Business

This is the most inspiring thing I have scene in a while: http://www.flickr.com/groups/94642640@N00/pool/show/with/3301264202/

At first, I just glanced at a few and thought they were magnificent. But inside me, something kept making me feel guilty. "You're just looking at pictures. You're not doing anything. " I am reminded of an article in the Washington Post about how few of us make time through out our day for beauty. I had to make myself sit down and watch this slide. A sense of wholeness came over me, pushing the busy thoughts aside. Until there was too much and I couldn't take it in anymore and will save it for tomorrow. Oh, but I feel better.

Challenge: sit and watch the slide show for 15 minutes. Don't do anything else.

Ash Wednesday

To be honest, the days leading up to lent are usually stressful as I'm never quite certain what to give up. Tuesday night, I made pancakes (with much help) and had friends over to share them! Quite lovely. Wednesday, I decided to go to an Ashe Wednesday service at the Catholic Student Union. As I walked to the service, the Lord laid it on my heart to fast one day a week for lent.

Entering, I was a bit nervous as I had never been to a Catholic service before. However, the ceremony itself reminded me much of the Anglican church in Chapel Hill. I was a bit apprehensive about the Scripture readings and message from the priest (I think I get very apprehensive when it comes to church!), but I was pleasantly suprised. We read from Job and Isaiah, lovely passages that talked about returning to the Lord. The priest spoke about pride and how it gets in the way of seeing God, which coincided too well with what the Lord had just impressed upon my heart about fasting.

I entered in line to received ashes on my forehead, and as the priest mashed his thumb into the dish, and rubbed my forehead, he said in a deliberate Irish (not Northern Irish) accent: "Remember you are but dust, and to dust you shall return." A strange excitement took me over and I couldn't help but smile as I turned away, a strange excitement that has happened before in Ashe Wednesday services. Something so beautiful about communion and ashes and dust and breathe and entering into a season of purgation in order to focus rightly on my God.

Last year, Corban dragged me to an Ashe Wednesday service on the eve of the Duke v. UNC basketball game. A small ebenezer. :)

An Unexpected Welcome

I am now nearly mended. On Thursday, I received a text asking me if I wanted to stay in the Macleod's home until I was better. Oh yes, yes YES! Staying here has done so much good for my poor heart. I am energized again, feel more like myself again. I have been loved on, been around a family, played TMNT with the boys, ate and slept, ate and slept, watched the West Wing, ate and slept, ate and slept, received help on tackling some essays, ate and slept some more. The Lord has used his church to encourage my heart and give me joy. Hmm, he is so good to me!

It happened

Finally, it happened. My disallusionment with British culture arrived today at 6.43 pm. I have had the hardest time getting to know British persons. They are friendly upon meeting someone, but the follow up instances of a deeper friendship seems elusive, unless, unless, the key here, is several pints! The South is the same way, reserved and guarded. At least I understand how they work, and I can steal past those sleeping dragons to something meaningful. I don't understand the mind of a British person at all; it completely baffles me.

Doctor Moore

Today, I saw a grown girl sucking her thumb. This is the second person I've seen do this since I've been here. The first time, I thought it was rather odd, but the second, now makes me reconsider the effects of sanity of island life.

I went to the doctor today and after a relatively hassle-free and inexpensive trip, I'm beginning to consider the benefits of social health care and wonder how it would suit America. I literally walked in, filled out ONE sheet of paper, waited 30 minutes, called to a doctor who was thorough and professional, gave me drugs immediately, printed out my prescription. I walked out (not paying for anything!,) went down 2 flights of stairs to the pharmacy who had my prescription ready with in 5 minutes and for which I paid 15 pounds for three separate items (which would have easily cost me a good $50 USD). Everything in less than an hour. I was quite impressed.

Hill Walking

A crew from Holy Rood Abbey went to trek the Pentland Hills today. First, we walked through snow-sludge, then the grown began to freeze and we walked on ice, and frozen dirt and mud, which gave way to snow. It was easiest to walk on the heather and moss. We followed a rock wall, round the hills, up through snow and heather. Occasionally we saw sheep on the crests of hills. As the path steepened, we began to walk through snow, and round the side of the hill, the pass grew very icy and narrow. This led us straight down to the foot of the hill where we turned and walked back through fields of farms.

Anna brought her dog coolen again and we had a great time playing fetch. Its funny because my moment of epiphany last Saturday in the library looked out upon just these hills.

A year ago today, I was in the car with mom and Ms. Eunie, driving back home from school where I was too sick to function on my own. So much has happened in just one year. My recurrent thought is the goodness of the Lord. I don't have to be here. He brought me here because he wanted to. Walking through these hills, I saw this: though creation still bears its curse, in it the Lord still reflects his beauty. I know that I am loved, dimly I see it, like these hills on the horizon.


The narrow pass. The hills covered by cloud.

Coolen testing the ice.

This wall proved rather unsteady for it was not cemented together and was covered in lichen.

Prayer Breakfast

February 11, 2009

Today UNC plays Duke at Duke. I will wear my tarheel blue today.

Wednesdays at 7.30 there is a prayer breakfast. One person plays on a guitar. All sing quite heartily. One student leads prayer topic. We gather into groups and pray out loud together with words we speak to each other and to God. Before coming here, I thought praying out loud was rather pretentious. Now I find it utterly good. While we pray, one small group prepares breakfast. Its so nice to sing together, to pray together, and then to break fast together with such good food!

Today I had bacon between toasted bread with butter, and the Brits put ketchup on it. Then I had porridge, which is like oatmeal, with honey and bananas, and then a cup of tea.

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts. 2.42