to see

a window at shove chapel.

a place my eyes would

often alight during worship.

strength and grace, a portal

of light. solid stone arches,

and delicately stained glass

an unlikely pair perhaps.

let my life be filled

with such portals. may

the One who is Light dwell

in me so that i can see.

dependency

i didn't go to work today. i have a cold which is "not that bad", or so i keep repeating to myself and those nearby. however, its bad enough that i'm dependent upon a tissue box. scott called to see if i needed anything, and of all the things in the world i could have requested...another box of tissues was the only thing desired. if the distance of a room separates me from this new best friend of mine, my eye starts to tear and before i can run across the room, my nose has proceeded to drip to my chin! so now the box goes with me from room to room, and i feel a sense of comfort looking at the full white box sitting to my right. a clean white piece of paper made to feel soft as cloth sits poised, dependable and ready to meet my need. kira and i have oft admired the benefits of cloth napkins and the beauty of a dainty handkerchief over a disposable napkin or tissue. however, as ideal as a handkerchief appears for catching tears, i prefer my nasal drops to fall into this 2 layered square which i neither keep nor wash but simply dispose of and forget. truly a fair-weather friend am i in this highly conditional relationship, but since the weather has me under i feel quite attached and fond of the ever faithful kleenex.

new sketches

two years later and ever the optimist, i'm beginning again. a single blog entry in 2006 just before leaving japan remained alone until today. the words of friends motivated me to enter this world of blogging. so thanks to you, here i am again in 2008. like a new year, or new day perhaps, turning a page in the age calendar renewed that feeling that the slate awaits. and what does it await? erasing and new sketches. perhaps this metaphor seems obvious to me because i employ it daily. my students often clamor, "can i erase the board?" and then, "can i write (insert subject of your choice) on the board?" so everyday there is an abudance of erasing and new sketches, and every friday i delight in cleaning it so that the white looks new, and pens of all colors line the tray....the whiteboard is now fresh for the marking.