Right now I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love. I know, I know it's popular and trendy but sometimes things are popular and trendy for a reason. This book isn't a handbook or a how to book. It is simply a woman's story about a year in her life where she found some healing. The first portion of that year was spent in Italy. She spends time in Italy learning italian because it is a beautiful language. Her favorite word is attraversiamo. It means "let's cross over". People say it to each other when they are walking down the street. Attraversiamo. Let's go to that side instead. She likes the word because it sounds beautiful. I like the word for it's symbolism.
Imagine walking down the 'street' with someone you love and you want to go to the other side but it's just too much to do alone. Attraversiamo. Let's cross over...together. Or better yet. You want to cross over but you just don't have it within you to say it. The person you love and who loves you says it. Attraversiamo. They say it because they know you and they want to walk to the other side with you. It's beautiful isn't it?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
conviction
Yesterday I was listening to a sermon while I drove in rush hour traffic. It was on Philippians 4. The title was The Guide to Joy in Anxiety. The preacher made a statement that has been resonating in my brain. He said, "Anxiety is not a state to be managed. It's a sin to be repented of." He pretty much reached out through the CD player and punched me in the head. He went on to say, "If you let anxiety rule you, you are declaring anxiety to be Lord and we all know the truth. Jesus is Lord." I realized in that moment that I have been repeatedly negating Jesus' rule in my life. That's why it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition present your requests before God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7.
The other thing that struck me this week happened while I was reading a poem. Ron Reed, who is the director at Pacific Theatre, has a blog called Oblations. The current post is a poem by Wendell Berry. The second paragraph says:
Do I do something everyday that doesn't compute with this world? Do I?
The other thing that struck me this week happened while I was reading a poem. Ron Reed, who is the director at Pacific Theatre, has a blog called Oblations. The current post is a poem by Wendell Berry. The second paragraph says:
So, friends, every day do something that won’t compute.
Love the Lord. Love the world.
Work for nothing.Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace the flag.
Hope to live in that free republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot understand.
Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Do I do something everyday that doesn't compute with this world? Do I?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
hills
I suck at hills. Today Karla and I went for a bike ride through downtown, around English Bay, stopped at Starbuck's, rode around Science World and up the hill to home. I approached the hill and thought, "cake". Halfway up the hill I found myself rapidly gearing down cursing the 3 remaining blocks until reprieve. I made it to the top but wondered if my quads would rebel tomorrow in Pilates.
Riding up the hill caused me to think about figurative hills. We all have hills. Short steep hills that just need a little more muscle and a couple of deeper breaths. Long, steady hills that never seem to end. "oh my gosh is this ever going to end?" But it has to end some time. There has to be reprieve. There has to be a flat space where the pedalling can stop and you can just coast. The flat part may not last long and it's just there to prepare you for the next inevitable hill.
I've thought about trying to ride around, both figuratively and literally, without ever going up a hill. It's mostly possible but it's not very challenging and it certainly doesn't result in much. There is no sense of accomplishment. No sense of improvement. No sense of danger. No need for faith. In the long run I guess I need hills; physically, spiritually and emotionally. I guess that's why the bible says, "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James (the brother of Jesus) 1:2-4
Riding up the hill caused me to think about figurative hills. We all have hills. Short steep hills that just need a little more muscle and a couple of deeper breaths. Long, steady hills that never seem to end. "oh my gosh is this ever going to end?" But it has to end some time. There has to be reprieve. There has to be a flat space where the pedalling can stop and you can just coast. The flat part may not last long and it's just there to prepare you for the next inevitable hill.
I've thought about trying to ride around, both figuratively and literally, without ever going up a hill. It's mostly possible but it's not very challenging and it certainly doesn't result in much. There is no sense of accomplishment. No sense of improvement. No sense of danger. No need for faith. In the long run I guess I need hills; physically, spiritually and emotionally. I guess that's why the bible says, "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James (the brother of Jesus) 1:2-4
Thursday, January 10, 2008
who knew?
Who knew vacation could be almost as tiring as work?!
Highlights of my 9 days off so far:
1) spontaneous dinner, games and American Gladiator gathering with Dave, Karla and Brad
2) cycling faster than I thought I could 'cause the bike has been a little neglected this fall
3) spontaneous prayer with Steve and Evy
4) writing
5) quitting my job at VGH (okay, that was last week...but the joy of the decision lingers this week)
6) shopping at Superstore during the day, during the week.
Highlights yet to come:
1) movie with my roommate. Yes it will be a cheesy romance...we both need a little shot of unrealistic hope.
2) bridal shower for a girl from the ICU
3) dinner for Aaron's birthday
4) Beth staying overnight and Sabrina making us crepes on Saturday morning!
5) Caracasonne with Jill and Colin
6) Paul's birthday
7) lunch with my parents
8) unexpected spontaneous things and people and situations
Honestly I wish I could be independently wealthy....
Highlights of my 9 days off so far:
1) spontaneous dinner, games and American Gladiator gathering with Dave, Karla and Brad
2) cycling faster than I thought I could 'cause the bike has been a little neglected this fall
3) spontaneous prayer with Steve and Evy
4) writing
5) quitting my job at VGH (okay, that was last week...but the joy of the decision lingers this week)
6) shopping at Superstore during the day, during the week.
Highlights yet to come:
1) movie with my roommate. Yes it will be a cheesy romance...we both need a little shot of unrealistic hope.
2) bridal shower for a girl from the ICU
3) dinner for Aaron's birthday
4) Beth staying overnight and Sabrina making us crepes on Saturday morning!
5) Caracasonne with Jill and Colin
6) Paul's birthday
7) lunch with my parents
8) unexpected spontaneous things and people and situations
Honestly I wish I could be independently wealthy....
Saturday, January 5, 2008
coffee
I love coffee. In fact I am drinking a cup of coffee while writing this post. What do I love about coffee? I love the taste. I love the warmth. I love the smell. Especially when I open a brand new bag of coffee and pour it into the air tight canister I store it in. That is a wonderful moment. I do not like milk in my coffee. It must be cream. And I have finally determined that I like a little bit of sugar. I have tried a few times to eliminate sugar from my coffee but there is no point. I like it and that's the way it will be. Just half a teaspoon. At home I drink coffee in one certain mug. It's white with a navy blue stripe around the top. I wash that cup by hand every day so I can have my coffee in it.
Some people will say that coffee isn't good for you but there is much evidence to the contrary. There is no link to cancer or diabetes. There is no evidence it's bad during pregnancy. There are lots of antioxidants!! If you care to take a little quiz about coffee you can visit http://www.coffeeandhealth.ca/
If you like coffee too let's have a cup together. I'm not working for the next 9 days so I have lots of time.
Some people will say that coffee isn't good for you but there is much evidence to the contrary. There is no link to cancer or diabetes. There is no evidence it's bad during pregnancy. There are lots of antioxidants!! If you care to take a little quiz about coffee you can visit http://www.coffeeandhealth.ca/
If you like coffee too let's have a cup together. I'm not working for the next 9 days so I have lots of time.
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