Hugs

On Friday morning at 9 am, my friend M. picked me up. We went for a quick breakfast at Tim Horton’s (she ate, I just drank apple juice), went shopping for an hour (bought two fantastic new tops and a great pair of earrings), and then she drove me to the airport and said goodbye.

I got on a plane and flew across the country to collect on a promise of a hug from a dear friend.

It was absolutely worth it. Each and every moment. The hours and hours of conversations. The relaxed (though full) schedule. The really special moments, and time spent praying together. The laughter.

And especially the hugs.

There was the hug at the airport (a warm-up really). And the one at the side of the road, after standing together in a river while she prayed. And others… several others. She gives the best hugs. The kind that inherently say to the person who receives them that they are deeply loved and valued. The kind that are healing, that bring wholeness and peace.

And the best part is, when we can’t physically be together to collect on the hugs, she sends them to me in words. In emails and chats online and phone calls.

I find myself continually amazed that the Lord gifted me with a friendship with her. At the way our hearts have connected. At the gift she’s been as I’ve navigated what has been a tumultuous journey of life and faith through this last year. I'm so thankful for our relationship.

It was absolutely worth it. And I’m already looking forward to the next time we get to be together.

Moving

While I was away on the weekend, my roommate began the process of finalizing a lease on a house for the next year. We have a few details left to work out, but it would seem that come the end of June, I'll be moving.

It was a great relief to arrive home and discover that this had been sorted out.

I'm not looking forward to moving, but I am looking forward to being settled in a new place.

Snails

I really liked the creativity displayed here.

"A Slow-Moving Street Art Project".

So fun.

Plus, snails have been catching my eye this last while.

Thanks to Marko for pointing this one out.

The Spirit does...

A few lines from Henri Nouwen...

The Spirit indeed empowers us and allows us to be healing presences. When we are filled with that Spirit, we cannot be other than healers.

Empowered to Pray

Prayer is the gift of the Spirit. Often we wonder how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray. We can become very concerned about methods and techniques of prayer. But finally it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays in us.

Paul says: "The Spirit ... comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God's holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God" (Romans 8:26-27). These words explain why the Spirit is called "the Consoler."

A few Headlines

A more substantive post coming this weekend, but for the moment, a couple headlines that are catching my eye:

Two articles on the American war in Iraq, and mental health:
Purple Hearts for Psychic Scars?
America's Medicated Army

And one on simplicity (and yes, I'm planning on doing a bit of paring down of my possessions over the next month before I move):
How to Live with Just 100 Things