Today is my day off... and it is wonderful. I love days off. It is now 11:15am... and I have already done two great things so far-- I have slept in (yes!!) and I have made myself a real omelet with eggs right from a German hen, tomatoes straight from the garden, and real Swiss cheese. It was great.
But my best plan for the day is still to come. I went through a hard time this past year and was surprised to find an old friend join me on my journey. For Christmas, I was given a book called The Inner Voice of Love, by Henri Nouwen. I immediately started reading the book and was astounded by the way that he seemed to understand my story, share my sadness, and offer me beautiful hope. I have clung to that book for many months... and I have been thankful for the author of it.
Well, during last weekend in the Alps, I picked up another Henri book and began reading the first few pages of Life of the Beloved. I was amazed to find that during the writing of that book, Henri lived in a small city in Germany called Freiburg... and guess what? It just so happens that the closest city to where I currently live is... FREIBURG!! So today, in this great day off, I am going to drive to Freiburg and spend the day with Henri. I know he is now dead, but I'm going to imagine that he isn't. I'm going to picture him walking those old streets and imagine what life might have been like for him during the writing of that book. And I might even find myself a cozy corner in one of the 3 Starbucks in that city and read more of his book.
I really believe that Henri Nouwen walked with God... God knows that I want to walk with Him too... maybe if I go to the city where Henri Nouwen actually walked... well, it might be pretty amazing. Who knows how God might just show up?
OK, I have some dishes to wash and clothes to put away... but then it's off to Freiburg for me!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
begin with a Berliner
My last few days here have been flying by. I guess days--especially busy ones--have a tendency to do that. But in the busyness, I don't want to miss the little things... the things I love. After talking with a dear friend tonight, I decided to start writing about those things... the goofy, special, fun, or whatever things... just the THINGS about being in another country that I especially enjoy.
So... here's # 1. Tomorrow is my long day. I take one day each week and work ALL day... and tomorrow is it! But I have decided that I want to begin the day right with a cultural experience that I really love. There is no Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks or Wawas here. Nope... instead, there is a grocery store with a bakery right inside the door. And they make the most amazing coffee su mit namen ("to take away"). I love it! So tomorrow, to begin my long day, I am going to walk to the bakery and say "ein latte macchiato su mit namen bitte" ("one latte to take away please"). This bakery also makes the most amazing jelly donuts I have ever tasted-- called "Berliners." I think I will order "ein Berliner bitte" as well. I could be economical and eat my trusty bowl of Special K (I did find Special K here!!), but tomorrow is my long day... I think it's a good day for a Berliner. =)
Berliners taste so good that I could eat one every day if I let myself! But I don't. =) The last time I ordered one was on Saturday morning... Myself and my two companions piled into the car to make our 2 hour drive to the Alps. About 1 kilometer down the road, I bit into my Berliner (while driving), and the jelly shot out of the Berliner and into my hand. And then somehow in trying to clean it up, I got it on my other hand too! I learned that it's very difficult to drive a car with two hands covered in jelly. So we weren't even out of town yet when I had to pull over and clean myself up... get myself un-sticky. It's a funny memory. =)
So tomorrow to begin my long day, I will go to the bakery and get a latte and a Berliner... and I will be sure to have napkins nearby for when I take my first bite. =)
So... here's # 1. Tomorrow is my long day. I take one day each week and work ALL day... and tomorrow is it! But I have decided that I want to begin the day right with a cultural experience that I really love. There is no Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks or Wawas here. Nope... instead, there is a grocery store with a bakery right inside the door. And they make the most amazing coffee su mit namen ("to take away"). I love it! So tomorrow, to begin my long day, I am going to walk to the bakery and say "ein latte macchiato su mit namen bitte" ("one latte to take away please"). This bakery also makes the most amazing jelly donuts I have ever tasted-- called "Berliners." I think I will order "ein Berliner bitte" as well. I could be economical and eat my trusty bowl of Special K (I did find Special K here!!), but tomorrow is my long day... I think it's a good day for a Berliner. =)
Berliners taste so good that I could eat one every day if I let myself! But I don't. =) The last time I ordered one was on Saturday morning... Myself and my two companions piled into the car to make our 2 hour drive to the Alps. About 1 kilometer down the road, I bit into my Berliner (while driving), and the jelly shot out of the Berliner and into my hand. And then somehow in trying to clean it up, I got it on my other hand too! I learned that it's very difficult to drive a car with two hands covered in jelly. So we weren't even out of town yet when I had to pull over and clean myself up... get myself un-sticky. It's a funny memory. =)
So tomorrow to begin my long day, I will go to the bakery and get a latte and a Berliner... and I will be sure to have napkins nearby for when I take my first bite. =)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
a twitching eye and a puffy eye
i'll be leaving on wednesday to go overseas for a little more than five weeks. i prayed about a month ago that God would wave His big "peace be still" hands over my life for the next month... and let the planning for this trip be SMOOTH. the past semester had been a hard and BUSY one, and i just felt too exhausted to handle anything beyond "smooth."
