The camp guy found this great moth yesterday, and I had to share a few pictures with you. These pictures really don’t do him justice – he was really striking.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
old journal entries, part 3b - bonus!
whoops! I lied - there were 4!
O God, you know the events of our lives before they unfold. You understand things that our perspective simply can't or won't. Things like children with serious medical problems.
I understand, God, that because of our disobedience and faithlessness we messed up this perfect world you gave us - we embraced imperfection. I confess, though, that I will never understand babies with terrible illness. I know you don't cause such situations - and I do NOT believe that moments like that are part of some grand design of yours. My understanding of your providence makes such a belief impossible.
It's devastating. And it's not even my child. But you tell us to love one another - to be in community with one another - and so we ache when another part of our community is hurting.
Yet we know that even in these moments - perhaps especially in these moments - you are with us. Comforting us through the community that surrounds us, and through the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Surround them. Comfort them. And whatever happens, give them a measure of your peace.
Amen.
O God, you know the events of our lives before they unfold. You understand things that our perspective simply can't or won't. Things like children with serious medical problems.
I understand, God, that because of our disobedience and faithlessness we messed up this perfect world you gave us - we embraced imperfection. I confess, though, that I will never understand babies with terrible illness. I know you don't cause such situations - and I do NOT believe that moments like that are part of some grand design of yours. My understanding of your providence makes such a belief impossible.
It's devastating. And it's not even my child. But you tell us to love one another - to be in community with one another - and so we ache when another part of our community is hurting.
Yet we know that even in these moments - perhaps especially in these moments - you are with us. Comforting us through the community that surrounds us, and through the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Surround them. Comfort them. And whatever happens, give them a measure of your peace.
Amen.
old journal entries, part 3
thanks for being patient with the ramblings...
O God, you created us with a desire for connection with one another. But it's more than just a desire isn't it? It's a need - an innate longing that will be satisfied by nothing less than community. Was this intentional? I think it must have been. You knew, even as we were being developed how much we would need to be accountable to one another - and how much better our lives would be if we would seek each other out. And you didn't stop there, either.
You made that need for connection even deeper. Not only do we need connection with others, we also must have connection with you. In the absence of that relationship, we fill the void with other, varied things, that may make us happy briefly, but never ease the ache of that absence. You can provide us comfort from our anguish - both in our connection to you and with our community.
Why then, are some, when they need that community most, separated? Not even intentionally, but through circumstance. How do we provide community support to them? How can we provide support to those who don't wish for separation or isolation, but are so broken, that they see no other way?
Help me, God, to honor and uphold my own connections that I am so thankful for. And help me most of all to be a loving presence to those who need one most - whoever they may be.
Amen.
O God, you created us with a desire for connection with one another. But it's more than just a desire isn't it? It's a need - an innate longing that will be satisfied by nothing less than community. Was this intentional? I think it must have been. You knew, even as we were being developed how much we would need to be accountable to one another - and how much better our lives would be if we would seek each other out. And you didn't stop there, either.
You made that need for connection even deeper. Not only do we need connection with others, we also must have connection with you. In the absence of that relationship, we fill the void with other, varied things, that may make us happy briefly, but never ease the ache of that absence. You can provide us comfort from our anguish - both in our connection to you and with our community.
Why then, are some, when they need that community most, separated? Not even intentionally, but through circumstance. How do we provide community support to them? How can we provide support to those who don't wish for separation or isolation, but are so broken, that they see no other way?
Help me, God, to honor and uphold my own connections that I am so thankful for. And help me most of all to be a loving presence to those who need one most - whoever they may be.
Amen.
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