Bless the Darkness

Was reading through some archived posts of mine, and came across this quote, which I thought I'd pass along all over again, because it is speaking to places I have found myself over the course of the last month.

Bless the darkness around you.
That’s why you’re a poet.
As the night presses inward
you radiate beams of light.

Voznesekií

Pictures

So, I just spent probably 2 hours putting a bunch of my photos from the trip up on facebook albums... If you're interested in seeing them, you can either look me up on facebook, OR, follow the links below.

Malta 1
Malta 2
Malta 3
Malta 4
Malta 5
Malta 6
Malta 7

Rome 1
Rome 2
Rome 3
Rome 4

London

Suffering Amidst Gemstones

Was catching up on my blog reading this morning and came across this post.

Loved the dream this guy had, and the image that came from it.

Reminded me of conversations with a friend over the course of my trip. Reminded me of Lent, and ducking my head in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as a Priest sprinkled ashes across my head, saying (in Italian, I think) some variation of, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." Something so deep and profound in that moment shared with two friends and hundreds of strangers. Something I am still struggling to bring words to.

Mostly Asleep

Just wanted to let you all know that contrary to my first night home, when I went to bed at 9:30, slept until 1:30 am, was up from 1:30-4:00, and then slept from 4:00 until 8:30 or so, last night I fell asleep reading somewhere around 10 or 10:30, and stayed in bed, mostly asleep until 7:30 this morning. Jet lag is slowly going away... very, very glad for that!

Updated Reading List

Added a few titles to the reading list for 2008 in my sidebar. One of those books I've actually read twice already this year, and am in the midst of reading a third time (Echoes). One of them will get it's own post in the next week or two, as it's been vastly inspiring and challenging, and will require me to read it at least once more as well (Take This Bread).