thanksgiving 2015/with gratitude

1. we roll out a new more robust more defensible structure* that i am genuinely proud of. with enough polish i guess. against many odds. by God's generous undeserved grace
2. E wriggles his energetic enervating way into our lives, which will never be the same again. as neither will be our furniture and other fixtures around the home
3. HOM and i refine the weekend getaway to a finer art. keep it short keep it near keep it frequent keep it cool. but mostly keep it frequent. it is a good thing to enjoy each other's company
4. i go on a mission trip. with all its attendant limitations and challenges, i say yes entirely independently of HOM or J or J and discover a little bit'o'strength in myself
5. i finish another year of work that i generally like to wake up to show up for. i acquire a new workmate that makes showing up a pleasure. i wonder another year why i show up anyway
6. J and J keep us in their lives. people ask, do you not miss them? yes and no, i say. is our joy that they have their lives. God holds them in his hands

and, to the level of the day's most quiet need, by sun and candle-light, thanks be to God.

*the new Masters examination

thanksgiving 2015

my faith looks up to Thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

... o let me from this day be wholly Thine!

- ray palmer

i forget the good amidst the inclement and the mercies amidst the inconveniences. i remember the irritations the irritators and the injuries. i forget it is a privilege to be injurable. i grumble that my labor is unrecognized. far better, the little voice says, to be capable of labor! 

i come broken hurt bound succored and healed. i come to the end of a long year. thanks to God.

amazing grace/life's journey

to J1

thru many dangers toils and snares i have already come

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

my story, as you have heard over and over

my prayer, that it may be yours to pass on too.

the Lord hath promised good to me - his Word my hope secures

he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

as he has been my shield and portion, may he be yours.

be courageous. work hard. keep the faith. give gladly.

may God, who watches over you, fill you with his fulness.

choose your qualification

'nuff said.

impressions of myanmar

1. the rich-poor divide
2. the colonial-local architectural divide
3. betel nut chewing (and liberal expectoration)*
4. the golden pagodas amidst the slums**
5. the relative lack of commercialization
6. how similar it is to thailand

*the yuckiest part
**the most transcendently beautiful part

the weight of glory - c. s. lewis

ask me what i gain most from my mission trip and i think it is the time to read the slim volume left for too long on my shelf.

my soul longs for what it knows not, and lewis reminds me that what i dimly ineffectively ineffectually grasp today will one day be triumphantly and magnificently present. 

and that my neighbor, whom i oft am presumptuous with and - dare i admit - contemptuous of, shares the same promise as i. my neighbor's hope of glory is a weight upon my shoulders under which my pride must needs break.

"..next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses."

mission trip

thankful for the privilege.

and immensely grateful the air conditioning the electricity the online access and the firm bed at night.