inattendu

how easy

to be the priest

or the levite

to make plausible honorable excuses -

time and task imperatives and obligations to meet

and people waiting for me

and all valid too!

how easy

to assume priorities are important

and someone else will do this

and quickly forget i saw it

how easy

to love my schedule

and my lunch hour

and my to-do list

so

teach me to not reject the unexpected

to be interruptible

to be flexible

when Christ comes to me as my neighbor

may i be a neighbor

covid 19: observations from the trenches 2

this is a good time for new civic habits:

• we could stop spitting in public
• eat with our mouths shut
• avoid littering
• and wear masks when we are unwell, unbidden and unembarrassed!

at the systems level:

• we should be able to call in sick and avoid a trip to the doctor's for mild symptoms. surely we are old enough to do that five decades post-independence

in the longer run, when this storm has passed:

• we'd better make medical-grade masks a disaster response item and guard it from profiteers. charge a fair fixed price at retail that is costly enough that we will not hoard it yet make it available enough that we will not make a run on it 
• make doctor-hopping a profitless aberration and medical attendance by appointment the strict norm. the infectious disease controls gaps in the current free-for-all system have been a fright to behold

psalm 23

i shall not want food nor drink and also not direction nor courage nor strength nor wisdom for all that i must face, because i have a shepherd who herds me. when i fear i may not rise to the occasion my shepherd will ensure i do.

he supplies when valor would fail

he protects when dangers lurk

he repairs comforts succors refills

he guides my foolish wayward feet.

you show me the way through the morass and the traps

you carry me when i am too worn to walk.

my lot overflows with good things

and you promise me even more!

shalom

holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee, though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity

- reginald heber

the words of the old hymn wash over my weariness and i am reminded that the final step in dealing with pain and disappointment and anxiety and questions is to look upon the God of glory.

gradations

the butter in yakun's kaya butter toast

regular butter, salted, chilled

churned butter, salted, chilled

on sweet cinnamon bread

yums doesn't begin to say it properly