Reading the Bible in 90 Days, day 48: Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

Let me tell you, it's interesting to read Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs on the same day.

You have the world-weary cynicism of "the preacher" and the breathless romanticism of the lovers.  "The Preacher" wants to let us know that he has seen everything and that there is nothing new under the sun.  He has seen the innocent suffer and the guilty get off scot-free.  He's worked hard and seen his efforts come to nothing. 

The lovers, on the other hand, are almost embarrassingly optimistic.  They long for one another.  They are uncensored in their appreciation for one another's bodies.  They have a reason for living:  one another. 

The two books, right alongside each other, couldn't be more different.

And yet, there is something that connects them. 

Both of these small volumes concern themselves more with daily living than they do with salvation and eternal things.  The author of Ecclesiastes, the "preacher" says that since we don't have that much control about how our lives turn out anyway, it is good to eat and drink and be merry, to live fully each day. 

I think that the lovers of Song of Songs would agree.

And now a word of caution:  Tomorrow we enter the prophets.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days, Day 43: Psalm 89 - Psalm 108

I've been spending a few days with the Psalms now, and it occurs to me, when you read a whole bunch of Psalms at one time (something I don't do very often), that they seem, um, sort of -- Manic/depressive.  One minute, it's "God, don't turn your back on me; this is my cry for help" (from Psalm 102), and the next:  "Oh my soul, bless God!  don't forget a single blessing." (from Psalm 103)

From the height of praise to the depths of lament, the Psalms have a song for it.  There's are psalms that make you blush for the hatred of enemies expressed and psalms that make you ache for the desperation of one hanging by a thread, and psalms that make you want to sing because of the goodness of God, who rescues us just in the nick of time.  The Psalmists do not censor their prayers.  They are honest.  Perhaps that's why I love the Psalms, even when I don't like them.

As high as heaven is over the earth
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrsie is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins... (Psalm 103)

Tomorrow:  Read Psalms 109 - 134.
and Friday:  Psalm 135 - Proverbs 6

And if you are interested in knowing more about the Psalms, I recommend Psalms for Sojourners, by James Limburg, which is a great overview.
Or, read Eugene Peterson's book A Long Obedience In the Same Direction, which specifically refers to the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134)

Far Away From Everywhere

On Tuesday we drove from Albuquerque to Mesa Verde National Park, with a stop at Aztec National Monument and a late lunch in Durango.  We spent a short time walking up Durango's Historic Main Street, peeking into a few of the shops, including a terrific Art and Antique Shop, featuring lots of local artists. 

We arrived at Far View Lodge just in time for an impressive thunderstorm. 

Our room is simple but nicely appointed.  There is really a "far view"  -- every room has a panoramic view of some of the mesas, and a little balcony where you can sit and have a glass of wine, if you like.  There is a clock radio, but no television, no internet, and very little cell phone coverage, as far as we can discern.

I think that's a good thing.

There is free internet in the lodge, so you can connect up if you really can't stand being unconnected.

One Wednesday we got up early and got some good advice on where we could go "on our own."  We ended up at Spruce Tree House, so early that we were just about the only people there.  A little later we joined a small group for a ranger-led tour of Long House at the Weatherill Mesa.  If Mesa Verde is a little off the beaten path, Weatherill Mesa is even more so, down many winding roads with no signs that say "keep going!  you are almost there!." 

It was worth it, in the end.

Today we took an all-morning tour called the "700 Year Tour", because it takes you along 700 years of Puebloan Indian History, culminating in a tour of the most famous and spectacular Cliff Palace. 

Both yesterday and today, we found ourselves doing trails and climbs we had thought we couldn't do.  I guess we both have more courage than we think, in a pinch.

But after this morning, I lost an entire afternoon trying to get rid of a persistent headache.  Even had one of the National Park medics up to see me.  We didn't figure out exactly what hit me, but verified that it was not hydration related (though I found out you can actually drink too much water; he had a word for that which I don't remember.)

I can't help thinking about water, when I'm here.  The thunderstorm, the droughts they experienced those hundreds of years ago, the drought they are experiencing now. 

Down at the most basic level of human life, there is water.  And there, at the most basic level of human life and need, there God meets us most of all.

On the Road Again

After a brief stop in Albuquerque where I met friend and blogger Paul and had yummy appetizers, we are back on the road again, headed out to Mesa Verde, somewhere I have heard about for many years, but never seen. 

