for which my Johnson professors would squeal in intellectual delight,) brought to light the reality of the growth of Islam there most recently, and then opened the time to questions. When inquired about the difference between Austrians and Germans he replied “In Germany they’re more direct, great with numbers, love ‘numbers, numbers, numbers.’ They’re focused on the result. Austrians are more… what we call, ‘cozy,’ you know?” He said that much of the Church’s ‘work’ there is purely relational – people want to know you, and want you to know them. About their growing youth ministry, he noted, “what they like is that you take care of them.” It seems everyone in Austria both requires and desires that part of interaction and familiarity that can only result from relating. They need first to know they can trust you, and next to know you care. Only after that could they ever want to know anything else. As a people they’re welcoming and friendly and have an accommodating, loving intrigue for those they don’t know. In more of Axel’s wise words, summarizing our discussion and perhaps all of Austria’s mindset:
“If you come, you’re welcome. But please stay.”
We had the rest of the day to explore Salzburg, and made sure to stop nearly everywhere he recommended we see, including his favorite Café, the magnificent Fortress, and an authentic Austrian restaurant. This whole visit was bittersweet for our family-team as our last full day together, but we didn’t let that keep us from enjoying it well.

Nearly to Austria!


Mozart's Birthplace. Classy / corny contrast.


Not a real man, not to worry.


Fortress.


Salzburg.


Fortress tree. Think of all the years.


Spinach dumplings!

little leaves

seasons are for changing
change is for seasoning
seasoning is for change
changing is for seasons
everything's still the same
so it goes

Thank you, child, for turning away when you saw her hurt
So glad your life is happiness.
So sad your heart's so weak.

Thank you, child, for walking away when I called your name
So glad I gave you ears.
So sad you chose your feet.

Thank you, child, for wasting away
when her only way is waste
So glad you know what's worth your while.
So sad your time's so cheap.
___

Thank you child for closing your mouth and singing along
so glad I gave you
sense.

nous les humains intelligents

Que ferions-nous sans traduction en ligne?!

from this weekend.

"It's all about the people."

May I stare at this forever?

Joshua Tree Under the Milky Way from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.

"In my earlier days I'd been to sea with a tall rawboned fellow from Ruston La. called Big Slim Hubbard, William Holmes Hubbard, who was hobo by choice; as a little boy he'd seen a hobo come up to ask his mother for a piece of pie, and she had given it to him, and when the hobo went off down the road the little boy had said
'Ma what is that fellow?'
'Why that's a ho-bo.'
'Ma, I want to be a ho-bo someday.'"

Travel (B)log 5

We were sad to leave Corinne, Barry and Brussels the next morning, but excited to travel to our next destination, Liège. There we met Luc, among the toughest looking pastors on our trip (and perhaps all of Europe.) He comes well-suited for the area, as Liège has an incredibly rough exterior of its own, only without the humility, servitude and love Luc’s hosts. From Luc we learned that God has already given us all we need to serve Him; we need only open our eyes and minds to what’s already going on around us, and get involved. “Be a part of something -- what’s happening already?” He also taught us swim trunks are not allowed in Belgium, only Speedos. Swimming did not make the itinerary.

Our arrival to Liège

Luc, on the left

After Liège, we headed for Jena, Germany. Home of Friedrich Schiller University, Jena is a modern and intensely intellectual college town. As such, the Pastor there has to have a modern, intellectual mindset, and loads of mental energy. Rocco is just the one for the job. Originally from California, Rocco now lives in Jena with his family, in walking distance from the University. Not only does he entertain University minds, but he and his whole family also have befriended and serve those at an Iranian refugee camp thirty minutes outside of the city. Every week he drives a large van to pick up a group from the camp to attend church, and afterward to spend the afternoon and early evening in their home. While many in our group stayed with Rocco and his family, my friend Rachel (one of my best friends and fellow student from Johnson, I’m surprised to not have mentioned her earlier!) and I got to stay at a flat with girls from Rocco’s fellowship. They live on the most popular street in Jena, which made for an up-front view of the student culture there. It was great to talk with these girls and see what life is like for students of faith in such a scientifically-minded community. What a contrast in perspective they have to offer! Though it must be a challenge, I’m excited to think of all the opportunity they have to share a different outlook with those around them.

Pleasant morning walk to Church from the flat

At least once a month, the Church holds a picnic in the park. Here's a shot of the most international game of Uno ever played, [complete with challenging German rules!]

Students in Jena gather at the river to socialize, relax and study. And swim! (Without any particular Speedo-exclusive restriction.)

I love this.

Moses

(From thirdway.com)

Where's home?

Location isn't nearly so important in our lives as the action taking place there in our hearts; and from our hearts, through our lives.

just one you

we wanna see ya
!

Curry-ous

Take care not to confuse pumpkin pie spice for curry powder. Although...

Sunbeam

Dream the greatest painting, but until instrument meets medium meets surface, what do you have?

Were my life a painting, You would be the light
on the sidewalk
at the studio
shining down ever so intentionally in the gallery.

Merciful.

The Sun.

Coronal Loops

"Magnetism made visible: That describes virtually every feature on the sun, from sunspots to these soaring structures, called loops. Loops easily reach the height of ten Earths. Energy generated by the dynamics of smaller loops is likely the source of the solar corona's mysterious heat."


Solar Corona


Solar Corona, from satellite X-rays of the sun

"Why is the halo-like corona, visible from Earth only during a total eclipse, hundreds—even thousands—of times hotter than the sun's surface? That's one of the questions that keep scientists looking straight at the sun."


National Geographic
University of California Dept. of Mathematics
The Telegraph

Ever feel like God thinks this?

Right now, Two years ago.

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord,
How then can anyone understand his own way?"
- Proverbs 20:24

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed."
- Proverbs 16:3

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5-6

I'm absolutely dependent on his grace and mercy for every move I make.

The effort to love knows no wasted energy.

Wholly Spirited

I hope to play a song so sweet you can't help but dance;
to know your pain so well we cry together,
to lift your spiritso high it does so Itself.

I would like very much that my living room rug were a dropcloth. Think of the inspiration of a common daily gathering, a floor-big invitation to respond; the end tables full of paints and brushes and gluesticks, couches merely backrests. We'd get colors on our heels and our house would be bright.

Travel (B)log 4

From Alte Kirche, we were to head to Cologne, Germany. We received word that the Pastor’s Mother-in-law passed away the day before we were to arrive, so we headed to Cologne to see the city, and then returned to Stuttgart, this time to stay at KM’s office. It made for a few extra hours’ travel, but also a helpful night’s lodging for free, as they have rooms, a bathroom (called Water Closet in the countries we visited,) and a kitchen. Also, it was neat to get to visit their office.

Cologne is a busy, medium-big city, and offered an interesting contrast; it is known as much for its fashion as for the Cologne Cathedral, described by Wikipedia (yeah) as a World Heritage Site, as well as ‘one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany.’ How interesting, the varying dynamics by which we live!
We left Cologne, slept and ate in Stuttgart and, following breakfast, made our way to Belgium. Holiday weekend traffic turned our 5 hour drive into 9, giving us all an opportunity to get some more rest, process everything we had already learned, get to know each other better and develop greater appreciation and justification for having to pay to use the gas station restrooms (nearly every one!) We arrived to a missions hostel in Brussels, Belgium; a structure almost as beautiful as its caretakers, and after settling in to our rooms gave our legs and minds a chance to explore our first exposures to this particular area of the new country and its suburban sidewalks, the buildings attached to them, and the lives the buildings accommodated. What a beautiful city.





In the morning we had the opportunity to hear from the owners and their involvement with the Belgian Evangelical Mission. Though originally from South Africa, they have lived and served at the hostel for the last 17 years, and have found a home in this effort. I cannot forget the quiet attention from the husband, Barry, as he asked and listened with intent sincerity about our travels, or his wife, Corinne, who so naturally, and with no less sincerity, welcomes her guests with smiles and hugs flowing with an abiding, combined Mother-Aunt-Grandma love. Who knows how many others have come their way and received this same focus, how long they have fixed and drank tea for themselves and guests and listened, how many people they will hug for the last time, with no less love than the ones they gave to the group before that.

As per Barry’s suggestion, we got a chance to explore his favorite, the city center, that afternoon, where we came across not only distinguished older structures, chocolate shops and waffle stands, but also… Belgian fries! I really got to try them! Though the most common topping comes in the shape and shade of a less-than-shapely white blob, (mayonnaise?) they also offer options like ketchup, mustard, and a group favorite, curry ketchup. It is absolutely as good as it sounds.