The Storm

On Sunday, I attended a church called highrock.  A friend heard good things about it, so we went to visit.  I felt at home with their great mix of ages and nationalities and a blend of ritual and personal elements to the service.

The pastor, Dave, spoke on the Sermon on the Mount, which they have apparently been preaching on for quite some time.  This week the reading was Matthew 7:24-27. Jesus told his disciples a parable about building a house on a rock, rather than a house on the sand.

He also spoke about trusting God during the storms.  The pastor made two comments that I jotted down quickly, comments which were great reminders to me.  In regards to the man who built his house on the rock, Jesus said: "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock."  Pastor Dave made a careful clarification for the congregation: 

"God is not offering us protection from the storm.  He is offering us protection in the storm."

At a later point in the sermon, Pastor Dave spoke further on God's provision.  As I was thinking about his words, I realized that so often I want God to give me a proof that He will provide for me in the future.  Mulling over Pastor Dave's words has been good for me in the past  two days.  I've begun to realize, perhaps I need to just remember the consistency of God.  He has provided in the past, and I have no reason to doubt that He would change.

"Trust God will provide because He always has."

Nantucket!

I've been able to take a few days of personal time to enjoy the summertime and to rest!  I went to Nantucket with L and it was gorgeous!  I love the water and the sunshine and the boats and the clouds and .... yep, it was a perfect day!

Summer cleans, holidays, and sunshine

I've been spending the last week with family at Red Barn Farm.  It was so much fun to celebrate the 4th of July in the USA :)  I have also been here for the summer clean :)  I was wildly impressed by my uncle and cousin, who had a vacuum on the roof to clean the gutters!  No spot of dirt escapes these folks!

      

It has been relaxing to be here at the farm.  The dogs are such entertainment (all four of them!), Whitey and Maple (baby calves) are cute, and the family time has been the best, although not everyone has been here.  I've spend my mornings/afternoons working on some assignments for while I'm here in the USA, and the evenings have been for relaxing.  We celebrated the 4th with corn on the cob, cheesy potatoes, and burgers and zucchini on the grill.  I was even spoiled with a sun-dried tomato veggie burger!  Life is good.

Rainer Marie Rilke

I've turned into my dear grandfather.  I talk to everyone!  No one believes I'm shy anymore.  Lines at the store, on the train, planes....One of my more recent plane conversations was with a young guy named Saul.  He was also on his way to the UK, and we both got a little lost in the tiny Halifax airport.  We laughed at how we can negotiate five terminals at Heathrow no problem, but we got turned around in Halifax of all places.  To be fair, they don't have very good signage!  We were on the same flight to London and sat next to each other at the gate, waiting as our flight was delayed several times, until we were finally able to board at 12:30 a.m.

As we waited, Saul started reading a book of poetry by Rilke.  He shared this one with me, and I rather liked it:

She was almost a girl and forth she leaped

from this harmonious joy of song and lyre, 

shining through her springtime veils and clear, 

she made herself a bed in my ear.  And slept

in me.  Her sleep was everything.  The trees

that I had always loved so much, and these

palpable distances, the field I felt, 

and each amazement that to me befell.

She slept the world.  Ah, singing god, how have

you so perfected her, she did not crave 

to waken first?  She rose and fell asleep.

Where is her death?  Before your song is lost, 

can you not find this motif?  To what deeps

does she sink from me--where? ....A girl

almost.....