Hello all! It is a dreary Monday morning and I am sleepy. I really shouldn’t be writing at all, as it is time for work to start, but thought I would at least say hi! I really need to wake up a bit more, as I feel like I’m in that hazy mind state halfway between sleep and wakefulness…hopefully this mocha helps with that. We shall see. I have to say – I much enjoyed my music driving to work today…it’s maybe a bit sad how much pleasure my music brings me at times, but there you go! Started listening to Seaspray again – surely one of my very favourite mix CDs. Just delightful. Puts me in the mood to go down to the seashore and gaze off into the horizon…but anyways, I suppose I’ll now just take my leave and write more at a later date. Farewell, friends.
The Potter King
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former things will not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
I will also rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
No longer will there be in it an
infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
will be thought accursed.
They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the lifetime of a tree,
so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands.
They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of
those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them.
It will also come to pass that before they call,
I will answer; and while they are still speaking,
I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb will graze together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox;
and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will do no evil
or harm
in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.
-Isaiah 65:17-25 Oh what glorious words.
A Day of Chili
Happy Friday, all!! I’m enjoying my Friday peppermint mocha and this early morning calm before the storm. Nice and quiet here in the office currently, although that will soon change. Anything much going on here lately? Not really, although did have a great roommate night yesterday with John! We actually expanded it to include Camille last night…went over to her place, had far too much yummy pizza and watched Groundhog Day(as is proper). Bill Murray is outstanding, I always forget how much I love watching his movies! Tonight is Rockets game with James – I’m excited because they’re playing Chicago…never seen the Bulls play before! And so I get to see Butler and D. Wade and Rondo and all them play – should be a fun one! (Although of course…go Rockets!) And now, I must be off.
Have a wonderful day, dear friends – peace and love, always.
Upraised
A girl sits prettily on a bench,
dwelling on all that has come before,
and as she ponders
and she wonders
what all these tears
are truly worth,
so she wanders
down the lane of
fading memories,
sweet as honey-
and wistful sighs
the willow blossoms
that open yearning to the brilliant sun-
memories now fade,
the road goes on,
so she wanders
towards that true worth
for all these tears
now she wonders
and so she ponders,
heart a burning for what has come before.
And yea-
A girl sits upon a bench.
(Going to touch this up later…no time now -homeward bound. Pardon the rawness)
Bells on the Wind
Good morning, friends!! Just a minute to post, and thought I’d write a few words…as January – what a month – winds to an end. I am honestly quite tired right now – sleepy James needs his coffee with honey, this is a fact! But I was invigorated at least slightly as I walked from my car to the office this morning. I forgot if I mentioned I moved office locations recently? Well, I did and now, in the midst of Houston, there is a lovely mini(very mini) pine forest next to my office!! So every day I walk from the parking lot to the office surrounded by pines reaching high. The scent of pine pervades my walk and I am encouraged and refreshed anew each day. This is a small thing, I know. But oh this makes me happy!! Alright, I’m off now…time to drink a bit more coffee and wake up this sleepy Tuesday….
Hello Again
Happy Sunday friends! I post yet again this extremely fruitful January! I must say, I’m not quite sure why I’ve been writing so much lately…in the words of Lin Manuel Miranda…”Why do you write like you’re running out of time?” I know not. But I do like writing, and maybe lately I have rediscovered the pleasure and comfort it brings to put thoughts and emotions to page such as this. Not of course, that I put everything on here…far be that from me! But right now, it is comforting to let the words flow from thought through fingers to screen. Would that I could write something a bit more…beautiful. But for now, I shall simply write. Before I started this, I’ve been in a bit of a nostalgic mood…looking at some old high school friend’s journals – which are still online, shock! Hi Maggie!! *waves* Anyways, nostalgia diving can be dangerous – indeed, dark and full of terrors and all that. But this afternoon, while I have the bitter feeling of friendships lost and far away…I still have the sweet taste of the memories I had with these friends. And that is something I have been blessed with that shall never leave me. Ah bittersweet. And of course, I am reminded as I sit here that it is not entirely profitable to focus over much on the past. Let these thoughts and memories not drag me far away and distract my energies from life now, in the present. It is a dangerous game – to turn inward to the extent of losing our true joy. Now, I start to wax philosophical. See, this is why I should not write as much as I am – I dare expose my thoughts to the light of day, and what shall they say? That I am a hollow man, full of loose dreams and ill-begotten schemes? Even so. I long for the day when I shall be in that far country. No longer be a-ranging in a stranger land. And so, to dream is not so wrong. Only wrong is it when these dreams are forged of rotten beams – cloying words, sickly sweet in all their pomposity and self-important grandeur. Hiding behind a veil of false humility, oh forgive me!
But let us dream of purer things, of that road that goes ever on. The scent of jasmine, that light breeze upon the cheek. The song that rings true upon the soul, a knowledge of the veil now torn. To dream is not so wrong.
