happy st. patrick's day (it was)

For St. Patrick's Day, we took a church family trip to Tullymoore Park, near Newcastle for the day. We invited some Romanian children to come along, and had such a fun time having a (chilly) picnic, walking through the woods, crossing rivers, and eating ice cream on the beach.

-Now doesn't this look straight out of Lord of the Rings?? (For your LOTR nerds: the scene in the beginning of the Fellowship of the Ring, where a growing threat is described.)

-Green moss-covered tree trunks that looked like giant monster feet.

-Delicate green clovers looking all festive for St. Paddy's Day. I picked one for my niece.

-The old castle tunnel to the park. As soon as you entered it, you were hit with the cold preserved by stone and history.

-Watching a child see the ocean for the first time.

life's a beach

I was in Newcastle this past weekend for our annual youth weekend at Greenhill. I was last there 4 years ago, and it felt very full-circle to be there again.

-Canoeing with the young people with intense wind blowing against us, creating waves on the normally placid lake. It took serious effort to make it to the island that was our goal, but the constant cheering of the kids and shouting of "paddle, paddle, paddle!" kept us all going. I also learned a lot from the experience: when you looked out on the turbulent water with waves working against you, you lost momentum and became a bit overwhelmed, and then the waves began to take you where you didn't want to go. But, when you just focused on the grueling but constant rhythym of rowing, looking only at the wee bit of water you were trying to push behind you with each stroke, it became possible, bit by bit, to go foward. As we say in seminary, "that'll preach!"

-Talking to the young people about mission, and watching as they began to talk to each other about it and what fears keep them from doing mission every day. For a moment, we as leaders were able to step back to let them teach one another, with the younger ones raising questions and the older ones passing on their wisdom.

-The enthusiasm of a smiley, awkward, hyper teenage boy.

-Walking on the beach and looking out at the grey-blue sea.

-Kids and leaders alike letting go of their emotions for a bit, and during the weekend letting whatever's been building up inside of them spill out, leaving them vulnerable, but closer to healing and more a community. There's something miraculous about youth retreats that can tap into the deep "stuff" that every day busyness tries to ignore. It really is a time to grieve, to laugh, to sing, to share and to feel deeply.

-Collecting smooth, well-travelled blue, green and white glass on the beach and putting it with glass I've found on beaches in the past.

-Cleaning my room and sleeping better for it. It was the first night I've been able to crack my window, letting in a refreshing but not freezing breeze to lull me to sleep.

the sky is falling!

-Going to an interfaith dialogue forum, and being introduced to the man speaking about extremism in Christianity. He was told that I was a Presbyterian minister, and asked which seminary I attended. I said Columbia, and his face lit up with recognition. Now, usually this happens because people assume it's affiliated with the university, but then I say it's in Georgia and they get a bit confused. When I told him it was in Georgia, he said, 'Oh yes, that's home to Walter Brueggemann and Kathleen O'Connor!' These are two wonderful professors at Columbia, and my face then lit up with the joy of a connection to a place that meant so much to me. We discussed everything from how to address issues of violence in scripture to how to teach rather than indoctrinate followers of our particular faith.

-Sitting in a quirky restaurant, reading a book by candlelight and sipping a rich glass of red wine.

-The man working below a construction site who said 'Watch your head!' seconds before a small piece of plaster fell beside him. He laughed and said, 'I should watch mine!'

this and that

-This post by Jessi.

-This song by Eliot Morris (All Things in Time).

