prayer.

"The truly contemplative heart has a passion and wildness that can celebrate the 

magic of God. Yet it knows that this is but a passing visitation and it has learned 

to distinguish emotion and presence. The contemplative heart also learns to 

love emptiness and absence because it believes that the beauty of God can only 

be glimpsed through the most severe lens of truth. 

When you are in the presence of a contemplative person, you can sense this. An 

atmosphere of stillness and a sense of clarity remind you who you are and recall 

your heart to the gentle wonder of the divine. There is subtle and refined beauty 

bequeathed by a life of prayer."

- John O'Donohue

Y'know...prayer is much more difficult than it seems at first glance.

And a life of prayer,

well,

that's just ridiculous.

It takes so much more discipline than just floating about

with love in your heart

and good intentions to all you meet.

Discipline

Planning

Schedule

Leaving the thought of time behind.

beach & brilliance.

(click to make bigger.)

seriously, the prettiest beach (and really place) I've ever been...

"It is, though, certain that both theological work 

and real pastoral fellowship can only grow in a life 

which is governed by gathering round the Word

 morning and evening and by fixed times of prayer."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

^This man is brilliant.
Reading this book about him...and it's just ridiculous.

to be that brave
and to stand up to such a tyrant.
..and to be so prophetic in happenings
that everyone doubts you.

i just can't imagine.

ἄνθος

Greek, for flower.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. 

It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

James 1:11

I love flowers...

but sometimes they're exceptionally sad.

Especially plumerias,

they're fragrant and lovely

but by the end of the day (when plucked)

they're darkened,

less fragrant,

and not really lovely at all.

cherish the moment,

the bloom was still worth it.

it's hard......music mix.

it's hard. from kbeihl on 8tracks.

moon river.

best version.

or so I think.

give thanks.

"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

                                                                                                                                                         1 Thess 5:13

really?

all?

pshhhh.

positive/negative..give thanks.

that's so intense,

and so..anti-world.

why wait until your hard situation is over to give thanks?

shouldn't you do it before,

feel good the whole time,

and then be affirmed in your thankfulness when it's over?

if only it was easy..

greetings.

calling Your daughter home

its so easy to forget that death is part of life 

and in some cases its rather joyful 

i bet God actually gets excited to call 

His children home. 

we fret about it... 

but He's glad about it

It may not be how /when we'd like,

but as happens with a lot of things in life, 

we don't always have a choice .

hope you're having a good time, aunt Linda...

you beautiful woman, you. :)

family.

legacy.

waterfall.

a few panoramas from our hike to the waterfall yesterday.

just a short bus ride away,

maybe even bike

if I can find one :)

the staffers.

(click on each picture to read easier)

new digs.

my bed,

I'm fully un-packed and established :)

and a few tidbits around the place.

i'

view from our first school beach day this saturday :)

cloudy...but trust me,

the sun was there.

feeling a bit like a lobster 

as my brothers so lovingly call me.

free day.

Picture from my phone;

so that's why it's...different.

Last day off before the students come

so that automatically = beach.

duh.

Also, for Dave:

tell me i look pritty.

school starts:

Staff training is over;

so now the school begins..
Monday.
Ahh!

Seems like it's come so fast but hopefully I'll feel more prepared when they all get here.

For we too are his offspring.

-Aratus.

la playa.

We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.

- C.S. Lewis