Heading back to Ireland for the next two days. Lori’s birthday celebrations. Our close friendship group from school in the same country at the same time again. A meal out. A chance to catch a few friends. Drink some good coffee. Celebrate some great friendships.
To enjoy the beauty of Ireland.
I’ve got to get a taxi at 5:30am to catch my 7am flight, so I’m off to bed. Back on Sunday!
At this point in my life, whether I am motivated in this direction because of a sincere desire for righteousness or whether it is just a part of a midlife crisis and being tired of institutional arrogance, I now want to be a child more than ever A child doesn’t often tell you that they are joyful: they just show it. Perhaps the world will start to believe us if we start to show the life in us instead of just talking about the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8).
Perhaps when we play we will find new things to talk about and new ways to talk about them. Perhaps our Father will also be delighted to see that we are finally enjoying the gifts that He gave us!
[ In “Play Time“, by Betty Spackman ]
HT: Blaine
[ Please! ]
Went to see Once today, finally. This film… wow. It’s a delicate, beautiful film. A portrayal of love and encouragement and finding your feet. The songs are wonderful. Glen Hansard (of The Frames) and Markéta Irglová do a really good job as leads. I love how its filmed so simply as well.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
[ Prayer by Sir Francis Drake]
I just finished this beautiful wee book this morning. Anne Lamott is one of those writers I had heard about time and again, but had never got round to reading any of her work. Well, it was worth the wait! Bird By Bird (or, Some Instructions on Writting and Life) is full of charm, wit, and seasoned advice. Lamott writes with an honesty I have found in so few Christian writers, and she does it with style. There’s no faffing about, she’s down the line. The book is peppered with personal accounts of pain, struggle and joy – when her dad died, stories of her son Sam, the students she’s taught at courses, writting groups, and so on.
It has honestly been one of the most refreshing things I’ve read this year. I thoroughly recommend you go get it. I want to read one of her other books now, Traveling Mercies… anyone have a copy I could borrow?
“And I don’t think you have that kind of time either. I don’t think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won’t be good enough at it, and I don’t think you have time to waste on someone who does not respond to you with kindness and respect. You don’t want to spend your time around people who make you hold your breath.”
(p. 170)
I wrote something the other day, just some thoughts as I sat drinking a coffee. Thought I would share it here… be kind, I’m not a writer by nature…
——-
There is something fascinating about kids.
I was sitting in Beanscene on Cresswell Lane the other day. The place is a heaving mass of families, students and grannys. A father and daughter enter – she cannot be more than 3 years old, in her pretty pink overcoat, wolly hat and oversized sunglasses. She stands holding her juice as dad orders a coffee. Beside her are a group of 3 young women, one with a child of 2 or 3 years old.
The young girls are captivated by each other. There is something so beautiful about their childlike innocence. They stand eyeing each other up – taking in everything about the other – the sunglasses, the hat, the Winnie The Pooh tee, the crumbs around the mouth, the identical pigtails.
There is no shame in this, no fear.
I once heard it said that growing up is the ability to wear masks. We learn to hide our feelings and expressions. This is the joy of children: they have not yet learnt to do this. Their face says it all – the delight, the curiosity, the anticipation, the sadness.
They live as we were meant to live.
I’ve just added a new page to the site, fundraising… I’d really appreciate it if you’d take a wee look at it and help me out if you can.
Basically, in exchange for £20, I will send you a 10 x 8 sized print of (almost) any of my pictures, including postage.
Click on the page for more details. Please pass the word on as well… really appreciate it!
Man I’m so late in writting up these trips!
My time in New York was amazing. I spent a week with my family just hanging out after we took the train from Washington to NYC. We did a lot of the touristy things, including several bus tours around Manhattan and Brooklyn. I celebrated my 20th birthday by geeking out. New York really is an incredible city… the architecture, the culture, the pace, the coffee…
Saw some beautiful architecture: the Flatiron Building was one of my favourites, and one I had been looking forward to most. Brooklyn Bridge is also incredible, went for a walk across it one day. Had a wander round the Rockafeller Centre (mostly known for the Christmas tree in Home Alone), and Macys. Apparently there is debate over whether Macys (New York) or Harrods (London) is the biggest department store in the world… I’m neutral since I’ve not been to Harrods yet!
