What?!

Does anyone else understand this?!






It looks like an accident waiting to happen. The images that come to mind are simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. Imagine a room full of hungry Kindergartners hooked up to these things. What would happen if there was a fire drill?

Lest you think I am squandering my free time with foolishness such as cakes and foot pillows, be assured I am actually doing important things these days. I am reading through Isaiah, making a great effort to be deliberate about being a better mother, wife, friend, and daughter, and attempting to order my classroom in such a way as to not be a burden on the teacher who will be covering my maternity leave. Corey and I have been apart for two weeks now and it has been very difficult for both of us to say the least.

Over and over the pictures of destruction in Isaiah have reminded me that God does not see suffering the way we see it. It is difficult to think that the thing I want most may not be best for me and that ultimately the Lord works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Sometimes what He seems to think is best is not the most immediately pleasing to me. I know that some of the destruction described in Isaiah is God's wrath, but there is none of that for me! Correction, sure, but not wrath. Yesterday, we had a brief summer shower and we let Ezra run around and play in the rain. So much good in God's creation. So much I never did anything to deserve. We laughed and laughed. I cannot describe to you how beautiful it was.

Leann

Maundering

This week my 3rd graders are learning to draw cylinders via the art of Wayne Thiebaud. I have never tried this project before, but, as always, it is turning out to be quite complicated. Maybe it's not the project that's complicated. At least, not inherently. Last year one of the 5th grade teachers told me her students thought art was hard. "She, like, actually makes us do work." Indeed.

All this talk of cakes and such has gotten me thinking about Bogie's Delicatessen in Memphis. In New York, it took an hour to get to anything exciting. Suddenly a 3.5 hour drive to Memphis doesn't seem unreasonable. Especially when the reward is a big exciting chunk of hummingbird cake.

Image: Ciara N., Yelp.com

--L

John Smith

In the ressurection, I think it likely God will rename us. He's known to have done that. I wonder if we'll all have a different name to reflect the truth that he cares for each of us. But then I think about my social security number. Each of us have been given a different number, but this does not necessarily mean that the SSA cares for each of us. Then I think of twins and how they are two people. What makes them distinct souls to God?

Maybe I should go for a walk. Perhaps the East River would enjoy my company for a few minutes.

-C