-The words "thank you, friend" in an email from someone I really admire.

persistent peace

"To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as his reconciling community. This community, the church universal, is entrusted with God's message of reconciliation and shares his labor of healing the enmities which separate [people] from God and from each other. Christ has called the church to this mission and given it the gifts of the Holy Spirit...God's reconciliation in Jesus Christ is the ground of peace, justice, and freedom among nations which all powers of government are called to serve and defend. The church, in its own life, is called to practice the forgiveness of enemies and to commend to the nations as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace. This peace requires that the nations pursue fresh and responsible relations across every line of conflict, even at risk to national security, to reduce areas of strife and broaden international understanding." Confession of 1967

You may have heard Northern Ireland on the news recently. In Antrim (about 20 miles from Belfast), two British soldiers awaiting deployment to Afghanistan were killed by who claim to be the Real IRA, a dissident branch of the IRA who were responsible for the Omagh bombings and have consistently resisted the non-violent peace process. You can read about the shootings here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7931774.stm

First, I want to assure all of my American friends and family that I am, of course, safe. I am, as most everyone here is, deeply saddened and angered by such a blatant disregard for life and disregard for the monumental non-violent progress towards peace Northern Ireland has embraced. This event has made people here grip ever more tightly to the sometimes fragile bond of unity and peace and redouble their commitment to progress ushered in not by guns, cowardly ambushes and fear but by understanding, shared pain and healing and love. I pray for this place, for the families of those killed and for all who come to see violence as their only option, that God would bring secure peace, justice and comfort and "fresh and responsible relations" across this particular line of conflict.

oh happy day

-It's my sister's 30th birthday! I really wish I could be there, but I'm wishing her a perfect day. Happy Birthday, Sista!!

-Sitting on my couch in Belfast, watching American television and hearing a show play a song by Mark Geary, a singer/songwriter I heard live in a little place in Decatur, Georgia. I love when the past and present converge in a single moment.

-The privilege of telling children in the church during the kid's talk about how God provided manna for the people of Israel in the wilderness and how God loves each one of us the same and will always be with us to guide and care for us.

graffiti

-Cheery, drenched daffodils being sold at every flower shop I walked past. Even though the weather has turned cold again, they're a sure sign that spring isn't too far off.

-Visiting my old stomping ground (where I used to live here) and going to my favorite little cafe, Graffiti. Munching on homemade lemon coriander (that's cilantro to my fellow Americans) hummus with grilled ciabatta bread, reading a book and reminiscing about the last time I lived here was a fanstastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

-Walking home, I came across some positive graffiti. I love finding graffiti with a good message.

past & present

-While hovering around the kettle at my staff meeting at Heather's, she reached into the cupboard and said "Oh, Whitney, I've been meaning to give you this..." She handed me a hand-painted sunflower mug that I had made when I was here before. I hadn't been able to fit it in my suitcase home, and grieved its loss, but hoped future volunteers would enjoy it. She explained that it made its way to another volunteer house (which she owned) and that the woman renting it had heard her mention me and thought I might like it back. It was such a fond reminder of my past and a tangible connection in the present.

-A really captivating book I can't put down (The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama).

-The man on the bus who let me in front of him in the queue to get off and then laughed and supported me when the bus stopped rapidly and I was flung into him.

well hello there

-Sun breaking through clouds.

-A delicious lunch with Sheena of salty, creamy bacon, cheese and tomato quiche, delicate salad with tiny marinated mushrooms and a cappucino to finish it off.

-Calling Grandmother, getting the answering machine and feeling a bit disappointed, and then hearing her "hello??" over the machine as she picked up the phone.

a whozit, a whatzit and a skype

-A fun little cheeky Skype chat.

-Getting all the dishes washed and the kitchen cleaned before going to bed and shuffling in to a tidy kitchen to make coffee this morning.

-Dreaming I was in a worship service and waking up singing "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love" in my head.

-The Google search bar has gone all Dr. Seuss-y in honor of his birthday.

somewhere over the...

-Looking out of the window and seeing a double rainbow as the rain came in. At one point it was sunny from some windows of the house and raining through others.

-Making banoffee pie and "cleaning" the caramelized sweetened condensed milk out of the near-empty tin, savoring its rich, sweet flavor.

-Going to Lori's for dinner and enjoying great conversation, yummy food and wine and then all going to the QFT for a late movie.

rise and shine

-An older woman in the congregation telling me what life was like in Belfast during the second World War, with constant black-out (so bomber planes couldn't see lights below as targets). She talked about how they had to have black-out shades and no streetlights, and the day the lights came back on: "I felt like I was in a fairy world when all the lights came back on!"

