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!!).

home but not yet

i've been back in vancouver for a month and a half now. i find myself not knowing how to continue with this "away home" blog, thus the silence.

it's a little strange being back home. part of me still want to be travelling i guess. i get these emails about working opportunities in egypt or tanzania, or friends going to taize or botswana, and i dream of the possibilities of escaping away again.

i went on a little "retreat" last night while worshipping with others at afcvancouver. the experience took me back to the waves near our camp in mexico, the beach of iona, and the different star-gazing nights during my time away. i was reminded of this song, that "god will delight when we are creators of justice & joy", and i realized then that my journey home is far from being over. what an honour & privilege it is to be given the role of a co-creator for things of this earth and for what is to come.

may your kingdom come. may your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

you know the way that is mine

while riding the train or walking the streets of cape town, i often find myself humming these two songs i learned over the summer. there's one that i posted before from iona, and then there's this song of taize. the words apparently are from the journal of Bonhoeffer two weeks before his execution.




Gott, lass meine Gedanken sich sammeln zu dir.
Bei dir ist das Licht, du vergisst mich nicht.
Bei dir ist die Hilfe, bei dir ist die Geduld.
Ich verstehe deine Wege nicht,
aber du weisst den Weg fur mich.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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

promise of a blessing

dad started buying himself birthday presents in recent years. i wonder if that's because we haven't been buying him any. hahahaa...

rather than over analyzing that particular situation, i decided to follow my dads great example and bought myself an internet phone card today so i could be connected to "the world" through france telecom. trust me, with the simplicity of life at taize, checking emails become a luxury. internet minutes is costing me 10x that of paris. i think they did it just so we would spend more time in silence & meditation!

in the past two weeks of my own reflections, the themes of god's love & his promise of a blessing (from studies in genesis) were especially strong. somehow when you've realized that god loves all of humanity with an everlasting love, you feel the freedom to love more in action and to embrace life more fully. that's what i've been learning.

people here are super nice, so it's not all that hard to show love in action. what are the 5 languages of love again? well, i don't really remember, but i am learning to share simple gifts, to listen attentively, and to learn other languages at this community of international souljourners.

and as i look back on my journey thus far, i am thankful to be a living witness of a blessed life. yes, that's my summary statement for being 28! and this my friend is my gift back to you: i think of you when i count my blessings!! hahaahaaa... :D