Markside Pusings

Thankful Heart

2011-12-30T18:25:00.002-05:00

Yes, and every night will end
And every day will start
With a grateful prayer
And a thankful heart

Scrooge was saved! In the George C. Scott version, I believe, the Ghost of Christmas Past came for his "reclamation." Oh for the increasing fulfillment of the evidence of my own reclamation. I want to be able to sing with the angels and muppets and former scrooges that every night will end and every day will start with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart! As I write this my youngest asks to be taken to the pool (!) now, to practice some strokes. What? Now? Before dinner? No way! And leave me alone while I write my blog!!! Sheesh!

Anyway...where was I?

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2011-12-29T22:07:00.002-05:00

(Editor's Note: The original draft of this blog was lost, due to some inane loop when "insert image" was fat-fingered on the iPhone instead of spell check. This necessitated a lot of fussing, getting out of bed, signing in to the right account (additional editor's note-see 12/27 post by "Laurie"--which it really wasn't--it was by me, but I was signed in as Laurie, who apparently has posting privileges on my blog--which is fine, but I'm just trying to clarify) and then trying to recapture an inspired moment that happened in the warmth of my bed. Now I am freezing out of bed, writing this. Anyway, the original post mused on Rudolph's red nose, old time depictions of drunks in the comics, a stomach bug that caught some of our family a few days before Christmas, and the idea of red bums as a result of said bug. The line of thinking was going to rapidly degenerate from there, so I ended it tactfully, but alas...)

I wonder why Rudolph's nose was red?

(Editor's note: I just can't do it...)

The Christmas Song

2011-12-28T21:46:00.002-05:00

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

There are many incredible scriptural songs celebrating the birth of Christ. Mel Torme's tune is not one of them. It is, however, perhaps my favorite Christmas-y song which I'll never sing at a Christmas Eve service.

I grew up with Johnny Mathis's and Frank Sinatra's old school versions. I also appreciate Nat King Cole's, Anything since then is pretty disappointing (all due respects to Amy Grant). There's just something 50's/60's, New York City Christmas about the song. All quiet, hopeful, peaceful...the expectation of Santa (yet so much more). It's appropriate for kids from one to 92...And when I hear that song, those versions, I can catch a wisp of dreamy, child-like Christmases of long ago.

Jingle Bells

2011-12-27T23:40:00.000-05:00

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse, open sleigh...

One year ago we could have been, had we sleighs and horses. I like snow, but I'm glad we don't have it now, like that.

Deck The Halls

2011-12-26T21:45:00.003-05:00

So, because of the Bumpass Hounds, there was Oriental Duck, or Chinese Turkey, for Christmas Dinner. Ralphie got his Red Ryder BB Gun. And all was well.

There was so much food this year. It began with Turkey at Thanksgiving. We had pork roast, Estonian "holiday" sausages, stew cooked all day over an open fire in an iron cauldron, ham, pie, rock cakes...It's not even New Year's and I'm making resolutions that last 'til the next meal time. I am truly thankful for the delicious feasting of which we partook. At some point, gathering around a meal with friends and family became more dear than ripping into gifts.

Tomorrow, life returns to some normalcy, for me at least, and a wonderful break will be over. I'll battle wistfulness, some nostalgia, memories like "the last time I was doing this, I was looking forward to..."

Right now, I'm looking forward to lying down and drifting off to sleep at the end of another wonderful, blessed day.

O Tannenbaum

2011-12-25T15:40:00.002-05:00

This year, we got our tree earlier than ever--the weekend after Thanksgiving. Our tradition is to pick out a tree from Taylor's Do-It Center ($9.99 and up in years past). We eschew the fancier, glitchier places that spring up near churches (Holy Family or Wave) and use the significant savings to treat ourselves to lunch at Tijuana Flats (home of "Smack My Ass and Call Me Sally" hot sauce). This year was perfect--a beautiful tree, some new lights, delicious chimichangas and ghost pepper hot sauce. We cut the base off the trunk bottom, mixed a solution designed to preserve the tree's vibrancy and set it up. This year, the tree absorbed the water, so we diligently monitored the water level. All to no avail. Within two weeks, the tree browned. I went ahead and strung some lovely lights. Every contact, brush against the limbs and branches yielded a shower of needles, a sound like hail.

So this year we didn't get to the part where ornaments went on the tree. The better weren't too grün. But that's ok.

I saw a devotional that reminds that the One whose birth we celebrate with a tree now, set his face like a flint toward Jerusalem and another tree. Thank you, Jesus!

Has it been so long.....?

2011-05-31T21:30:00.002-04:00

So, spiritual mentors such as Dallas Willard, Brennan Manning and Richard Foster remind us of the importance of time alone with God. Not just "quiet time", but quiet time.

I'm here to confess, I can't get there. I note the date of my last post...almost a year and a half ago. Blog posts don't equate to time with God by any stretch, but for me, a post might come when I think I might have something to say, even to myself.

I also confess a certain level of panic when I feel/think I have nothing to say. It's not true, of course, but I'll admit, I am steeped in existentialism and it is a darn hard road to hoe outta there. So, I am trusting, trying to trust that "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5 NKJV).

I always picture tribulations as coming from active persecution; the kind that results in imprisonment, confiscation of property, torture and martyrdom. I don't enjoy the prospect of any of those things. I realize that traffic, the complaints of folks at work, the demands of customers and superiors are enough to severely test my peace and faith. I could only imagine if, along with those everyday challenges, I had to deal with active persecution. As I test myself on this, I don't come out so well.

Jesus, please bless and strengthen those brothers and sisters who are enduring overt persecution and hostility. Give them knowledge of your presence and your plan. And for those brothers and sisters who are struggling to persevere in faithfulness as they muck about in the slough of despond or get waylaid by the sights and sounds of Vanity Fair...Lord give us vision and direction. Let our eyes not grow dull, our hearts weary.

Prone to wander...Lord, I feel it....so I pray along with the hymn writer..."Lord let me never, never outlive my love for thee...!"

...on the notion that we might face suffering...

2010-01-06T12:24:00.004-05:00

....and I didn’t get very far into the sermon either….

The premise is that a large part of sharing in suffering includes being there, not saying much. But there also has to be a strong foundation to stand on, for if it crumbles, hugs become vapid, anemic, cliché….

I am thinking about suffering today and the “not-rightness” of it.

As I think of praying, I think, of course, of healing, of deliverance, of protection, of removal of the affliction…. but also - to endure it well, to see Jesus as the ever-increasing treasure, for strengthened faith and ingrafting in Jesus, for faith not to fail, for all the fruits that the suffering of the redeemed should bear…..

I keep coming to this conclusion that is mixed - very bitter, very sweet… that things don’t necessarily get better here, though we want them to. That there really is a consummation of all our godly hopes, dreams, desires - a rightness - not of what we think we want, but what we were truly made to want… for what we were truly made to be.

This seems so cliché and yet…

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Movement

2009-09-19T12:14:00.005-04:00

Another example of how music and video can be compelling...

Stress-Reduced Home

2009-09-02T22:49:00.002-04:00

A great article and stuff to keep in mind at home:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/29/Tips-for-Being-a-More-LightHearted-Parent.aspx

Gotta quit naggin', directing via the NEGATIVE!

Lord, Hep me!!

Why I love grace...

2009-07-06T21:29:00.002-04:00

1) I can't always get excited about the things Jesus is excited about.
2) I am not always in touch with joy.
3) I find myself thinking and acting like an enemy of Jesus-pretending to be his friend, yet very ready to deny, run, curse, accuse...
4) The truth of the Gospel should elicit a response that I am frequently incapable of providing.
5) It is perhaps the only thing I have in common with some amazing people who follow Jesus.

Beach

2009-06-16T18:21:00.008-04:00

Happy Birthday to my little sister, who turns 40 today! Amazing.

Well, it's been about a year. Last time I was bloggin' more regularly was this time last year, in Corolla. It's the family beach trip-L's parents have the extended family down for a week. This year we are missing L's sister, brother-in-law, 2 nieces and a nephew, and L's grandmother who is recovering from some physical stuff. We do have L's uncle, wife and new baby.

The kids are older, more independent, and able to be trusted (somewhat) in the pool, hot tub, and down at the beach. My help is still requested for hole-digging.

I always hope that these trips are going to yield some "life changes"--that the desired retreat and need for stillness will facilitate some sort of 'breakthrough'; spiritually, vocationally, etc. It's Tuesday and I've decided to take the pressure off myself. I got about a 40 minute (interrupted) nap.

We had a long talk with E about the "Twilight" series. I got to the point in my research that I really didn't even want to read it. Popular works of fiction will come and go, as will controversy. There are things we'd watch or read together that some folks would choose not to with their kids. I'm troubled, however, that this series is so popular with kids AND young leaders in our church and youth group. And basically the pro's are: They don't have sex prior to marriage.

Ooooh. That's laudable.

The issues of secrecy, obsessive behavior and thought patterns, lust and longing for forbidden things and a selfish, shallow heroine, combine to send up some red flags.

I've got nothing against a good yarn. But the phenomenon of "this is great!" and the propensity to fall into the trap of emotional adultery while meditating on this obsessive relationship is troublesome, especially in a community of faith where we should be talking about this stuff, yes, but in the context of encouraging one another to overcome, to battle, to seek victory against the world, flesh and devil.

I don't have the energy now to delve into it all. Sure, it's an issue of conscience. Sure, there's no "rule". It's permissible, but I doubt it's beneficial. Especially for young women (and men) who will face the reality of long-term, godly marriages that will require selfless sacrifice, hard work, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and will, hopefully, yield a good measure of obsessiveness....

Guacamole dip is ready...

I've attached a good review. If you disagree, you'll likely agree with some of the comments.

http://spesunica.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/the-twilight-saga-a-critique/

Be Thankful

2009-06-10T22:54:00.004-04:00

E-mail from my Father-in-Law asking if my job was 'really that bad' and reminding me to BE THANKFUL! This was true and convicting, and the answer is, 'no, it is not really that bad.'

Mancow's radio show dealt (briefly) with the same theme-choosing happiness. Mancow's sidekick, Al, acknowledged the truth of the thesis that we can choose to be happy, but promptly admitted how he does the opposite. How easy it is to sink into negativity! The problem is confounded when well-done cynicism and pretty darn funny humor help draw you in (Dilbert, South Park).

I resist the idea of walking around with a fake smile or a Pollyanna attitude. But I don't want to give in to negativity and cynicism either. Perhaps it's difficult to face reality, to live in tension. The absurd, the true, the false, the noble and beautiful, the ugly and profane co-exist in this place and time. Things aren't exactly right, but they're not all bad either. I must cultivate thankfulness as 'second nature' rather than cynicism or sarcasm and negativity.

Bird Friends

2008-09-24T21:42:00.002-04:00

EV and I drove out to Norfolk this evening for her Bible study. One thing we enjoy is sharing deep lyrics like

"I never know what you're gonna find when you open up your letterbox tomorrow
'Cause a little bird never tells me anything that I wanna know, she's my best friend, she's a sparrow"*

we just laughed...

These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive...

really!

*Lyrics by They Might Be Giants

At the Beach

2008-07-04T10:20:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking some about "resolve." I've also been feeling some like an idiot, which I can be. Why is it that making a resolution fills me with such trepidation & doubt? So many places to go with that one, but I think it's back to vanity. Yep- making a resolution is a commitment to work which means hardship and discomfort at times, saying 'no' to the flesh and all that, which is 'the battle' in a lot of ways. The problem for me is that this attacks and calls into question what and who I think I am, or want to be, or want to think I am, which of course, is a much more nice and sanctified version of who or what I really am...

Resolve means " to reach a firm decision about" (merriam webster). And my makeup, sadly, has brought me to a place where I feel like there have been very few firm decisions I've made. Hence, I often feel like not much has been done. So, okay, enough about that.

I resolve to get rid of anger, to stand up to my fear, to write some songs and to write in my blog a little more often. I resolve to connect more with what is going on in my homeschool. I resolve to think less about me.

Just some thoughts from the hot beach....

A Monday Morning

2008-06-30T06:33:00.000-04:00

Read this morning in a devotional some thoughts about living life one step at a time, putting your hand to the next thing you are to do and to dwell in contentment. I'm learning, at least, what a gift that state is, because it is so elusive! I prefer to fret and worry over 'what next', over 'what then', and forsake the opportunity that is before me, or waste time.

There are so many things that are wonderful and beautiful. A lot of them have to do with little connections, snuggles, or laughs with a daughter, son or my wife. They are precious!

We've begun making some decisions about school for the fall, and the rest of the summer for that matter. I am excited about being involved more--but that involvement really begins with engagement, thought, prayer about moving through this homeschool thing and sharing the load. Why has it been so 'off the radar?' I love homeschooling, I love that my wife is passionate about it, yet I move through life moping through my work and duties and just...don't think!

I admit, often it's just off the radar, so it's not even "You know, I'd rather NOT go over science or check a grid"--it's that those things weren't in the list of choices of things to do! That's got to be frustrating to those I'm to be helping and leading through this phase of life.

I want to refocus, and it begins with doing and wrestling with the next thing before me to do, not dreaming about a possibility that may or may not occur some months from now. That's here at home and at work. You must be grieved, Lord, by all the distracted musings. Well, I lay this day back on Your altar. It's the day You have made, and it's for being glad in and rejoicing!

"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways."

Ps 119:37

Talk to Me

2008-05-25T20:14:00.000-04:00

I like this song, and I like this video. A powerful performance. This song was apparently written when he and his teenage daughter were having some communication problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytRuMVAvc08

Plus, I need a pair of those pants...

Thunderstruck...

2008-05-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

So what is better than a V-twin with an AC/DC soundtrack? Lots, but this is cool. Well, to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKwsTXoX68

Anger---Why Not Grieve More?

2008-05-25T19:32:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking about ANGER. I'm realizing it's my 'go to' emotion, because I'm unable to handle grief and sadness. Grief has in it an element of loss of control, of letting the flood rush over you and not fighting anymore. It admits loss, it feels it deeply. It is not an emotion of denial. Grief does not inflict pain on others. It may drive others away because it may make them feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't scar others.

Anger, as an emotion where grief or sadness belong, ironically, does not avoid loss of control, but pathetically embodies denial. "I will not lose, I will not be wrong, I will not be disrespected!" blah blah blah...It's pitiful and does inflict scars, pain on others. So let's stop being angry, OK?

I mean really...

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand
He seemed Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”

I Asked the Lord ©2004 double v music (ASCAP). Words: John Newton (alt. Laura Taylor). Music: Laura Taylor.

How can I, as a saint, respond in anger? Forgive me, Lord! And I can't say I'm anywhere near John Newton!

I found myself last week at work, naked in the steam room. Sounds weird? We've got a great fitness center with a steam room. One of the best parts of the work day is being naked, in the steam room! (OK, maybe that's why I can't bring myself to embrace a career change...)

Anyway, here I was, and I began to weep. Pretty hard. Now this doesn't happen a lot. Stoic, European blood runs through my veins. I'd have been a Spartan, but I'd have not survived the training-a brawny man of war I am not. So, each time this happens, immediately, I take note, which usually ruins it as I get analytical, hysterically joyful that it's actually a different emotion, and that tends to ruin it...But I grieved, not really for myself, but for the travail of the world, the struggles and pain, and I prayed-for my children, for my wife, for my friends, for strained relationships, for friends who will go to foreign lands to preach Christ, for our Church, for coworkers, for history unfolding, for eternity, and then it was over. It was God, I know it, meeting me in this.

I know, because usually I become angry when overwhelmed. I face with denial my loss of control, my failure, my grief-except I don't grieve.

So, Lord, cultivate in me a heart that grieves with tears of compassion and love, not a heart that hardens in anger.

I'm Happy--Death and C.S. Lewis

2008-05-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

I'm so saddened by what the Steven Curtis Chapman family is going through. Unfortunately, working as a claims adjuster, one tends to hear this kind of news a little too frequently. When it's someone we know or care about, it hits closer to home, of course, but it doesn't make it any more tragic. Someone's life along with their hopes, dreams and loves is changed forever. Some feel a great loss, some take on a new, incredibly heavy burden for the rest of their lives, and some both. Those on the outside mourn, judge, evaluate, condemn, and probably give thanks that it wasn't them.

And I suppose that is part of the human experience. Before technology, I imagine each village dealt with its own tragedies throughout a lifetime. I imagine that important news would trickle in occasionally-a raid on a nearby town, a fire, a rampaging bullock or something like that. But now we multiply that exponentially, we compress it into soundbites and "headline news". Think about it.

So I struggle with depression and cynicism. "The other shoe's about to drop." If it ain't hit you yet, it's coming. Even better, work in "consider it all joy, my brothers when you encounter trials of every kind". Wow. Is God in this? So we're back to one of the fundamental theological topics anyone with their eyes somewhat open wrestles with- something along the lines of "If God is in control, is He good?" or some variant (Ok, so He's good, but not in control, or He's in control, but not good.)

Well, the assurance from scripture is that God IS good. Sure; rant, rave, scream...I take comfort that "God can handle your bitchin'" as a dear pastor friend once told us. God is good. And I am beginning to slowly believe the ol' cry that what He's really interested in is ME, a relationship with ME.

