So I've been told that (THEY say) that if I link to this site I can win a free bike... So I'm doing it... Click through and help me win an amazing bike, to drive around while I'm going to law school - help me be carless... =)

Laugh-out-loud...

Two things made me laugh today (well, probably more than that...) But these two...

The first is called "There, I fixed it..." a perfect storm of ingenuity, do-it-yourselfness, and an occasional cavalier disregard for things like basic laws of physics. You will find things like this "Spare Tire" there.

My absolute favorite is the "Alarm will sound... Really?"

The second is blog of a friend's sister - it chronicles, in her own words, "the joys of working at an online home school." Possibly it's a means to maintain her sanity, but it's funny, and her comments are pitch-perfect.

You're welcome for sharing...

The Call of the Rain...

"Water is always an invitation to imersion [for me], an immersion with a quality of totality, since it would accept all of me, as I am. Some primal urge invites me to return whence I came.

At times I have done so. There is some special delight in simply walking into a stream, stepping into a lake. The child's delight in a puddle is my adult's in the sea...

No rain falls that I do not at once hear in the sound of the falling water an invitation to come to the wedding. It is rare that I do not answer. A walk in an evening rain in any setting is to walk in the midst of God's loving attention to his earth, and, like a baptism, is no simple washing, but a communication of life. When you hurry in out of the rain, I hurry out into it, for it is a sign that all is well, that God loves, that good is to follow. If suffering a doubt, I find myself looking to rain as a good omen. And in rain, I always hear singing, wordless chant rising and falling.

When rain turns to ice and snow I declare a holiday. I could as easily resist as stay at a desk with a parade going by in the street below. I cannot hide the delight that then possesses my heart. Only God could have surprised rain with such a change of dress as ice and snow...

Most people love rain, water. Snow charms all young hearts. Only when you get older and bones begin to feel dampness, when snow becomes a traffic problem and a burden in the driveway, when wet means dirt - then the poetry takes flight and God's love play is not noted.

But I am still a child and have no desire to take on the ways of death. I shall continue to heed water's invitation, the call of the rain. We are in love and lovers are a little mad."

~ Matthew Kelty, Flute Solo,

Reflections of a Trappist Hermit, pp. 117-19

-----

Last week, I woke to thunder and lightning. As I sat at the table and watched the rain gush in sheets down the big picture window, I was reminded of the above quote. I came across it several years ago in Don Poestma's wonderful book, Space for God, and since then it has been a reminder for me of the joy of water, of life, of finding God in all things.

That afternoon as the sky darkened, my brother and I prepared for a short bike ride - cooling off on a ride to the house we lived in ten years ago, just a couple of miles away. As we were pulling the bikes out of the garage, it started to sprinkle just a bit. I glanced at Jon with a wondering look, and he grinned back - of course he was still up for it.

So off we went... Something about bike riding makes me feel like a kid again - the jumping off the curb, swerving and skidding around corners, riding with no hands and standing up, speed and grace... the entire way there, it was gently sprinkling - a cooling, calming rain. When we arrived, we spent a while in the church parking lot across the street from our old house, trying to drift around the corners on our bikes, taking advantage of the slick asphalt as we skidded around corners in our makeshift racetrack.... so much fun (until Jon tried to take a corner just a little too fast, and wiped out - and even though there was no harm done, that ended that specific game.)

As we turned around and began to make our way home, the heavens opened - thunder, lightning, howling wind, driving rain... I could barely see as we crossed rivers and streams that had formed on the streets near our home. Yet as we rode, the above reflection resounded in my mind, and my heart, and joy and laughter exploded and overflowed from my heart. And in the midst of that overflow, there was gratitude... I am so blessed, and that is for a purpose, a reason beyond myself... may that life continue to spill over into all around...

Where is this place? - که در آن است که در این محل؟

I came across this last week - and at the time, I was moved to tears... and wanted to share something I found beauty in...

hope and tragedy

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

~ Emily D.

-----

Watching the news this morning, watching what's happening in Iran with bated breath, keeping apace with blogs and youTube... and praying. Seeing beauty and tragedy, tears in my eyes... a couple of things that moved me to pray, to hope, to look forward, and wish I could do more...

