It Will Be Alright

A while ago I wrote this post. The image in the post is still catching my attention. I'm needing to hear what it's saying today.

The Tears of the Father - Henri Nouwen

Another thought from Henri Nouwen

The Tears of the Father

The father in the story of the prodigal son suffered much. He saw his younger son leave, knowing the disappointments, rejections and abuses facing him. He saw his older son become angry and bitter, and was unable to offer him affection and support. A large part of the father's life has been waiting. He could not force his younger son to come home or his older son to let go of his resentments. Only they themselves could take the initiative to return.

During these long years of waiting the father cried many tears and died many deaths. He was emptied out by suffering. But that emptiness had created a place of welcome for his sons when the time of their return came. We are called to become like that father.

In the news...

Green Tea is good for the Heart

Mediterranean Crossing - the issue of North African refugees trying to gain access to Europe. I visited a refugee camp for these refugees when I was in Malta earlier this year.

Things I've Done

These are some of the things I've done so far today:

• dropped my roommate at the train station and driven myself to work
• printed 5000 client labels to be attached to envelopes for an upcoming mailout
• scheduled a courier for a package
• obtained a missing invoice from a hotel for a volunteer stay a month ago
• input the data into two months worth of expense reports for my boss
• changed the water filter in our coffee maker
• sipped at a cup of roiibos tea
• confirmed a hotel reservation for an upcoming trip I'm making
• listened all the way through 2 Chris Rice albums
• traded facebook wall messages with my brother who will soon be returning home from England

It's been an oddly productive morning - oddly productive without feeling stressed or rushed. Here's hoping that continues through the day.

Remedy

Caught by the lyrics to the David Crowder Band song "Remedy" today...

Here we areHere we are
The broken and used
Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
The beautiful one
Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices
We open our hands
To cling to the love
That we can’t comprehend

Oh, lift up your voices
And lift up your heads
To sing of the love
That has freed us from sin
He is the one
Who has saved us
He is the one
Who embraced us
He is the one who has come
And is coming again
He’s the remedy

Here we are
Here we are
Bandaged and bruised
Awaiting a cure
Here we are

Here You are
Here You are
Our beautiful King
Bringing relief
Here You are with us

So we lift up our voices
And open our hands
Let go of the things
That have kept us from Him
He is the one
Who has saved us
He is the one
Who forgave us
He is the one who has come
And is coming again
He’s the remedy

Oh, I can’t comprehend
I can’t take it all in
Never understand
Such perfect love come
For the broken and beat
For the wounded and weak
Oh, come fall at His feet
He’s the remedy
He’s the remedy

He is the one who has saved us
He is the one who forgave us
He is the one who has come
and is coming again
He's the remedy
he's the remedy
He's the remedy
He's the remedy

So sing, sing
You are the one
Who has saved us
You are the one
Who forgave us
You are the one who has come
And is coming again
To make it alright
Oh, to make it alright
You’re the remedy
Oh, in us
You’re the remedy
Oh, You're in us
You're the remedy
Let us be the remedy
Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy