National Gallery

Well, I'm not doing so well at keeping current in the new year!  I'll try to do better :)

This morning and afternoon was spent at the National Gallery, located at Trafalgar Square.  In the picture below, you can see Nelson's column and if you look closely, you might also make out one of the four lions that rest at the base of the column.  You can't see it, but there was a photo shoot taking place as I arrived.  The male model was posing in jeans and a ripped tee shirt, in the mist coming off of the fountain to the right of the photograph.  Poor guy.  He must have been cold, as it was not a warm day, nor, as you can tell, a sunny day.  

I quickly escaped to the National Gallery for the warmth.  

I spent most of my time in the 13th-16th century paintings.  There are often biblical themes in the art of this time period.  This was the reason for my study :)  My companions for the morning were the likes of Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, and da Vinci.  

I saw a painting unfamiliar to me (well, to be honest, the Gallery is full of paintings that meet that criteria!) by Diego Valazquez.  He painted in Spain around 1628.  The painting is called Christ Contemplated by the Christian Soul.  It depicts Christ after he was beaten.  An angel stands behind him and a small child is to the left of the angel, looking at Christ. It is an overall dark painting, with the weapons used to beat Christ in the foreground.  I read however, that the child represents the Christian soul.  That was a helpful perspective.  We need to remember the suffering Christ endured for our sake.  

I did sit for a while and contemplate this painting.  The National Gallery has quite a few benches in the middle of each room, which are nicely placed to let you get a good perspective on the paintings, or perhaps attempt to sketch them if you are so inclined.  I think this painting is rare.  Most paintings focus on the walk of Christ with the cross or the actual crucifixion.  It was good to ponder.  It reminded me of the somber attitude of a Good Friday service.  

The National Gallery does not allow photographs to be taken inside, but if you would like to see the painting, you can find it here.  

Moving!

Thanks so much for your prayers as far as my housing situation!  God has been so good!

I went to visit my preference for housing last Wednesday.  It started off on the wrong note, as Paul K and I stood outside a dark house for a few minutes, wondering if the housemate I was to meet forgot or was late getting home.  We double checked the address only to find out we were outside the wrong house!  The street names were the same, but the street we needed was also "South," which was a completely different street, not just the southern end of the same named street!  Oh, London.

We proceeded to drive two streets over, and found the correct house.  The current resident of the house, who will be staying, was home and warmly welcomed us, along with the daughter of the owner.  I got a tour of the house and a good chance to speak with both girls.  Then the owner stopped by the house as well.

The daughter of the owner surprised me by saying, "Not to be creepy, but I looked you up on Facebook and we have a mutual friend.  How do you know Valerie?"  I laughed and couldn't believe that in all of London, I found a house who knows one of my friends in London!  By the end of the evening, we found out that we know three mutual friends.  The one housemate I met also grew up as a missionary kid oversees and also loves photography! We also share a love of films.   Also, all three of us girls love travel :)  The owners and one of the housemates also go to a community church I hope to visit.

The house has (Praise the Lord!) a living room and dining room, and both housemates are more than willing to have guests over for dinner.  I had really prayed for this, because I wanted a place where I could invite friends over, which all of my previous residences have lacked.  My room will suit me well, and I really am excited to get to know my housemates better.  I'll move in on January 31!

God is good!  I'm so thankful to have found this house and I'm looking forward to this move now. 15 days, and then hopefully, I'll be settled in one place for the next year!  Sounds like bliss...

Pater Noster

Perhaps my favorite site visited over the holidays was Pater Noster, a Carmelite convent on the Mount of Olives.  Throughout Pater Noster, there are tiles with the Lord's Prayer written in over 70 languages.  It's amazing to walk and observe the different languages and scripts but to know that they are mere fraction...it's incredible. 

Moving...Again.

I don't mind moving.  It's been a part of my life since birth and it's certainly a part of my chosen profession!

Lately however, moving has begun to take it's toll.

I lived with my sister for about six months before coming to London, with various traveling before leaving, including a month in Colorado.  Once in London, I lived with friends for a week, before finding a room to let.  After about two months, that particular housing situation was no longer an option.   I moved rather suddenly to a friend's house in the same neighborhood for about a week, and then moved for a month to another family's home while I searched for a new location.  I moved into the next house, owned by a friend with an available room, but in about three months had to return to the USA for my visa.  I was in the USA for three months, moving between my sister's house and my aunt and uncle's home.  Once back in London, I returned to my same home.  After three months, a coworker needed to return to Canada but wanted to keep her flat.  Her flat was much closer to work for me.  I moved from my room into her flat and stayed there until I also needed to return to the USA.  I was in the USA for six months, again moving between relatives' homes.

Now that I am back in London, I'm still at my friend's flat, and I'll be moving from here to another part of London.  That move with take place between January 15-31, depending on availability of the options I'm pursuing.  By then it will be the seventh time I've moved in London, not including two trips back to the USA.  Perhaps it's a good thing. All this moving has meant that after two years in London, I can still fit my belongings into four suitcases and three boxes!  (My flatmates are impressed and/or shocked that this is true!)

As I told a co-worker the other day, I'm ready for a place to settle into, a place to call home for the next year.  I'm praying for that place to be apparent.  A friend sent me a little card a while ago and I came across it today as I cleaned and packed.  It's message is: "Trust in God's timing.  It's always right."  A much needed reminder.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:7

Hope in the Dark

"We know that Americans pity Africans," he told me.  "But sometimes I think Africans pity Americans."  

"How so," I asked him.

"Americans seem to expect that everything will be provided for them.  For us," he said, this ear of corn is a gift from God.  This evening's rain is a shower of mercy upon us.  This healthy breath is life-giving.  And maybe tomorrow we will not have such things, but our hearts are so full of God's provision."

-Excerpt from Hope in the Dark (Photography by Jeremy Coward with Reflections by Jena Lee)

Hope in the Dark is a beautiful book full of pictures of Africa, some heartbreaking and some full of memories for those of us who love Africa.  I read the comments above this morning.  It reminds me to pray for my brothers and sisters in Africa, those I know by name, and those I'll never meet.  It also reminds me to be more "African" in my thankfulness for God's provision.