The first U2 song I ever heard, and one whose lyrics struck me deeply all over again today.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Daily 5 - Day 38
Today's Daily 5:
- This line in an email from a friend we'll be staying with on our upcoming trip made me laugh and laugh: "What I don't have is sheets, pillows or towels. I do have sleeping bags that we could set up on top of the bed and couch. And I have large tea towels that could be used for when you shower. Or we just won't shower and be in tune with the local smells. Hahahaha." I laughed so hard before I wrote her back and told her it would be no problem for use to bring towels with us. (It's probably funnier if you know that this particular friend is a dancer, who, even when she's quite casually dressed, seems elegant, and would probably never be "in tune with the local smells.")
- Listening to U2 turned up as I drove to and from work today
- Watching the beautiful sunrise as I drove to work
- Wearing jeans at the office
- the laughter of children playing outside my office window.
Bits and Bobs...
Some quotes and other stuff that I've found encouraging and/or challenging this week...
Lord, let the thick skin that covers me not be a hindrance to you. Pass through it. My eyes, my hands, my mouth are yours. This sad lady in front of me: here is my mouth for you to smile at her ... This smug young man, so dull, so hard: here is my heart, that you may love him, more strongly than he has ever been loved before.
- Madeleine Delbrêl,
Missionary and activist (1904-1964)
Yesterday's Daily Text Reading from the Moravians:
So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness towards the Red
Sea. Exodus 13:18
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left
for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:12 (NASB)
Holy God, we often want to follow the easy way. Help us to listen and to follow
your leading. Although it may not be the path we would choose, help us to trust
that you are taking us by the safest route. Amen.
The more you are afflicted the more you ought to rejoice, because in the fire of tribulation the soul will become pure gold, worthy to shine in the heavenly palace.
— from Quiet Moments With Padre Pio
The initial response the proclamation of the reign [of God] produces...is one of joy and happiness. Later, there will be a call to live up to the values of the coming reign.
- Juan Ramón Moreno,
Jesuit priest murdered in El Salvador in 1989.
Friday, U2, and other musings
It's Friday morning, and I am wearing jeans at the office. I know I celebrate that every week, but it really is such a great treat. So nice to be really comfortable.
Plus, it's Friday morning. And I can't tell you how relieved I am to be nearly at the end of the work week right now. I have no idea what this weekend will hold (except that it has immense potential for challenging moments). But I'm thankful to be done (or nearly done) with the work portion of the week. I'm anticipating time spent doing some errands and other things tomorrow night. And time spent with Jesus.
A dear friend of mine sent me a photo text message last night that made me both incredibly happy and incredibly jealous all at once. It was an (albeit blurry) photo of the stage at the U2 concert she was in the midst of attending. I loved getting it, and totally wished I was there. If I had such a thing as a formal "bucket list" or a "things to do before I die list", seeing U2 play live would be near the very top of the list. It's one of the things I dream about, and it just hasn't been possible yet for me to make it to one of their concerts.
Inspired by her concert attendance, I listened to the very first U2 album I ever purchased as I drove to work this morning. "All That You Can't Leave Behind". I bought the album when I was in high school. I'd attended a Young Life city wide club where the speaker talked about peace and used the song "Peace on Earth" as an illustration. I don't remember much about the club talk, but I'll never forget the impact of hearing that song. I fell in love with a band because of that song, bought my first U2 album because of that song, and have bought quite a few other albums in successive years. But that first album is still probably my favorite, and I played it loud and sang along this morning as I drove.
Last night was rough again, hard and full of the darker moments. I remember waking at one point and saying aloud "You can't be here. I'm sheltered by Jesus. Go away." I've gotta tell you that I don't do that very often these days, though there were weeks and years where I probably needed to do that every night, but lacked the knowledge or courage to follow through.
Usually a night like that would leave me lagging. A night like that often left a deep weight hanging over me, of fear and anxiety and oppression.
This morning I'm feeling buoyed by a deep joy welling from within me. I loved the sunrise as I drove. I loved U2 as it played. But the joy is deeper than all those contributing things. And for that I'm inexpressibly grateful.
Plus, it's Friday morning. And I can't tell you how relieved I am to be nearly at the end of the work week right now. I have no idea what this weekend will hold (except that it has immense potential for challenging moments). But I'm thankful to be done (or nearly done) with the work portion of the week. I'm anticipating time spent doing some errands and other things tomorrow night. And time spent with Jesus.
A dear friend of mine sent me a photo text message last night that made me both incredibly happy and incredibly jealous all at once. It was an (albeit blurry) photo of the stage at the U2 concert she was in the midst of attending. I loved getting it, and totally wished I was there. If I had such a thing as a formal "bucket list" or a "things to do before I die list", seeing U2 play live would be near the very top of the list. It's one of the things I dream about, and it just hasn't been possible yet for me to make it to one of their concerts.
Inspired by her concert attendance, I listened to the very first U2 album I ever purchased as I drove to work this morning. "All That You Can't Leave Behind". I bought the album when I was in high school. I'd attended a Young Life city wide club where the speaker talked about peace and used the song "Peace on Earth" as an illustration. I don't remember much about the club talk, but I'll never forget the impact of hearing that song. I fell in love with a band because of that song, bought my first U2 album because of that song, and have bought quite a few other albums in successive years. But that first album is still probably my favorite, and I played it loud and sang along this morning as I drove.
Last night was rough again, hard and full of the darker moments. I remember waking at one point and saying aloud "You can't be here. I'm sheltered by Jesus. Go away." I've gotta tell you that I don't do that very often these days, though there were weeks and years where I probably needed to do that every night, but lacked the knowledge or courage to follow through.
Usually a night like that would leave me lagging. A night like that often left a deep weight hanging over me, of fear and anxiety and oppression.
This morning I'm feeling buoyed by a deep joy welling from within me. I loved the sunrise as I drove. I loved U2 as it played. But the joy is deeper than all those contributing things. And for that I'm inexpressibly grateful.
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