-A really "on" night at my contemporary dance class. I felt like I really did my best.

-The warmth and light of a spring-like day.

playing catch up

-Exciting family news.

-A little girl punching the crosswalk button as she walked past it, to the scorn of her mother. By the time I reached it, I could cross right away.

-Little purple tulips magically appearing in our flowerbed.

-A busker in the middle of a busy shopping street belting out Johnny Cash tunes.

-Going to a dance class at the Grand Opera House led by Diversions, a Welsh contemporary dance company. They taught us some pieces they'll be performing tonight, and I will now fully appreciate the depth, skill and difficulty in them.

-A girl in my dance class inviting me for coffee, leading to a refreshing conversation about art, dance, feminism, Northern Ireland, housemates and more. We discovered that we share a love of the Queen's Film Theatre, and are planning to combine our brave-solo-movie-going habits and go together soon.

-Whistling as I walked.

-Texting my Dad to get pointers on making the perfect pot of beans and feeling like he was right there helping me. They were delicious (as were the jalapeno cornbread and spanish rice).

-A Sunday afternoon at home...the first in months. Veronika came over and we chatted, watched Sex & the City and had a lovely, relaxing time.

three's company (+ a dog)

Sorry I've been away for a few days...I have some more pictures to make up for it! My housemate Jonee is housesitting a lovely Irish farmhouse in Craigantlet, just a bit outside Belfast and near the beach. I took my friend Liz, and we all enjoyed a couple of days of watching movies, talking endlessly, relishing in a huge kitchen, walking on the beach with the amazing dog Casey and skipping stones in the Irish sea with such gusto that I was sore the next morning. I think the pictures convey the grace in this wee break. I hope you enjoy them. :) Whitney

(By the way--this is Casey's head as she dives in our game of "seaweed catch." She loved it.)

the dubliner

I impulsively decided to make the most of my Friday night off and take the bus to Dublin for a couple of days. I stayed last night in a little bed & breakfast, and spent my time exploring, reading, eating and I even went to a musical!

-Returning to Trinity College after a long time and feeling the immense history of the place--with Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde once calling it home and The Book of Kells calling it home now.

-A winding iron staircase in the library of Trinity College. (If anyone asks, I didn't take a picture in there!) I loved walking in and seeing stories of stories and smelling the musty, rich aroma of thousands of old books. Seeing the Book of Kells was absolutely amazing. I felt like Indiana Jones was going to bust in at any moment to uncover some secret passageway.

-The day before I went to Dublin, I looked up plays etc. in the area, but decided not to book anything so I would be more flexible. While wandering around Grafton Street, I came upon the Gaity Theatre--one I had been looking at online. Deciding it was fate, I bought a ticket to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and it was fantastic! I've taken classes on the Joseph narratives, done hours of translating and written several papers on his story, but nothing compares to the telling of it using Latin, Country-Western and 70's music, and yes, even Elvis. It was hilarious, poignant and all-in-all one of the most entertaining things I've seen in a while.

-The lights of Dublin at night reflecting off of the river.

-Those classic Irish lamp posts.

-The flame which burns continually, set inside a huge globe of chains, as a sign of hope for all who have suffered, especially children.

-The perfect combination.

-After being told by a local person that this bookstore/coffee shop was no longer here, I stumbled upon it, much to my surprise and delight. I remember resting our weary feet here when my family and I were trekking through Dublin, and was intent on finding it again.

-The bookstore part of the shop was the same, just a little smaller than before. There was still a quirky selection of old and new, amid innovative art, comfy chairs and regal chandeliers. The Winding Stair itself actually crumbled from old age it seems a few years ago. What was once a coffee shop above it has become a wonderful restaurant (keep reading, you'll see...)

