Saturday, May 30, 2009

My cozy reading corner


As a bookworm extraordinaire, I have many "favorite" reading spots - they shift with the weather and the reading material. Right now, this is my favorite - in our living room, which has lots of shaded windows and so catches even the slightest breeze.

This room was the reason we took this apartment - it has the feeling of being inside a treehouse - a treehouse with a fireplace, that is! When we took this on, it required a great deal of work: the windows had not been cleaned in at least 20 years and had soot buildup (the landlord thought they were smoked glass!!), the prior tenant had not kept the fire doors cleaned or had the walls painted, and there were old paint drips and some scratches on the wide pine plank floors!

But now, after scrubbing and painting the walls a pale and soft buttery yellow, scrubbing 96 panes of glass (on 2 sides!!) and carefully painting all the trim a rich and creamy white, and finally gently scrubbing the floor and oiling it, we have a beautiful and (more importantly) comfortable living space. This is where we read, listen to music, watch television, and eat dinner by the fire. This is the room I snuggle in on sick days after I cannot bear another moment in bed.

Of course, when it is bitter cold outside, the toasty warm kitchen desk moves into prime position!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

1 Corinthians 13 - Love

This reading is very popular at weddings and is one of may favorite readings. It also a reminder to me of how imperfectly I understand myself and the love of God, and how imperfectly I love.

This is really speaking to me today, so I am sharing it with you in full. For those of you not used to KJV, substitute "Love" for "Charity" .

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Friday, May 15, 2009

From the Hobbit, JRR Tolkien

Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together?
The wind's in the free-top, the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.

Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.

Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him!
Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him!
The wanderer sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow!
Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!

Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn!
Fall Moon! Dark be the land!
Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn!
Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand!

Patience

"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." Proverbs 17-27-28

Today I am being tested and have failed miserably so far. I have lashed out in "self-righteous" anger when provoked by a loved one, and allowed myself to indulge in a petty tantrum before leaving for work. Not exactly a loving, Christian start to the day!

How many times do we allow ourselves to wallow in self-righteousness or pity, and lash out with our tongues in anger and cruelty, rather than practicing patience and forbearance and compassion? I know that while I have grown in God's grace over the years, this is still an issue for me.

And why not? I am human and imperfect - it is only by God's grace that I have any patience and compassion at all! But that can be a slippery slope of reasoning! "I'm imperfect so its ok if I slip up". No! It isn't! It is never "ok" to speak words of cruelty in anger, regardless of what we may see as provocation.

It is my task, when so provoked, to turn to the Lord for patience better than my own. He, who is so patient with my many failings, can easily lend me grace to more effectively and lovingly deal with my petty grievances!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Mental health day

Today was my "mental health" day. I slept in, had a leisurely cup of tea whilst puttering, had a lovely walk in the rain, a long cozy browse in the library, and am now snuggled in bed with a good book.
I find having these "do nothing" days to be vital to my well-being and creativity. After all, I have the weekend for chores!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tra La! It's May!

Tra la! It's May, the lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray
Tra la! It's here, that shocking time of year!
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear

It's May! It's May, that gorgeous holiday
When ev'ry maiden prays that her lad will be a cad!
It's mad! It's gay, a libelous display
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes, ev'ryone breaks
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!

Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does its scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating ev'rywhere?
Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit!
Tra la, tra la, that dear forbidden fruit!

Tra la! It's May, the lusty month of May!
That darling month when ev'ryone throws self-control away
It's time to do a wretched thing or two
And try to make each precious day one you'll always rue

It's May! It's May, the month of "Yes, you may"
The time for ev'ry frivolous whim - proper or "im"
It's wild! It's gay, a blot in ev'ry way
The birds and bees with all of their vast amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast
The lusty month of May!

Tra la! It's May, the lusty month of May
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray
Tra la! It's here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear

It's May! It's May, the month of great dismay
When all the world is brimming with fun, wholesome or "un"
It's mad! It's gay, a libelous display
These dreary vows that ev'ryone takes, ev'ryone breaks
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

April Rain Song, by Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

the rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night

-And I love the rain