Bursting

Y'all. It is 11:30pm, and I only know that because I just looked at the clock. I am in MESMERIZED mode.

It's paper writing time at school, which can be overwhelming just to jump into. After weeks and many, many pitchings of paper topics, I finally landed on writing about 2 women who received many visions of God back in 14th century England. I came to this because a mentor told me that considering some things I am working out with God, a next step for growth might come from reading the mystics.

A few days ago, I finished reading the book dictated by Margery Kempe. I have to say, I'm not exactly sure if she was the best fit for me. She does have plenty of valid experiences, and I did glean several things from her-- mostly for the paper. But in terms of personal application, I found myself laughing (sorry, Marge) at her, and for good reason! [Warning: this is an unfair splice from the readings. Most of it is serious, but I couldn't help sharing this with you.] So Margery convinces her husband to live a chaste life after giving him 14 children. (Whew!) Six months into the deal, he poses this hypothetical situation. The following is fairly verbatim... "Husband: Margery, say there were to be a guy with a sword to my neck, threatening to decapitate me unless you sleep with me. Would you do it? Margery: Regretfully, I could not! I could not bear the uncleanness." Living with a man who loves "would you rather" scenarios, this one had us cracking up!

But today I began Julian of Norwich. I love her already, and I am only a few pages in. She is very thoughtful. It was 20 years between the time she received her visions and this recording of them with her theological insight. I've shared some tidbits on Facebook with you, but I have to share this prayer of hers with you.

"God of goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me. I can ask for nothing less that is completely to your honor, and if I do ask anything less, I shall always be in want. Only in you I have all."

This is perhaps my favorite so far, which I shared on FB:

"God wills to be known, and it pleases him that we rest in him, because nothing less than he can satisfy us."

I can't say I am excited to write the paper, but I am certainly enjoying the research. I hope this blesses you today!

Three Cups of Tea

I have been ever so slowly working my way through the books that have been on the right hand side of this page for an embarrassingly extended period of... ehem... months. I finally made it to the finale of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson this week. It is an eye and a heart opener. (not unlike many yoga poses I'm learning are hip openers-- ow!)

The conditions of the Middle Eastern countries are something I am grappling with from as many angles as I can get a hold of. Iran's recent elections, Afghanistan's literature, Turkey's cultural developments-- all have captivated my interest. Why? Why is a great question. Um..(I am really thinking hard about this here)... well there's a lot of reasons. This may sound corny, but I hope it doesn't. I feel an overwhelming love for those who are lost spiritually, for the suffering and hunger and displacement of those in the region, and a supernatural need to pray for Jesus to be known there.

Back to the book-- Greg Mortenson is a mountaineer that found himself lost on his way back from hiking K2 in Pakistan and landed among the Balti tribe. He promised them help when he returned to the States and bought them the materials so they could build themselves a school. That was the first. Now his organization, the Central Asia Institute (CAI), is around the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, providing education to those who otherwise would find it inaccessible, especially girls. The book provides many dialogues about the power of education, its political and health care influences on entire nations of the underprivileged. He especially discusses how the schools are able to combat the powerful madrassas in the region that are churning out young jihadis. I encourage you to read this and grow in love with the region as I have. I believe that we have the opportunity through prayer to be a part in seeing the Kingdom come to these unreached areas.

Here are a few pictures from CAI's website of the students in the schools there. I ask that you would take the time to ponder a few things as you look at them:

1. Do the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan look, in terms of appearance, as you would expect them to?

2. Can you tell the age of the children? Do they appear similar to your own?

3. Please pray for them as you look at their faces-- that God would call them to himself, that they would grow in knowledge and understanding, and that they would be instruments of peace in their nation.

God's peace.