A new love, a new evil

Spring in Vancouver has been an adventure so far! One thing I really appreciate about this city is that there are four distinct seasons. With the change of seasons come some changes in routine. For example, I’ve survived 24 days on a bike in Vancouver! Because I’m not registered for enough credits in Spring, I don’t have a bus pass for the months of May & June. How incredible that my friend who is away for the Summer, offered to lend me her bike! It has special memories - her mom used to ride it when she was about our age J It has a basket in front, and I’ve added a colourful bell that I’ve named Sunshine. Sometimes I chat to Sunshine; other times Sunshine has witnessed me laugh with glee as I speed downhill. I always used to say I enjoy cycling… downhill! Conversely, the up-hills have become an enemy to conquer. I notice the rise in difficulty with even the slightest incline.  And then when I get home I somehow have to get back up the stairs…What really helped was the day I discovered the gears! On Wednesday I decided to go grocery shopping by bike. I got home alive, although I would not go so far as to say safely. Note to self: remember a backpack next time! It will save you from overloading the front basket and endangering the steering. That’s a slightly exaggerated peek into life on a bike. I am truly grateful for it, for the fresh air, and the exercise.

Speaking of fresh air, I’ve spent a lot of time in our garden lately. I used to feel like a day of gardening would be such a waste of a day (which is why my mom was so surprised when she heard what I’d been doing.) I have a new appreciation of creation and matter and physical things since taking a few classes at Regent. These things matter! I actually really enjoyed a whole day outside. Most of it was weeding with one of my house mates. I’ve found that with this new-found appreciation of gardening comes a new evil: dandelions! Pretty and fun to blow - yes, but they will infest any patch of ground, and they’re so difficult to get rid of. If I ever decide to chop their heads off again before they open, I’ll take care to chuck them away carefully… I didn’t last time, and they opened anyway!

One more delight in this season is that it’s light out late. The sky eventually darkens just after 9pm. There is something poetic about summer days stretching on endlessly. There’s room to breathe deeply and sigh with content. It throws my bedtime a bit, making for very short “evenings,” but why not? I’ll take every minute of daylight nature offers.

all things real

I found a poem I wrote in August 2010... funny how you can write something, forget it, and then rediscover it with delight :)

all things real

 

the strings of faith connect the possible with impossibility on the guitar of life.

every strum produces a striking ineffable sound that resonates within the dreamer,

but the most daring dreams don’t scratch the surface of destiny.

how could one know the most intricate detail that is sown into every day?

 

the artist’s strokes depict beauty, but inevitably omit a myriad of detail:

life teeming below crystal waters, every colour a fractal, a story,

great adventure behind still scenic mountains.

 

beyond the realm of all things natural

the call of the crowned one beats a riveting rhythm that cannot be silenced.

fierce desire surpasses emotion and covers shame.

 

a little child brings a lifeless sparrow, a cold body in warm hands,

tears to punctuate the sad expression.

so it feels to approach the Great One, any offering a simple worthless whisper,

any monument a distant memory and shameful.

 

but a father is concerned with small joys and sorrows.

he places the bird to the side and reaches to pick up the child.

Warmth and comfort ensue. Being and belonging.

Present reality transformed into beauty and fullness and hope and life

and far more than can be imagined by a little sparrow in the warm hands of love.