March 31

 

If she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation: that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack, and Death itself would start working backward.

 

- CS Lewis

 

Easter began at 5 am, in the dark. With coffee and candles, we read through the story of the beginning of time, accounts of prophets, acts of faith, and the sacrifice that atoned for every instance of evil that happened since then and forever after. As the sun came up and filtered through the stained glass, we blew out our candles - how much brighter, more full is the light that is given freely to us - and raised our voices, our bells, our thanksgiving in celebration of the knowledge that He is risen. He is risen indeed.

 

It is now 9. More coffee, breakfast, and mimosas. And a glorious day.

 

 

Markus and I took a stroll down the waterfront park and reveled in real-life warm weather and the first ice-coffees of the year...before a lamb roast and mashed potatoes dinner brought to the masses by Michael Frank, chef extraordinaire. Of course. And for all these things I was - am - very thankful.

 

 

He is the handsomest.

February 28

 

Today is the collegiate day of prayer. People huddled outside in the rain praying blessing on this campus, these students, this country, this world. There was music and coffee. It was rather beautiful.

February 26

 

I walk by this little concrete square every day. And every day it's a reminder of what this day is about. If there is any name that puts things in perspective, it is this name.

February 13

From the Book of Common Prayer:

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.


Silence is then kept for a time, all kneeling.

If ashes are to be imposed, the Celebrant says the following prayer:


Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.


The ashes are imposed with the following words:

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

* * *

 

And so begins the Lenten season.

January 23

My mom gave me tulips before she left for warmer climates and I get a tingle of satisfaction and glee every time I look at them because they are perfect. I also feel a pang of sadness because I miss my mom already.

But they serve as a small reminder of God's absolute attention to detail - down to shaded petals, curled leaves, and the mutual compliment soft pinks and greens grant each other. I don't think my mom and dad's safety, strength, and happiness will be overlooked.