OK, that is true. But if the ME is in 12 point font, The GOD font is immeasurably larger, and the ME gets swallowed in, consumed in The GOD. I am speaking of font sizes as an illustration of my idea that when we think of God's love and concern for us, which is an incredible thing to dwell upon, we quickly run into the corners of the little box we build to define what that love means. I fail to comprehend, even now, the possibility that God's love for me, for us, for the Church, for the world, is consistent with his sovereign rulings and control of a universe that threatens to destroy us.

There's no answer that we can hang our hat on and be done. There's no way to accept, with peace, the sudden death of a child, the annihilation of a young conscience, the crushing burden of parents dealing with both in their family. We live, as C.S. Lewis says "in that roofless world...where men walk undefended beneath naked heaven." (O.K, purists, probably taken out of context, but it resonates, eh?) So we cry out to God, who is good. We cry out in fear that we are not immune. We cry out for strength to not succumb to the spirit of the age and seek protection in pharmaceuticals, violence, retaliation/revenge, increased vigilance, tighter rules and thereby stifle life. We fight cynicism, anger, resignations. We cry out for courage to face each day, not knowing what it will bring, but having a hope outside of what we see and feel, and yet finally not apart from it.

When I read C.S. Lewis, I am less afraid of 'crossing the veil', if you will. "Jack" captures this idea of new life but larger, larger and unencumbered by things that mark us as a fallen race now.

In Perelandra, the main character, Ransom, is sent to Venus where he encounters an incredibly sensuous world. Alone, he finally encounters another humanoid.

"Never had Ransom seen a face so calm, and so unearthly, despite the full humanity of every feature. He decided afterwards that the unearthly quality was due to the complete absence of that element of resignation which mixes, in however slight a degree, with all profound stillness in terrestrial faces."

So, I think about this resignation as part of our terrestrial faces. We all share this. None knows the complete absence of resignation and the fear and trepidation about external circumstances beyond their control, except perhaps a child. Hmmm, I'm called to be childlike. Which means letting go, and My God, is that hard. Letting go of the hold on how things 'should be' in order for me to be happy. Letting go of comfort and what I find my identity in...

And so, I look at life and try to determine if I am truly happy. And you know, I am. I really am. In some ways that happiness stands on a razor's edge, tenuous in its certainty--the wind could change in a minute. So the the shoe waits to drop. I deal with resignation, with fear, with worry, with anxiety...

In other ways that happiness is secure beyond fear. There is a place, a destination where fear, pain, tears, and even resignation, will be gone forever. "How strange" we will think when confronted with the extent to which those passing things or forces or emotions (I'm not sure what I'd really call them) ruled our lives and then will have NO power whatsoever. And I really have no idea. Every hope of heaven, every dream of fullness, of seeing Jesus clearly and praising Him "as I ought" is today flawed in some way by the organic disease that is sin, that blinds the eyes. Sometimes something lets you see through that a little more clearly, a 'sign of the Kingdom' here and coming. C.S. Lewis's stuff tends to do that for me.

OK. I don't blog often enough. I'm not sure where I started and I'm not sure where I'm going. I may have already said some of this in an earlier blog. Later!

2008-05-05T23:03:00.000-04:00

My oldest child turned fourteen this weekend. We spent the day in the woods. Camping. Amazing. I'm proud of that young woman. She is a joy. I like to hear her laugh. I hope the beauty of the views, the smell of the air, the total experience of this trip into Shenandoah National Park will be used by God to imprint eternity in us all.

I believe it is true. I believe that this Kingdom that God is building is near, inside, all around us. I catch a glimpse, a hint...and it is gone. I hunger for more. And here's where the dilemma appears--here is where it begins to fall apart: I become angry when I miss it, when something distracts from it. It's like smelling delicious food in the air and the wind changes direction and it's gone.

The sensation, the feelings-these are not the measuring rod or the markers. The 'down payment' is the Spirit.

We listened to "Prince Caspian" read by Lynne Redgrave on our drive to the Blue Ridge and back. Amazing. I already fear that Andrew Adamson and WETA will not do this story justice...won't be able to. There'll be a tension and a good story, but the depth, I think will be hard to capture. So, I'm setting my expectations very low.

No one that I've read in my limited browsings captures this idea of the Kingdom come and coming, the idea of redemption and heaven quite like C.S. Lewis, for me at least. He's accessible in that way. I read "The Last Battle" and the doctrinal claim that this life is merely the beginning makes some sense.

