life: in progress

“Sometimes I’m terrified of my heart; of its constant hunger for whatever it is it wants. The way it stops and starts.” --Edgar Allan Poe  

"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." –Frederick Buechner

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.  God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped.  Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing.  Our work as God's servants gets validated--or not--in the details.  People are watching as we stay at our post,  alertly, unswervingly...in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right, when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true...

Everything you do right now ripples outward and affects everyone. Your posture can shine your heart or transmit anxiety. Your breath can radiate love or muddy the room in depression. Your glance can awaken joy. Your words can inspire freedom. Your every act can open hearts and minds. David Deida

It was a Thursday. Nothing extraordinary could be said about the day in itself, until dinnertime rolled around. And actually, dinner itself was the way-above-average meal I had come to expect. But after I downed a dish of pasta, followed by a heaping plate filled with meat and an assortment of cooked vegetables, I was ready for the third and final course: cheese.   The cheese containter in the fridge was always stocked—sometimes with cheeses I had come to love, like gruyère, le tomme, and chèvre, and sometimes completely new types to try.   There were soft cheeses, hard cheeses, mild cheeses, smelly cheeses, and truffle cheeses.   But one was absent: orange cheeses.   That is why it came as such a surprise to me when, on this particular Thursday, I spotted a block of orange cheese in the cheese container.   As soon as it was discovered, the table was in uproar, with everyone talking all at once.   A niece, one of the younger generations who was le...

It's Tour de France season, which in my opinion is one of the more exciting sporting events of the year.  Some of the most talented cyclists in the world all come to France to engage in a competition not just on physical fitness, stamina, and ability, but on mental focus, resilience, endurance, and power.  The course winds through countryside and mountains, small towns and cities.  And nothing like being a world champion to keep all the riders motivated.  It's really a beautiful, crazy, and kind of ridiculous event.  But glory and fame and month-long bike races just aren't for everyone.  So here's a tribute to all the everyday bicycles that may never get to compete in the Tour de France, but nonetheless fulfill their duty to their riders on two wheels with grace, style, and good looks to boot.  Vieille-Ville, Geneva, Switzerland Open air market, Lausanne, Switzerland The Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland Nyon, Switzer...

As usual, life is moving way too fast for me to experience, process, document, and record on this handy web log in a timely fashion.  So let me take a few minutes to catch up on some things that I haven't had a chance to write about yet (before I jump into my time in Morocco, which is really what is mostly on my mind).  I went to a yoga class.  Casual, right?  Except it was in a family friend's home studio, and ALL IN FRENCH.  Not so casual anymore.  I'm not exactly a yoga guru, but I love it, and I figured I could keep up by following the instructors so I was thrilled to go.  When I arrived, they greeted me with a smile, told me to take off my shoes, and handed me a mat.  The class began, and the very first thing the instructors (a husband and wife couple, by the way) said was close your eyes.  Well, there goes my last resort.  Either I learn French really quickly, or I look like a fool.  Not that that leaves me much of a choic...