It is beautiful to see those who have been afraid stop being afraid.

It is beautiful to see people united, crying out for justice and a voice.

It is beautiful seeing a people crying out to God.

It is beautiful to see people stand up and say "enough!"

It brings tears to my eyes watching people confront the possibility of death, and continue to walk forward.

I am afraid for them, saddened by the violence and repression - yet full of hope as well.

The following is a translation via NIAC of an Iranian blogger:

“I will participate in the demonstrations tomorrow. Maybe they will turn violent. Maybe I will be one of the people who is going to get killed. I’m listening to all my favorite music. I even want to dance to a few songs. I always wanted to have very narrow eyebrows. Yes, maybe I will go to the salon before I go tomorrow! There are a few great movie scenes that I also have to see. I should drop by the library, too. It’s worth to read the poems of Forough and Shamloo again. All family pictures have to be reviewed, too. I have to call my friends as well to say goodbye. All I have are two bookshelves which I told my family who should receive them. I’m two units away from getting my bachelors degree but who cares about that. My mind is very chaotic. I wrote these random sentences for the next generation so they know we were not just emotional and under peer pressure. So they know that we did everything we could to create a better future for them. So they know that our ancestors surrendered to Arabs and Mongols but did not surrender to despotism. This note is dedicated to tomorrow’s children…”

Such strength, beauty, courage, and humility...

Rumi

This is now. Now is,

all there is. Don't wait for Then;

strike the spark, light the fire.

Sit at the Beloved's table,

feast with gusto, drink your fill

then dance

the way branches

of jasmine and cypress

dance in a spring wind.

The green earth

is your cloth;

tailor your robe

with dignity and grace.

Poetry by Rumi (13th century Persian Sufi mystic)

poem via Andrew Sullivan

the above photo is from Getty Images found via The Big Picture (featuring many, many amazing photos.)

More links...

IRAN-VOTE-UNREST
Originally uploaded by "SIR: Poseyal Knight of the DESPOSYNI

People have already mentioned this, but this photo... A friend from Taylor mentioned how it reminded her of the parable of the Good Samaritain, Persian style... Powerful to see the humanity and compassion in the midst of the turmoil.

Wronging Rights has another great interview up -

Ask an Iranian, Part II.

It includes some of the basic framework for understanding more about the conflict, as well as why Ahmadinejad could theoretically have won the election, who supports him, and the frustration of so many at seeing the voting process co-opted when there had been such hope and engagement...

Do go check it out...

راهپيمايي سكوت

راهپيمايي سكوت
Originally uploaded by maryam ghafari

the protests...

hundreds of thousands - possibly millions...

“All books about revolutions begin with a chapter that describes the decay of tottering authority or the misery and sufferings of the people. They should begin with a psychological chapter, one that shows how a harassed and terrified man suddenly breaks his terror, stops being afraid. This unusual process, sometimes accomplished in an instant, like a shock or lustration, demands illuminating. Man gets rid of fear and feels free. Without that there would be no revolution...”

- Ryszard Kapuscinski, in Iran during the 1979 revolution.

(via Andrew Sullivan)

Update - via Wronging Rights -

For more background...

"Ask an Iranian, Part one..."

Iranian Election Stuff

So I'm sitting in front of my computer, working on my last prayer letter, and I keep getting distracted by news, blogs, twitter stuff (I don't have a twitter account, but this is making me rethink... follow what's going on through twitter here...)

Anyway, lots going on there - as I've read bits of what's going on, I'm amazed and inspired by the thousands... hundreds of thousands... millions, who are taking to the streets demanding to be taken seriously, demanding their right to choose... Favorite sign so far "We are not sheep..."

A few sites to check out if you want more info:

How to follow the developments in Iran like a CIA analyst...

Andrew Sullivan has a great roundup of reports, eye-witness accounts,

Huffington Post is full of info, analysis, opinions...

Live-tweeting the revolution - collecting and posting tweets from all over Iran (mostly Tehran)

And just in case you want to get a different perspective on Iran, check out FP's Top 10 Iranian movies...

Finally, amazing pictures from the Boston Globe...