Last night we also had a dinner (which I for one didn't really need) at the Church Street Cafe in Old Town.  We walked around the town (most places were closed, but a few were still open), and found a little shop that featured artists from New Mexico, especially as they painted religious folk themes.  I was captivated by a little display for Vicente Telles, and had to buy a tiny piece of art by him, called Mater Dolorosa.

As we exited, the shopkeeper called out, "thanks for supporting local artists!"

Yes.

We watched fireworks from our hotel room.

Got up early to eat a little breakfast in the downstairs cafe, and listen to the latest on the Casey Anthony trial.

Now we will be traveling scenic routes all day, cameras and journals in hand, until we get to our scenic destination.

My hope during the next few days:  that I will see the beauty in the local artistry, that I will support local artists, and that I will find freedom to be one.

A Week's Worth of Readings

I am on vacation and will be out of internet range for most of the week.  Here are the Bible readings for those of you who are reading along:

Monday, Day 34  --2 Chronicles 36- Ezra 10
Day 35 -- Nehemiah 1 - Nehemiah 13
Day 36 -- Nehemiah 14 - Job 7
Day 37 -- Job 8 - Job 24
Day 38 -- Job 25 - 41
Day 39 -- Job 42 - Psalm 24
Day 40 -- Psalm 25 - 45
Day 41 -- Psam 46 - 69
Day 42 -- Psalm 70 - 89

Have fun -- especially with the Psalms.

I will try to keep notes and share observations when I return.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days, Day 32: 2 Chronicles 8 - 23

The Kingdom is divided now.  The author of Chronicles (at this point) spends more time with the Kings of Judah (mostly pretty good, with some flaws) than with the kings of Israel (mostly bad).  There is no mention of Solomon going after other gods at the end of his life.  Rehoboam (Solomon's son) follows really bad advice in deciding to be a harsh king, and the northern kingdom rebels.  Even though the author considers this an understandable reaction of Rehoboam's cruelty, the fact remains -- Israel turns apostate.  They cut themselves off.  They follow other gods.

The harshness of their king is partly responsible.

Mercy and compassion are not two words we think of associated with leaders.

But Yahweh is looking for leaders who do care about the welfare of the people they serve.

Tomorrow's reading:  2 Chronicles 24 - 35
Monday's reading:  2 Chronicles 36 - Ezra 10

Note:  I will be off line for most of next week.  I'll post the week's reading tomorrow, and try to keep notes throughout the week...

Perhaps that's why he sometimes calls them "shepherds."

An Interesting Way to Spend a Vacation

So I have just about two weeks off now.  I'm on vacation.  But we haven't gone anywhere .... yet.

That's right, we're right here in town.  We're leaving town on Monday.

99.9% of the time, when we go on vacation, we go somewhere else.  Though our family did not travel much on vacation, I was told in seminary that it's important for pastors too get away when they get time off, so I've pretty much done that.

But, so much doesn't get done.  During the last year, there have been a few times when my hours have not been pretty.  So I thought it might be fun to get a longer time away, but not actually go anywhere for part of it.  Just try to get some things done.

So, that's what we've been doing.  Especially yesterday, when my mom came over and helped us wash the venetian blinds, re-organize the pantry, and clean out the refrigerator (which has been dripping water again, so we took all of the food out and turned it off.) 

My mom is the most organized person I know.  I may have mentioned that when I lived in Japan, I always got my Christmas presents from home well before Christmas.  (This was not uniformly the case.)  She is also the best ever at packing a little car so that all the things you need to bring home from internship will fit into it.  (I still remember our checklist for weekend camping trips.)   We took her out to eat as well, which was fun.

We ran into members of my church there.  I said "hello."  As they left, they waved and said they liked this restaurant "because of the pop-overs."  I remembered that I had seen another member of my church the day before at our local Large-Chain Bookstore.  I just said "hello" again, but a few minutes later, the woman came running back to tell me how much she had enjoyed the service on Sunday.  That was nice.  (Especially that she liked the whole service -- not just the sermon.)

I understand why they say pastors should "get away" on vacation.  This is not a small town.  But I still run into people.

So, today we decided to "get out of Dodge," so to speak.  It was waaaay to hot to work outside, which had been our original plan.  We decided to go to a larger medium-sized town where there are some cute little shops and restaurants.  (More about that later, perhaps.)

But, before we left, we went swimming.  Where I bumped into someone from my church.

Really.  This is NOT a small town.