I smell like that beautiful breakfast invention, the Ulster Fry. For those of you who’ve not had the privilege of eating one, I’ll describe it: egg, baked beans, sausage, bacon, potato farl, soda bread, all lovingly fried in oil, eaten with salt, pepper, HP sauce and maybe red sauce. It might be single-handedly responsible for the high rate of heart disease here, but it is tasty! Once a week I go to the Kairos Center and help make and serve up this meal to a group of lovely alcoholics. I’ve been doing this for about 8 months and am enjoying myself (and the guys) more and more. That’s what I was up to this morning and I’m going to smell like it until I shower. Boo to that part. But yeah to a great morning.
I’ve been thinking this morning about Martha and Mary. God has ignited my heart and pulled me deeper into himself, revealing more of himself to me, and there is nothing I’ve ever experienced that has been so good. So life-giving. I was sharing a bit of that this morning with a friend and they seemed caught up in the “what has God told you to do?” and disappointed with my answer of “be with him more and more – seek after his face and be obedient”. That bummed me out, I won’t lie. But I came home more committed than ever to be Mary - to look at Jesus’ face, to stop and listen when he talks, to choose him over making sandwiches he didn’t order. I believe that knowing God – looking at his face in all the ways he shows it, inviting Him to know me, learning appropriate postures before Him – that is what will make me able to do what I see the Father doing and speak what He is speaking. And THAT is what Jesus’ life was all about. Besides, it’s like the most enjoyable thing ever. EVER. I’m exploding because i can’t take it all in. I pray that blessing over you, too.
I was going to put a pretty picture of this book I’m reading right now, but can’t figure out how to do it. So I’ll just write the title, which is less eye-catching than a pic, but useful anyway. It’s called Face to Face with God, by Bill Johnson. I think a good bit of the power in books are when you read the right one at the right time. So if you’re struck with a fancy, get a copy and read it. I’d definitely recommend it!
I’ve started my class again, though it’s not at the school anymore and only on Wednesdays. But it’s the same crowd meeting in a little one-room church building in Maghera, nicely located across the corner from my favorite pub. I know – sweet, isn’t it. I’m delving more into dress-making right now. I do have some chairs to recover, but that will come a bit later. I need to redo the frames first and there’s not enough room (or air circulation) in that wee place to do it. So it’s clothing for now. I’m thoroughly enjoying it! And the company is as great as ever. I love sewing with people around though I’m a really focused worker compared to the lot of them.
Other than that, there’s not much new stuff going on. We’re nicely in a schedule now, which feels so great after the inconsistency of summer. We’re doing a Treasure Hunt tomorrow afternoon, which is a bit out of the ordinary. And we’re still having a great time. I won’t keep rambling on and on about it. But we’re so glad to be here and be able to play this particular part in what God’s doing in the world. He’s on the move! And I’ll leave you with that thought.
(I know pictureless posts are way less fun to read. I’ll try *again* to get the camera out and let you see a bit of life, too, soon.)
