photo a day: love

Love.

In my childhood, my pastor kept a picture of Jesus standing at the door and knocking in his office.  Each year he would bring it out during a children's sermon and ask us what was wrong with the picture.  The door had no handle.  Every year he would remind us that we must open the door from the inside. 

I've always wanted this same picture to hang in my office, but I don't like the tacky Americana version that is often for sale at garage sales - I wanted an icon of the scene.  For years I have searched for an icon representing this verse in the Byzantine style to no avail.  My friend's classmate is married to an icon painter, though ... so I finally decided that it was worth it to me to commission such an icon.  

It's one of the most beautiful icons I've ever scene, and it has so much meaning to me - and it is something that will hang in my office for the rest of my life to remind me of God's great love and patience.  

photo a day: evil

Evil.

This is the worst pizza I've ever had.  I don't get to treat myself to a comfort food so very often, and I almost never just get a pepperoni pizza.  The name of the long peppers on this pizza are "papperoni" peppers in Ukrainian.  I ordered a pepperoni pizza - and this monstrosity is what I got!  I think that in life we tend not to encounter tremendous evils so very often.  We who have enough tend to sidestep those as often as we can.  But, as for me I am confronted by the last dregs of evil in my heart when a simple thing is destroyed.  I waited in line for twenty minutes to pay a utility bill last week.  I only have one day that I am free and that the bank is open.  After twenty minutes, I stepped up to the window - and as she looked into my eyes she smiled and dropped the back in 10 minutes sign.  I asked how long her break would be and she said, "I'll be back in two hours.  Phrases in Russian flooded my mind that I haven't heard or thought of since my days as a high school boy.  In the end I was able to recapture some composure and leave with only a mild temper tantrum (although everyone at the butcher shop agreed that I should have broken the glass and caused a riot when I relayed the story to them - I use a rather lively butcher with a rather diverse clientele.)  It's the small things that remind me most of evil. 

photo a day: wonder

Wonder.

I was shopping at a second hand store a few weeks ago, and I stumbled upon a big collection of books in English.  I found four books by my favorite childhood author.  I own all of these books back in the states, but because of shipping costs I didn't bring them to Ukraine - I have missed these wonderful books and am so thankful to have them.  It is rare to find a good book in English here, it is even rarer to find one that you know, and it is rarest of all to pay a small price.  I paid less than $3 for all of these books and more.  

Wonder.  

Photo a day - world

world

The youth group from a church in Ohio sent our student leaders a box full of gifts.  They handmade each girl a blanket, and sent lots of other great gifts.  It reminds me how small the world is, that young people can share together in ministry and see the results.  It's a great thing. 

world. 

photo-a-day settle

Settle

Home is wherever there is you.  I really struggled with the word "settle" because I couldn't take the negative implications away.  I kept thinking of settling for something less than the best.  When I look around my apartment (less clean than it should be!) I am reminded of the choice to settle in a different country - to find and love a new homeland.  This is an old soviet "house-phone" (домофон?) on a building near our temporary student center.  I love how each button is worn down by decades of house-guests and friends visiting.  I am reminded of all those who have found shelter in my homes over the years - of my little cottage in Toccoa where so many found a home at least for a few nights - and how I can live more fully in the apartment God has provided for me here in Lviv.  

Settle. 

photo a day - injustice

Injustice.

A heavy layer of dust often covers everything after a tragedy.  This is true of fires, floods, war, and every tragedy that affects people.  When you meet a person who has survived a personal tragedy - drugs, divorce, prison, etc. - we often fail to see beyond the thick layer of dust.  This is one of the greatest injustices in the world.  As a church, the greatest gift we could give to the world, would be for us to gain the ability to look past outward appearances, foul language, smoking, and other layers of dust to see the wonderful gift of God that each person represents.  How many people have come into our buildings only to be rejected by our churches?  I'm increasingly convinced that it is time for our churches to reject our buildings instead.  

Photo a day - See

See. 

I promise that I won't post a picture of my pets every day.  I'm such a lame old person these days.  This is Mefodyi trying to steal my pizza.  I love his eyes, and I sometimes think about how he sees the world.  Sometimes it seems that cats feel they exist to be worshiped.  They are primarily selfish and unfeeling beasts.  Mefodyi is the first thing I see every morning when I wake up and every evening when I come home.  We all see the world in different ways - and often we see them through the eyes of selfish and unfeeling beasts.  

  

Photos a day - return

Return.

Although a thick layer of ice covers each branch, these birds were still convinced that it was time to return.  Sometimes our heart and our gut just know that it is time to return even though all the signs point to staying in safety.  The day after this picture was taken, all of the snow and ice melted.  

Photo a day - Who am I?

The United Methodist church is encouraging people to upload a photo a day for the Lenten period.  They have provided a list of words to use as a guiding theme.  I'm a little bit apprehensive about this project.  Giving something up is easy for me - taking on another project is much more of a challenge.  I'm not exactly a photographer.  Also, this is exactly my Lent.  I don't know when my Lent is.  Because I live in Ukraine, the dates don't always line up.  I'm going to do this photo project on the dates listed because I would get much too confused doing it any other way.  

The theme for today is "Who am I?"  I hope other people post an artsy, dramatic photo - but I just wanted to post this simple picture (God knows there will be enough artsy shots of a 'black and white photo of a pool chair casting a shadow' to qualify me as a real photographer) of  me and my rescue pup.  Masik is an older dog who lost a paw when he was hit by a car.  He's really quite and gentle and he is happy most always.  

Who am I?  I'm a missionary in Lviv, Ukraine.  I have a degree in Ethnology.  I wear flip-flops as long as I possibly can.  I love hugs and I laugh too loud sometimes.  I teach at a University named after the rebel/socialist/nationalist/hero who was kicked out of it for being a rebel/socialist/nationalist/hero.  I translate poetry from Ukrainian into English.  I would eat sushi for every meal if it was socially acceptable and financially practical.  I'm a disciple of Jesus who learns slowly over time.  I save up all of my fear until the time when I really need to be afraid.  I am a student pastor not currently under appointment in my home conference and appointed but not a student pastor in my adopted conference (I seriously don't know if I am clergy or lay at this point).  I am more than my failures and less than my accomplishments.  I am happy.   

Wordless Wednesday

I finally bought a connector so I can upload photos.  So - welcome back to Wordless Wednesdays.

Erika, Andriy, baby Marta, and a giant bowl of Kutya - traditional Christmas porridge.