Category Archives: life

This evening

Posted in Family, life by

Tomorrow  morning, I plan to take an early bus to Dublin for an appointment, spend several hours in the city, then fly to London in the evening to see a friend who lives in Reading.

This evening I stopped at my parents’ house for something. As always, there was something around to eat. And did I have a Dublin map? No, but sure, it would be nice. Did I have a phone? No, but sure, it would be nice just in case.

So I hugged them good bye and left with my hands full, just like last night when I left there after mom gave me some of her glorious fragrant roses to take home.

Years ago, a little neighbor girl asked mom if I’m her girl because I’m not a little girl anymore. Mom said “She’ll always be my child; she’ll never be my adult, so yes, she’s my girl.” I’m loving having a place of my own, to be an adult in. I feel particularly rich because now I have two homes–my own and my parents’.  And I can be both child and adult and be ok.

My Exciting Days

Posted in life, music, Uncategorized by

Last night some of us went to hear Chanticleer at the Wexford Opera House. They gave their “Wondrous Free” program, and while they sang the first song, “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” I marvelled at how their voices blended in the unison of the Appalachian melody. The recorded sound never has the life and depth and breadth of the live performance. I loved “Shenendoah” and “Hard Times.”  It was an amazing, delightful evening. My ideal job would be to sing for a living like they do. Meanwhile, I sing while I work.

Then today another load of us went to Cork to see and tour Logos Hope, the ship that goes around the world with books and workers to partner with local churches. We spent a long time in the book room, finding treasures.

This is what I came home with:Radical Womanhood, McCauley; Longing for More, Barton; Cross-Cultural Connections, Elmer; The Soul Tells a Story, Wright; The NLT One Year Bible, and a world map from Logos because every house needs a world map.

We toured the big ship and asked questions and were awed with the huge operation. Nearly 400 staff live on the ship, some for years, and some short term, and they come from 40 countries. A family left today, going back to England after having lived on the ship for 10 years. No wonder they cried.

The staff need to raise their own support and can’t jet home whenever a cousin or sister gets married back home. Some haven’t seen their family for several years. It was exciting to see God’s people willing to pay to be in ministry like this, being useful wherever they’re needed.

I’m rich to have experienced these exciting events in 2 days!

Pondering

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I heard myself asking, “Is love a virtue if it’s deserved?”

As if some deserve love and others don’t.

What a horrible thought.

Because everyone I meet deserves love. Not because of their own goodness or virtue but because of God’s image they carry, and Christ’s death out of love for them.

Love is not a virtue when the recipient is easy to love.  Love is a virtue when the person is difficult, awkward, unlovely. And they always deserve love.

The Housewarming

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I moved into a lovely big bright house with my friend over a month now, and the church wanted to have a house-warming for us, to bless us. We knew that there was talk about having the annual church barbecue soon, so we said we’ll host the barbecue, and it can be the house-warming. Tonight was the night and it was a lovely time.

We had loads of food, and the sun was bright, and as it set and the air turned cooler, people collected jackets and blankets or meandered inside.

There were over 50 people, and everyone seemingly had a good, happy time. I did, anyhow. It’s a pleasure to have space/place to share with people. This house is a huge gift from God, and I don’t want to horde it. It is scary, though, how old-maidish I can be when there are little people in this adult house where there is nothing child-proof…!

There were 6 visting Germans, and they sang some songs for us, then we sang “Gott Ist De Liebe” together. I felt so rich, surrounded with my church family, outside under the sky. God loves me incredibly well.

Book Feedback

Posted in life, My Book by

This is still the best stage of writing a book–being 18 months past the first copy hitting the shelves.  I’m honored and humbled with the feedback I’m getting. I try hard to answer every email, but it’s more difficult to answer letters in the post, even though those feel more special.

Yesterday’s letter had a most wise observation: In your book it sounds like you have life all figured out…but I’m sure you must still discipline yourself to live it abundantly.

She is so right. I have a lot of experience in some things, but am still very much a student, not an expert. So to anyone out there who gathered from the book that I have life all wrapped up, this is the truth: I don’t.

Where is Home?

