Beijing, China

 My friend Michaela introduced me to Emily through e-mail, and I was able to spend 2 days with Emily in Beijing, and went with her to see The Great Wall.

 It's kind of like taking a picture of the Grand Canyon- it really doesn't do it justice.

 While we were touring at The Wall and at a tomb, we met an Australian named Emma and spent most of the day together. The upside of going to touristy spots is that it is an opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

 Proof that I was at the wall. :)

 The Bird's Nest built for the 2008 Olympics!

 Street food. This is a biscuit with an egg in the middle. Not a bad breakfast for lunch on the go!

 The Forbidden City

 These girls invited me to a feast at their apartment. The menu was tofu wrapped pork, mushroom chicken soup and cowboys and indians served Chinese style.

 This is Andy, another one of Michaela's friends. He took me ice skating and to some famous shopping district that I don't know the name of. Beijing's Drum and Bell Tower are in the background.

 Every country has its polar bears. Yes, that's ice by the side of the lake.

Saul, Winston and Other Individuals

It’s a shame about Saul! You know what I mean? Here is a guy who had everything going for him: the right looks; the right height; a kingdom established by a sovereign God; the anointing; even a few short stints prophesying, which turned out genuine enough to puzzle writers about how he should be categorized (Prophet or no?). But then things started to go downhill from there: Saul trying to take on the role of a priest when he wasn’t one; not following directions 100% in the midst of warfare; trying to repeatedly hunt down and kill shepherd-boy Dave, an innocent man; willing to put Jonathan to death over eating a bit of honey, and seeking out witches to help him make major life decisions. It’s just plain sad when you think of it! Isn’t it? He had potential, but his end was inglorious, and his royal line died with him.

We know plenty of stories of individuals who started well, only to fall into infamy: Benedict Arnold, Robert Lundy (the Irish version of Arnold), Martha Stewart, Darth Vader, Gollum… just to name a few. Right? Chapters from history books, media and the fictitious versions of these stories should douse cold water on us. Wake us up! Whisper to us the need to “keep on keeping on” (as GT and the Halo Express so eloquently defined “endurance”). It should remind us to walk in integrity; to love to God; to tidy up those priorities; to keep our minds and hearts set on things that don’t spoil, fade, rot and/or burn.

“Never give up!” Those were the carefully chosen words of Winston Churchill. He used them to encourage his countrymen while earth and buildings were exploding around Great Britain. And how crucial those words are to the weary heart; to those growing weak and weary in the trenches. We’ve come this far, let us not lose hope now; let us not fall victim to the sinister darkness around us.

This is getting a bit preachy, isn’t it? But I preach to myself. My muscles are tired; my heart is sad; I’m at a crawl. But there is a death that comes with halting; with pilgrims who tire of arduous trails. My anemic pace isn’t much, but I take comfort in the fact that there is a certain school for those who are feeling spent. I don’t know what I’m supposed to learn at this place, but I’m guessing it will be an important lesson. After all, I’m all ears if nothing else… and really, I don’t want to share the same fate as Saul.

Another Song

“I want to run, it’s my nature to run, and I want to fight, it’s my nature to fight, and I want to live but You tell me to die. I have resolved that I’m much better off in Your hands then mine…

I want a crumb, but You are a feast. I want a song, but You are my symphony, I want a star, but You are a galaxy. And I have resolved that I’m much better off in what You have for me. 

–Bebo Norman, exerpts from his song “The Only Hope”

Josh Garrels-Farther Along

I really love this song.

Around the World in 18 Days

It is difficult to pinpoint what I love about travel. Perhaps it is the fact that no matter how many places you visit, there will always be new places to go or else something you haven’t seen at a previously visited location. There is also the aspect of meeting new people that fascinates me (says the introvert). The challenge of adjusting to a different way of doing things or thinking about things is also interesting. This process can be pleasant, and sometimes painful, but you can hardly walk away unscathed by what you experience during an expedition.

This month I bought a ticket to China. I have been telling my friends about it, and have found myself saying things like “I’m nervous about going to the airport in Beijing” or “I’m nervous about [insert whatever here].” It isn’t too much of a surprise that I’m saying these things.  I’ve heard similar things come out of my mouth right before venturing to other places. When I first went to Ireland I was concerned about living a whole year away from my family and friends, and when I first went to Switzerland I didn’t know if I would be able to find the proper train to get on, and when I went to Colombia I was anxious about Bogota being the Kidnapping Capital of the world (among other things). I am now realizing that I’m not just “nervous” about these things; I’m voicing fears. "Fears that I don’t totally want to admit are fears.