well, it didn't exactly happen! there have been quite a few unexpected "bumps" during the past month... i've done my best to navigate as best i can, but it hasn't been easy. God, though, is funny. at just the right time, when i'm ready to rip my own hair out (or someone else's!), He shows up in some way... and i'm reminded that i'll be fine.
today, though, i had enough! i woke up from a nap this afternoon and i looked in the mirror... and i could tell that all was not well. my left eye has already been twitching on and off for about a week... i think, because i just took a full 30 hour class in 3 days, on top of trying to get ready for a big trip! (enough to make any eye twitch, maybe?!). well, i woke up from my nap to find that not only was my left eye twitching, but my right eye was half-closed... very puffy and half-closed (i think in an allergic reaction to my friend's cat)!
i found myself haunted by images of myself on an airplane with big, puffy eyes... walking around overseas with big, puffy, twitching eyes! i could feel panic rising... so i sat there and i looked up to heaven with my left twitching eye and my right puffy eye, and i talked to Jesus. and i gave up... and i told Him that i would trust Him. and i remind myself tonight that all is well because i have a really good God and a really good Father. i continue to learn through unexpected ways that He really is entirely faithful. so tonight i give Him my eyes... and i give Him my heart... and i give Him the next 5 weeks... i give Him all of it... because i know that He is worthy of my trust.
and He tells me now that it's time to put on a good movie and go to bed and give my twitching eye and my puffy eye a rest. and i gratefully oblige. =)
well, it didn't exactly happen! there have been quite a few unexpected "bumps" during the past month... i've done my best to navigate as best i can, but it hasn't been easy. God, though, is funny. at just the right time, when i'm ready to rip my own hair out (or someone else's!), He shows up in some way... and i'm reminded that i'll be fine.
today, though, i had enough! i woke up from a nap this afternoon and i looked in the mirror... and i could tell that all was not well. my left eye has already been twitching on and off for about a week... i think, because i just took a full 30 hour class in 3 days, on top of trying to get ready for a big trip! (enough to make any eye twitch, maybe?!). well, i woke up from my nap to find that not only was my left eye twitching, but my right eye was half-closed... very puffy and half-closed (i think in an allergic reaction to my friend's cat)!
i found myself haunted by images of myself on an airplane with big, puffy eyes... walking around overseas with big, puffy, twitching eyes! i could feel panic rising... so i sat there and i looked up to heaven with my left twitching eye and my right puffy eye, and i talked to Jesus. and i gave up... and i told Him that i would trust Him. and i remind myself tonight that all is well because i have a really good God and a really good Father. i continue to learn through unexpected ways that He really is entirely faithful. so tonight i give Him my eyes... and i give Him my heart... and i give Him the next 5 weeks... i give Him all of it... because i know that He is worthy of my trust.
and He tells me now that it's time to put on a good movie and go to bed and give my twitching eye and my puffy eye a rest. and i gratefully oblige. =)
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