memories of iona

a place at the table
shirley erena murray

For everyone born, a place at the table
For everyone born, clean water and bread
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing
For everyone born, a star overhead

(refrain)
And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice
Justice and joy!


For woman and man, a place at the table
Revising the roles, deciding the share
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power
For woman and man, a system that’s fair

For young and for old, a place at the table
A voice to be heard, a part in the song
The hands for a child in hands kind and wrinkled
For young and for old, the right to belong

For just and unjust, a place at the table
Abuser, abused, with need to forgive
In anger, in hurt, a mind-set for mercy
For just and unjust, a new way to live

For everyone born, a place at the table
To live without fear, and simply to be
To work, to speak out, to witness and worship
For everyone born, the right to be free

wagamama

i've had so much bread & western food this past month that it was quite refreshing to have a bowl or two of noodles here in london. last night, i headed over to chinatown for a bowl of BBQ duck noodle soup, with "lai fun". and today, thanks to the suggestion of annie, i stopped at wagamama for a bowl of miso ramen. actually, i substituted it with udon, cuz that's still my favorite noodle!!

eating noodle soups made me miss home.

i was reminded of a conversation i had with tien while reading the menu at wagamama. it says: "we use disposable chopsticks made from bamboo, a readily renewable resource, so damage to the environment is minimal." hahaa...

taize pics

there are many more pictures that i could post, but i'm limiting myself to just 12... similar to what the 12 stars on the eu flag represent i guess. :D

taize continues

i’m back in paris again! the simple breakfast provided by the hostel was almost exactly the same as what we got at taize each morning: bread, chocolate and a cup of tea. this morning after some “washing up”, i found myself heading towards the church to gather with the five thousands. on my way there, i was singing the different taize songs, and i was reminded again of the message of love, peace and hope. at the church, the cameras are still flashing at all the novelties that one could capture. only this time, the church was notre dame and not the community church. after three weeks, i must stay that i’m much more at peace in worshipping among tourists. it was yet another prayer & worship in a foreign language, but somehow my heart was there, connecting with others in spirit in that midday mass. the lighting of the candle, the breaking of bread, and the words sung in latin were but a few suggestions that i’m still with others at taize.

i miss that place (and the people there, of course!!).