Through the Shadowlands . . . and back again

Time Flies . . .

and if you're not careful, you'll miss out on life's greatest moments.

Okay, okay, a bit sappy, but I figured I needed something approaching the profound as the opening sentence of my first post in almost two months. I've been lurking. Keeping busy with work, visiting friends, sprucing up my new apartment, and generally no longer having easy access to the internet.

So much has happened. I was fortunate enough to miss having to blog on the rise and fall of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers (was that just a few weeks ago??). Others, namely Charles Krauthammer, said it so much better than I ever could, what was the point of mediocre repetition. And now we have the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito. A better judge would be hard to find. But it's going to be an uphill struggle to get him confirmed.

My mom and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving together. And for that I am truly grateful. Nothing better than spending time with loved ones and taking a moment to appreciate the important things in life.

We saw Walk the Line, the new semi-biographical depiction of Johnny Cash. True confessions? Before seeing the movie, I remember having heard "A Boy Named Sue" and could tell you that he was known as "The Man in Black," but that's about all. The movie was one of the best I've seen in a while. A mere fraction of the heartbreak that must have occurred in the real events is depicted, but to good form. And, it turns out, he really did turn his life around and commit to walk with the Lord, warts and all. So my latest mini-obsession has been following up on his life and music. Autobiographies are always somewhat biased, but he didn't seem to gloss over the life he once lived, and for that I am impressed. His style of singing isn't my favorite in the world, but there's something in the lyrics that sure do resonate. Even for someone who has only been in a police station once, to be fingerprinted for the bar exam! :-)

I'm mid-way through the book Memoirs of a Geisha, and hope to finish it before seeing the film. That shouldn't be a problem because I've no one to see it with, and so it will be a while! The book is good thus far. Very informative of a culture about which I know next to nothing.

And, in closing for this Friday morning post, it's that time of year when Christmas carols take over your listening pleasure and control the mind if you're not careful. I've already heard Feliz Navidad and Little Drummer Boy enough times to last the rest of the decade, but I do not wish to focus on the negative. Here's a bit of joy from my two favorite carols of all time.

O Holy Night
O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Til He appeared, and the sould felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh, night divine! Oh, night when Christ was born!
Oh, night divine! Oh, night! Oh, night divine!

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praice His holy name.
Christ is the Lord that ever, ever praise we.
Noel! Noel! Oh, night, oh night divine!
Noel! Noel! Oh, night, oh, night divine!

___
and, from an even older lyric:

O Come O Come Emanuel

O Come, O Come Emanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emanuel shal come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And deaths' dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

___

Admittedly, I only included my favorite verses of each, but since this is my blog, I will take the liberty. Until the next post, I remain firmly embedded under His mercy. As do you.

posted by shadowlands7 @ 6:33:00 AM