We took the ferry to Staten Island one day, mainly because it was a free way of seeing the Statue of Liberty. It was great… you really do get some stunning views of Manhattan from the water. The Saturday I was there with my parents we had a wander round the farmers market at Union Square, which is apparently one of the best in New York. It was very cool… lots of lovely fresh, organic food and random artists with pictures, canvases and photographs. I met a photographer from Dublin that day!
My family flew home after a week in NY, and I stayed on. I had another 4 days before heading back to Washington for a week (the family had already been there while I was still in Latvia). On the Sunday I visited a few local churches. I went to Brooklyn Tabernacle in the morning, and was overwhelmed by it. I’ve never really thought much about how a coloured person feels walking into a predominantly white church service, but walking into a predominantly coloured church service made me realise how they must feel! I think it was a really good way to expand my horizons a bit more. Loved worshiping somewhere thats outside my normal experiences!
Sunday evening I went to Origins NYC, which I loved. This church was me… it is such a creative place, and I really like how it combines use of modern and ancient methods of worship: liturgy and worship bands, powerpoint and pews. Got a chance to chat to their pastor, Jon, afterwards, and was really encouraged by him. It’s now on my podcast list.
I spent most of the 4 days I had alone in NY just resting… I drank coffee, took pictures, walked in parks, read books… it was amazing. It was exactly what I needed. New York is a great place to photograph, really proud of some of the images I came away with. (Find them on Flickr here.) One day when I was just chilling out at Pier 17, I unintentionally ended up at a Korn gig…! They were doing a big promo thing to launch their new album just outside the shopping centre I was in, so here I am lying on the chair, taking it easy… only to be disturbed by throning masses of people and Korn blasting through the PA! I had to laugh!
On my last full day in NY, I took the metro out to Coney Island… because I’m a big kid! It was funny seeing the far side of the Atlantic for the first time! I walked knee deep in the ocean, I ate grilled corn, I drank fresh lemonade, I rode the 80-year-old rollercoaster (amazing!)…
On a final note, I found an amazing little place on 54th and Broadway called the Bagel&Bean… a 2-egg and bacon bagel with coffee for less that $4… I enjoyed it greatly!
A friend from Ireland (ironically, whom I never met until Latvia, despite having a multitude of connections) was over visiting for the weekend. Friday we chilled out, had some coffee at my office, wandered round uni and the Hunterian Museum. The Hunterian is great, has some beautiful architecture. Was the first time I’d been in since it reopened.
Caught a gig in the evening: We went to the Tron to see the Fortunate Sons, who were energetic as ever, supported by Ben Sturrock, who was brilliant. First time I’ve ever heard Bens stuff, and I plan to go back for his album launch at the Tron on the 23rd Nov.
On Saturday we had brunch at Cafe Francais on Byres Road. Wow… posh. We had fun! Spent the afternoon wandering around Kelvingrove Museum and watching a DVD at the flat, before having a Latvia dinner (all the guys on team together!). Headed to the pub to catch some friends after dinner.
Sunday was church, lunch at Curlers… and randomly seeing lots of old Ballymena Academy folks! A couple of friends where visiting a friend who’s just started in Glasgow. Quite weird to be sitting around a table in the pub in Glasgow with 4 other Academy folks. Saw Atonement at the cinema on Sunday night… I don’t recommend it. ‘Nuff said!
Had another lazy day on Monday just hanging out with Jill before she left. Watched a DVD. Went to Tinderbox. (Think Jill’s getting the idea… we drink lots of coffee…) Explored the West End.
Reuben and I headed out to his grannys for the evening… wonderful evening. She’s great. We had fun!
That’ll do for now!
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