-A very Glen Hansard-esque busker. I told him he reminded me of Glen, and he said he hears this often but "I had the beard first!" He was really talented.

-A beautiful door/sculpture along one of the main streets in the Temple Bar district. I'm really not sure what it is, but with the tree afixed to it, it looks like an elaborate entrance to some secret garden in the middle of the city.

-Going back to the Winding Stair for lunch and having what might just be my favorite meal ever: rich Irish beef and guiness stew with herby, creamy champ.

-Enjoying the view on my bus ride back to Belfast, and thinking I should take little trips like this way more often.

turn, ready, warm

-Running into lots of old friends at the coffee shop and catching up. It was fun to see Jeff again and talk about mutual friends and share the news that he's getting married and I'm a minister now. He commented on how our lives have both taken fortuitous turns since we last met.

-The moment right before a dance routine starts (5, 6, 7, 8), where I take a deep breath and get ready to move.

-Curling up on the couch with my hot water bottle, a big fleecy blanket and warm socks.

these are a few of my favorite things...

-Getting some very encouraging words at church today, on the heels of some less encouraging news. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has elected a new moderator: Rev. Stafford Carson, and he's against female ordination (and refused at one point to share the pulpit with a female minister from a neighbor church for a joint service). Today in the service, he was prayed for, as were "all women in ministry." I felt really loved and supported. Also, a woman came up to say that her young son thought I was "the coolest minister ever" because I played guitar and stayed up until 2am at Nightreach to give tea, soup and bacon sandwiches to students in the area. These words really uplifted me all day long.

-Hearing a steady drip-drip-drip from the window and looking up to see a huge sheet of ice dangling from the roof and melting slowly. A few minutes later, I heard a whoosh-thunk as the ice all tumbled down at once.

-Standing in the snow while having a happy conversation and letting snowflakes stay on my nose and eyelashes.

dancing in the snow (as opposed to singing in the rain)

-More and more snow. I loved the look of melting snow and ice on my window with a blue sky shining through, walking through the park with snow crunching beneath my feet and seeing everything blanketed in snow.

-Feeling inspired to play my guitar and playing some old camp favorites and texting Karen in the States to say that I was thinking of her. She texted back that she was playing some songs for a retreat and was thinking of me too.

-Dancing as back-up dancers at the youth karaoke night with Jo and laughing deep, joyful, belly laughs.

theresnow day like a snow day

-Talking to my sista on the phone.

-Waking up and noticing that my little ceiling window was a solid white glow. I got up to investigate and, sure enough, it was snowing! It's been snowing pretty much all morning now. There's something so peaceful about drinking a large mug of tea while watching snow flutter down. And having a morning meeting cancelled doesn't hurt either. ;)

-Tracy Chapman's "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" coming on my iPod. What a fantastic song.

(oh, and Melissa making this picture of me...hilarious!)

now that's better

-A brilliant sunset lighting up the usually grey skies over my street, making them burst with pinks, blues, yellows and purples.

-Fluffy large snowflakes swirling down and dancing with the direction of the wind. They were short-lived: now we're on to sleet, snow's grumpy and sloppy cousin.

-The satisfying crunch of movie popcorn.

love's demand

-Meeting up with my home pastor's daughter, Liz, for a late breakfast at St. George's. It was refreshing to catch up on her experience as a Young Adult Volunteer here, and share laughter over cultural oddities and funny encounters. It was so nice to meet up again and see a familiar face, so we're going to make it a habit.

-Getting a new candle and enjoying its light honeysuckle fragrance and warm pink glow.

-Seeing Godfrey and Margaret Sunday as Godfrey came to lead the morning service. It was a warm reunion, where Margaret rushed over to give me a hug during the passing of the peace. I really enjoyed hearing Godfrey's gentle and enthusiastic sermon--he always preaches good old-fashioned gospel. Sometimes you just need to hear that the core of Christianity is profoundly simple. Proclaiming that the gospel is a gift but not cheap, he said, "love is the most demanding experience in the world."