I just recently finished reading Numbers and Deuteronomy . The Israelites had plenty of fears, and usually didn’t mind voicing them. “You led us out here to die” they told Moses. “We’re going to starve to death; we’re thirsty! What I’d give for a good meal of leeks!" There was a lot going on with those folk. The fact that Numbers records an 11 day journey taking 40 years is quite sobering (I hope my journey to China just takes 18 days, as planned!). And then, as you probably know most of the Israelites still didn’t REALLY get it, and ended up dying in that sandy wasteland- except for Caleb and Joshua. And then what mighty warriors they turned out to be! I think it’s interesting how Joshua’s career started out. God told Moses to tell Joshua not to be afraid but to be courageous, and then God told Joshua that directly on several occasions, and then later on Josh was able to exhort the rest of the Israel not to be afraid, but to be courageous. What a journey for that man! What a kind of an epic journey for the rest of the nation! To finally go in and conquer the land; THEIR LAND, and to joyfully claim it. Now that's the kind of expedition I'm talking about- one that leaves the imprints of indelible ink.

Deut 5:29 Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

Dialog With a Six Year Old

He came to his lesson last Saturday with a beautifully wrapped present. The tri-colored bow was ingeniously twisted at the top, and the paper of the gift bag shouted things out at me, like “Joy! Joy! Joy!” and “Merry Christmas!” I uttered my surprise at the lovely gift, and let out an “Ooh!” and “Ahh!” as I lifted out the chocolate covered pretzels and a bottle of foamy soap- the kind whose delicious scent lingers on your hands long after you’ve washed them. After I discovered what was in the bag he explained the gift “Well, I didn’t buy it. My mom bought it, and then she gave it to me so I could give it to you… I have Eight Dollars!” I smiled at his frankness; not every kid gives credit where credit is due.

We worked on some Christmas music. Before we started, he protested: “I can’t do this! I don’t know how to play on the E string, or how to use my 4^th finger yet!” I assured him that he could play the song I had in mind for him, and flipped to one that was at his level. His eagerness to be where his older sister is on the violin shines through during every lesson.

As he swings his feet back and forth in his chair he asks “How old do you have to be before you can be a violin instructor?” I told him there wasn’t really a certain age that you had to reach to start teaching, but if he kept playing he would be ready in no time. “You know what?” he said “When I’m a teenager you’ll be a grandma!” I eagerly tried to adjust his math calculations by explaining that I would be in my thirties when he becomes a teenager... but I can understand how 7 years would seem like an infinite span of time for a 6 year old.

Getting this boy to focus on his assigned music is tricky. The music ahead of what we are working on is always much more tantalizing to practice than on what is assigned on a weekly basis. As I wrapped up Saturday’s music lesson he said “Oh yeah, by the way, do you recognize this?” He then proceeded to play a few measures of Ode to Joy from memory. I was surprised; impressed that he was working on something more advanced than what we were struggling to play through just a few minutes earlier. I replied “Yes. Yes I do!” and secretly thought: “Will wonders never cease?”

Isaac

I’m not sure what I would do if I found myself on an altar, with my father’s hand wrapped around the handle of a knife ready to slit my throat. But that is exactly the predicament Isaac found himself in. Let’s say it is a safe bet that Isaac knew what was going on. He knew they had not arrived at that mountain carrying a lamb (or any other four legged animal). He knew the fire was pipin’ hot ready to go! He knew what usually took place on top of carefully stacked stones. But there seems to be something missing from the story. The chapter doesn’t give any detail of a dramatic struggle between Isaac and his father Abraham. It just says that Abraham bound Isaac. Does anybody else find this strange? I mean, Abraham was no spring chicken, and Isaac was what, a teenager? I’ve seen plenty of 2 year olds quickly outdistance their parents, I’m sure Isaac could have …but… he didn’t. All we know is that his father bound him, and that Isaac would have been a goner had it not been for the LORD’s intervention: an angel who spoke and staid Abraham’s outstretched hand.

I wonder what the walk back down the mountain was like. I wonder if Isaac resented being bound and almost killed; if dinner conversation was reduced to “Please pass the salt.” Or maybe he was impressed that his father withheld nothing from God. Nothing… not even him! Not even his son whom he loved.