Weekend Coming

Tomorrow is Friday. 8 hours of work to go (and one of those is lunch!).

Then the weekend.

Here's a sampling of what's on my agenda for this weekend:

• tickets to the "Lord of the Rings" symphony with my baby brother, my roommate, and one of T's friends.
• a visit to AMA to pick up maps for an upcoming trip
• the bank, to pay a couple of bills and deposit a couple of cheques
  
• uploading pictures from last weekend
• updating my ipod, which is finally back from being repaired (8.5 weeks seems a bit excessive, no?)
• wedding dress shopping with my recently engaged roommate
• baking cookies
• some girly time painting my toe and finger nails
• I'm going to attempt to finish reading at least one book, and start another
• I'm going to make time to go to my favorite park for a walk and enjoy warm autumn weather (I may also go to the zoo... but it's hard to say)
• I'm going to write a nice long email to my best friend who is currently in Pakistan
• I'm going to take a long bath
• I may make time to sit in a coffee shop, or to visit my favorite tea shop, and do some reading and writing

Making Me Smile

An early October afternoon smile list:

• mango body scrub from The Body Shop
• girly nights once a week
• the sunrise as I drove to work this morning
• that today is "Name Your Car" Day - (have I mentioned how much I like George??)
• high heels
• mini croissants
• the psalms playing as I work
• that my camera broke with a month left on it's warranty
• plans for a quiet evening
• five reminder stones and a rosary resting on my desk
• passion tea
• bottled water
• knowing that I'm very good at my job (even if it's rarely noticed)
• a short walk in the sunshine at lunch
• a work day that's nearly over
• thoughts stemming from the book I'm currently reading
• knowing that I get to take a break from the fast for a few days and read a novel again in just over a week
• John 16:21-23
• Genesis 15:1
• poetry occasionally spilling from my pen again
• Grey's Anatomy tonight!
• chocolate chip cookies my roommate baked
• plans full of fun for the coming weekend

simple things, but today, I'm mostly resting in them, and letting them bring me joy.

The Most Human and the Most Divine - Henri Nouwen

another thought from Henri Nouwen...

The Most Human and Most Divine Gesture

The two disciples whom Jesus joined on the road to Emmaus recognised him in the breaking of the bread. What is a more common, ordinary gesture than breaking bread? It may be the most human of all human gestures: a gesture of hospitality, friendship, care, and the desire to be together. Taking a loaf of bread, blessing it, breaking it, and giving it to those seated around the table signifies unity, community, and peace. When Jesus does this he does the most ordinary as well as the most extraordinary. It is the most human as well as the most divine gesture.

The great mystery is that this daily and most human gesture is the way we recognise the presence of Christ among us. God becomes most present when we are most human.

Headlines

A few more headlines catching my attention...

Malta Bird Slaughter Condemned

Colonial Clue to the Rise of HIV

The Sadness You Have Right Now...

It's a new month. A new season.

October is a month that for the last few years has been full of days to be marked and remembered. Moments to be recalled as I move towards the anniversary of my healing from depression.

As I sat on a plane, waiting for take-off early Monday morning, I pulled from my bag a pocket sized copy of Eugene Peterson's The Message New Testament and turned to John. Paging through, I began reading at chapter 16.

I am caught by this translation of the words of Jesus. Caught by the parts of my life and story that they are touching.

And so, I sit here, and sip tea. I eat oranges, and taste salt on my lips, and I pray and wait and ache for that moment when all memory of pain is wiped out. I pray for the expedient coming of joy, for restoration, and birth, and peace.

When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions. (John 16:21-23, The Message)