Star Song
Hello friends, and happy Friday(again!!). I really didn’t mean to post this evening but I have a few spare moments so thought I might as well. I am currently at…Jones Hall in downtown Houston!! Earlier this week I couldn’t resist buying a symphony ticket for tonight(yes I am here by myself! I actually almost prefer being on my own since I can focus on the music a bit better and simply enjoy the beauty!! Of course, having a woman on my arm wouldn’t mar the moment, but that is neither here nor there!). Anyways!! They are playing one of my favorite pieces – Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto no. 3…it’s not his no 2, but almost as good!! I am simply so excited to hear it! And of course – I turned up absurdly early, so am now waiting patiently here in the dining area. Soon, comes the time of the music. Soon. And now, my friends, I shall be off and abandon myself to my thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful and most beautiful night, dear friends!!!
A Little Bit of Starlight
Happy Friday, friends!!! I was going to have a nice leisurely morning here, since I got to work early. Figured I’d sip on my peppermint mocha and write a moody poem that’s been percolating for a bit. Well, I have been sipping on my mocha, but instead of writing, I’ve been doing actual work…alas, a sad day when I get more excited about work than writing. Or is it?? Anyways, just thought I’d pop in and say hello. Have a most wonderful day, my friends – may it be full of love and joy and laughter!!
Clarion Calls
No-one will see the need of the Lord Jesus Christ as a
Saviour but the person who has seen himself as lost before God; and
the only true motive to live a moral and worthy life is thankfulness to
God and the realization that one day we shall stand before Him.
This is the call which goes out to religious people today: we must
realize our unworthiness before God, our distance from the saints of
the ages, our terrible dissimilarity from the Christians of the New
Testament; then we must repent and re-consecrate ourselves to God
in Christ, and we must make sure that our religion regulates our
lives. But more than anything, we must realize that the state of the
world is such that nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can cure
it, and we must feel this to such an extent that we are brought down
upon our knees to pray to God in His mercy to look down upon us in
pity, and for His great name, that He should send a mighty revival
among us. That is the only way, that is the only hope, because with
men it is impossible, but not with God, for ‘with God, all things are
possible'(Matt. 19:26).
-D.M. Lloyd-Jones, Knowing the Times, pg. 31
Heartsong
Hello friends!! I have – for once! – a relatively free and quiet Saturday morning. And it is glorious. It’s coming near on noon now and I’ve already enjoyed a good breakfast and much reading time and now I thought I could catch up on some chronicling. Except I’ve discovered I don’t really feel like writing too much. Hm. Well – one thing I have neglected – I haven’t shared my last few mix CDs I’ve so much enjoyed creating! I actually just finished a new one this past week…but first, let me share a mix I made right before Christmas(and hence – shared with Laura and Maryanne). It may be my all-time favorite…truly a joy to listen to. At least that is my own not-quite-humble opinion. I present…
Seaspray
1. Bohemian Dances – The Dø
2. Sweet Ophelia – Zella Day
3. The Suburbs – Mr Little Jeans
4. Nature Will Remain – The Dø
5. Thanatos – Soap&Skin
6. Shadow – Birdy
7. Perfection – Oh Land
8. The Way We Get By – Spoon
9. Heart Attack – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
10. Dug My Heart – BØRNS
11. Cloak & Dagger – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
12. They Never Got You – Spoon
13. Aha – The Dø
14. Let It Happen – Tame Impala
15. Crystalised – The XX
16. Nothing Better – The Postal Service
17. Slip Away – Josh Garrels
18. Wishing Well – The Oh Hellos
19. Searching Gold – The Dø
And in my usual fashion, this mix does have a theme to it, although it may be slightly more dark and depressing than is my usual. In Laura’s words – it “sounds like an emo girl and her battle to save the world”…or something like that? Anyway – in my own confused, slightly odd mind – this mix came into fruition and as I listened to it, my mind conjured up the image of a girl standing on a seashore, looking off into the distance. Bundled up against the cold and her scarf blowing in the breeze, she ponders her life and all that she has done to stay strong and keep on keeping on. But yet. Never enough. And yet. And so the mix takes this girl through that progression of being strong in herself, to being depressed in what she has not…to trying to make everything better through such artifices as dance, love, drugs and mental fortitude. And then…comes the realisation that there must be something more. A higher truth, a greater power, a more perfect love. And a most perfect Lover. And in that, comes life and life eternal. And then as the album ends, the last song is a stark reminder though of this world’s tantalising pleasures and dangerous temptations. As I joked with Laura yesterday – I call this my “1st John” CD…because it ends with the simple warning “Little children, keep yourself from idols.” Anyway – far too much of an explanation for such a silly thing as a track-list. Yet, I enjoy it.
Be well, my dear friends. Remember, as children of God – we are loved. We are known. Peace and love.
Something Weird 