Is God THAT good? Is the Gospel that true? That here I sit, musing, thinking my little thoughts, and somehow God is working His perfect will, gonna bring it all together, gonna make it all work out? That in spite of my fears, weakness, pride, vanity, cowardice, hypocrisy, pride, fear, guilt, fear, and fear, something good is gonna come of it? That would be something! I can't wait to see it, but even more, I want to live like it is true. I want to live like it is true. I want to live like it is true.

So what does that look like?

How does it work?

How can I be sure I'm right and don't screw it up?

Hah! Much like the change in the wind that takes away the enticing scent, so do opaque 'things' blot out the vision and hope. Constant warring on this front, and the pendulum of emotion swings from deliriously deep and hopeful joy to morose despair. A yawning 'chasm' of doubt, hopelessness, fear, and doubt, and hopelessness. And the station broadcasting the voice of the Accuser comes in loud and clear. HD. Satellite. No static at all (no static at all)....F. M...

Luther. Galatians commentary. "Grace & Peace". Grace is the answer to SIN; peace is God's answer to a noisy conscience.

Watched "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". This is an amazing film with a lot to say. Well-filmed with a sort of sci-fi feel, kind of Orwellian. Beautifully tragic. And one of my all-time favorite songs, "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" was just perfect. Originally done by the Korgis with a cool sitar part, now covered by Beck, also pretty cool. I recall waking up to this song in the cold of a dark winter morning, not wanting to go to school, snuggled under the covers and just wallowing in the achingly beautiful tune, and the ambiguous lyrics. Oh yeah, you can say just about anything if you're ambiguous. I realize I gravitate to that sort of thing. Ambiguousilosophy.

I'd like to say more about this film, but I need to figure out what I should say first.

Today I bought the Little Girls some cleats and shin guards. And a couple of soccer balls. They're supposed to bring a ball to practice. We had a few nice ones. Then the dog got hold of
'em. They came home and rushed out to do some drills, and kick the balls around. It was great to see them do that.

Reminds me of last week. Philip beat me in one-on-one basketball. It was great. Of course I still have bruises from the hacks, but we won't let that deter from what is clearly the beginning of the end for me. Weak, fearful, guilty, fearful, guilty, weak AND AGING...Next I'll go down in arm wrestling, and then what?!

On The First Day...

2008-04-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

Immediately, pressure. Pressure to be exact, to say what I mean, mean what I say. Words mean so much, and to be imprecise means heading down a path that was never intended. Even now, the desire to create something beautiful, meaningful, deep causes alarms to ring-alarms of caution, self-protection, shyness...

I recall a quote from a film about the author Beatrix Potter in which she considers the journey upon which her writing takes her, and the uncertain destination to which it leads. That is fascinating! If I begin this journey where might I end up? The thought is appealing, and a bit frightening. Why? Because I must confront this fact: My conscience is noisy. My mind is full. My thoughts are harried. To write, think, engage, compose, dream...these things have become strangers to me.

Life is beautiful, fearful; beautiful, uncertain; beautiful, terrifying. "Engage! Engage!" the Spirit cries. "Run, Run!" cries the flesh...

Why "Markside Pusings"? "Riddiculus," I say! And it is ridiculous, a way to chuckle at exposure, to make safe things that are not safe. My beloved's blog is close in name to this, as I am close to her. One, but not the same. She is beauty, order, wildness, strength, all shelter. I am not. Except, perhaps wildness of another sort. It is an ode to her, and yet an acknowledgement that I am but a dim reflection of what is good and right, and perhaps the shadow of a longing to reflect goodness, rightness, God's kingdom...

That is why I'm alive, I suppose, to learn of this strange kingdom, this strange economy, this righteousness that is...alien. What does it mean? How does it play out? How should I live? Do I call? Fold? Or, even more frightening, do I raise and stay in? Yes, I believe I do! And what does that look like?

Today I think of barbecued turkey, hot North Carolina air, the caress of my 98 year-old grandmother as she speaks of her husband's death almost 50 years ago, of Finlandia vodka, of whether a 650 cc v-twin has 'enough power'...

And I think of wanting to have my joy found in this: That God saves sinners, failures, cowards and hypocrites. Of which I am the chief! And not just that, but that God is, and not just that, but that God calls me into his presence, that he knows me and that he will not suffer a rival for my affections, though I strive to find many...