Sabbath.

This is something that I see the need for, yet seem to be too busy to actually put into action. But this past Sunday I was encouraged to take a Sabbath. So needless to say, I took a Sabbath and was enlightened and encouraged to keep this practice up.

My idea of what a Sabbath is:

• taking time to slow down and enjoy the simple joys of life that God has given us
  
• hand writing letters to friends and family and telling them how precious they are
• spending time with a good friend and taking the day to catch up
• inviting friends over and having a 4 hour meal like the good old days

What I chose to do was go on a stroll around Seattle with my friend Monica. We took time to see the beauty of nature that we normally would easily pass over.

I also went to the Statue Park and took in the beautiful scenery and artwork.
There is something absolutely beautiful about trash.

Especially when that trash is used to create something beautiful. When it is taken and recreated from ashes to beauty. Even when it is seen as something ugly it is wonderful to have the eyes that can see the beauty in this. To take the old and see something new. As humanity, we must learn to do this with each other.

Buddhist Temples and Haircuts.

What an interesting combination of words that are placed together like puzzle pieces to make up the phrase for this title. Yes, I did go to a Buddhist temple today because it is on the way to my hairdresser's house.

This grand looking temple waiting for a girl who has a heart for the broken world to step on the earth outside of it. As she left the car and slowly strode on the dusty gravel toward the temple, her breath was taken aback.

Marble has a stillness and silence about it.

They had a deep serene beauty about them that could not be placed in words very easily. Their sculptors had worked day in and day out to created this grand beauty. Working intimately with this one statue to portray the message they are working so strong to convey. That is why I like to stand in awe of this creation as long as I can to catch every detail. Every last cut.


As a Christian, I see God's image in humanity. I think of how beautiful these statues are and how even more grand humanity is. The individuals who not only are God's workmanship, but are alive and not just some stone statue. Just think of how intimate a stone cutter worked on each of his statues. These could take years or decades to complete. Think now how much more grand and beautiful we are.

I almost can see God looking down at us saying: "And you thought statues were beautiful!?! Look at yourselves, look at how I have created each of you." I can see it now, as He is looking down at each of us smiling His large proud father smile :) Let that settle in. Not just for a little while, but cling to it as you walk through your life.



On a lesser note, I also got my haircut. I have been long awaiting this moment (Ok, for over a year). I have been wanting to do Locks of Love and give my lovely long locks to a child that has cancer. Since my hair has become known as 'the hippie hair' I thought it was about time to do the snip snipping.
It was quite terrifying at first. With 12 inches of hair dangling from my hand. Realizing I had never had my hair this short except when I was born. But I realized how light my head felt. Now I can actually run my marathons without having heavy hair pull down my head. So that is why guys have short hair. They actually realize how liberating it is to keep it short.
So that was my quaint day. Of Buddhist temples, God's love again revealed, and a short haircut.

Gasmask workday

Throughout my life I have kept long list of things that I am planning on doing before I die. This list consists of mostly random adventures that most people have not even consider doing in their lifetime. However, there are a few that can be an everyday encounter that I have still not accomplished. For instance, here is a few on my list:

• Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
• Climb Mt. Rainer. I am constantly glancing at the beauty of the mountain, yet time and time again I take its beauty for granted.
• Skydive, get my scuba license, learn how to sail and learn another country's dance (Salsa anyone).
• Go back to India and travel it by train to the North and Kerala.

There is also a few that I have accomplished already yet had never planned on having them on the list:

• Go to another country on another continent (India) and teach English.
• Ride a camel (in Hyderabad).
• Get adopted into a Gypsy tribe (a Banjarah Gypsy tribe from India).

And then today I was able to cross one more off the list of accomplishments. This one is quite random and was never really on the list but it should and will be.

Today I wore a gas mask at work. We used it when we were cleaning out showers because the chemicals were too strong.

Now gas masks actually creep me out a lot. They have this life-less air about them. It is almost dehumanizing. Yet, it shows how human we are. We need to depend on something because of the nasty chemicals we choose to use can easily kill us. So many people around the world have to depend on them because they know they cannot trust those around them or those around the world that are trying to hurt them. What a unsettling concept.

Still they know this will save their lives.

If I ever had to wear one again I would choose to wear this one:
so when I looked in the mirror I would not scare myself half to death.