Posted in Ireland, life by

Thirteen years ago this eve. we were at friends’ house for dinner–friends I’d never met before. They live beside the sea, and were ever so gracious, and afterwards all of us went to their upstairs room for prayer meeting, and I cried during the prayer.

It was my first day in Ireland, and everything was green and moist and foreign. Now it’s 13 years later, and this is home.

I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived at any other place, so maybe that’s why it feels like home. But I’m still a foreigner. As soon as I say a word, my accent gives me away, and people know I wasn’t born in Waterford but am a ‘blow-in.’ And when I go back to the US, it’s always most enjoyable and happy, but I feel like a foreigner there too. I forget the American terms for ‘tar macadam’ and ‘foot path.’ And when I want to drive somewhere, I tend to head toward the wrong side of the car.

So I really am not home yet. Because next week I plan to move into another house, but even that won’t be Home, Home.

Even after 13 yrs in Ireland, I’m Homesick tonight.

My Inspiration

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The wall in front of me is plastered with photos of lots of people I love. They help me from feeling too alone in my study. Among the photos and roster and calander of events is a post-it note with this verse by Ugo Bossi. It is my current inspiration:

Measure thy life by loss and not by gain,

Not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth,

For love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice,

And he who suffereth most has most to give.

The new job

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I had no idea that teaching would be so much work and be so fun. The hardest thing is coming up with enough material to fill 70 min. and still figure in an unpredictable amount of discussion time. Even harder than that is knowing all the resources I have at home on my bookshelves, several thousand miles away. That’s not all bad; it’s making me more desperate for the Source of all wisdom.

I’m helping with writing class, which is fun and jolly. I get to tell them all my pet hates in writing, and read my favorite pieces to them for inspiration. It’s a record-size class, and good potential for excellent talent to be developed. Exciting! Today I will give them a list of over-used religious words to avoid, such as: moving swiftly on, lead guide and direct, at the foot of the cross, in closing…all those things we hear a million times and tune out, so why say/write them?

The 18 young women in the Christian Womanhood class work hard and think hard and dream big, and I’m so proud of them. They’re made of good stuff, and they will make their worlds better. Today’s class will be on Jezebel and her controlling, manipulative ways. ouch. Very convicting.  And the lesson plan isn’t finished yet, so I am swiftly moving on…

Loss and Gain

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Today I am sad. There’s much to be glad about but I’m still sad. In these 5 wks at FB, I’ve met God in real, life-changing ways. That’s something to be glad, very glad about, and I am. But the sadness persists–sadness at the loss of immediacy to the people and places that impacted me deeply. Sadness at the second hand that races around the clock.  Heaviness at the weight of my next life assignment.  But over-arching that is deep gladness for everything I’ve been given, and the hope of more. 

It is the most wonderful thing to cry and hold hope at the same time.

God can’t do WHAT?!

Update

Posted in life by

This week’s schedule has been: paint and trim in my flat until lunch, and rest/study/sort stuff/pack stuff in boxes in the afternoon. Not being a full time store keeper feels like being on holiday, and I feel responsible to make every minute count. Did I mention that I feel like a new person, not being a full-time shop keeper?

Next week this time I plan to be in northern IN, with relations I haven’t seen for far too long. And then be with them for Christmas. It feels utterly luxurious but when I remember that I’ve celebrated 12 Christmases on this side of the Atlantic, I think it’s ok, and justifiable to be with them this time.

Then us 4 sisters will convene in CA, no less, to be sisters and tourists for 10 days.  O joy! Then I will tag along with one sister to Faith Builders, where I will be ensconced in a student’s world for 5 wks, for which I can scarcely wait. And always having been the oldest sister and leading in everything, it is great fun to be the follower this time.

And then somehow I will find my way to Calvary Bible school in Arkansas to teach a class for young women. This is completely new territory for me, this business of being a teacher. HOW does one go about it? I already understand the grim, determined look I often saw on teacher’s faces as they headed to their places of study.  But right now the grimmness has left my face, and I am full of questions, but excited and in awe of the privilege before me.  By the Lion’s mane, I will do the best I can.