Haven't blogged in a while because I've been with family on a celebratory cruise! My parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November and invited us to go on a cruise in the Baltic Sea region. We've had a fabulous time, and today starts a special week I will spend with my 15 year old nephew, Ollie, who comes with me to Hungary! Pictures from our trip will be forthcoming.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Another good Merton thought....
"You know my soul. You know all that needs to be done there. Do it in Your own way. Draw me to you, O my God. Fill me with Pure Love of You alone. Make me never go aside from the way of Your love. Show me clearly that way and never let me depart from it: that will be enough. I leave everything in Your hands. You will guide me without error and without danger and I will love You all the way. I will belong to You. I will not be afraid of anything for I shall remain in Your hands and never leave You."
What a tremendously honest cry of the heart for intimacy with God, the only One who can fill us perfectly in every way!
What a tremendously honest cry of the heart for intimacy with God, the only One who can fill us perfectly in every way!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
More Merton
"The Holy Spirit, Who is Love living in me...is preparing far more surprising things in the future, if I will let Him act.
"There is nothing else worth living for: only this infinitely peaceful Love Who is beyond words, beyond emotion, beyond intelligence.
"Cradle me, Holy Spirit, in Your dark silver cloud and protect me against the heat of my own speech, my own judgments, and my own vision. ward off the sickness of consolation and desire, of fear and grief that spring from desire. I will give You my will for You to cleanse and rinse of all this clay.
"I want to give myself to You without solicitude, without fear or desire, not seeking words or silence, work or rest, light or darkness, company or solitude. For I will possess all things if I am empty of all things and only You can at once empty me of all things and fill me with Yourself, the Life of all that lives, and the Being in Whom everything exists."
"There is nothing else worth living for: only this infinitely peaceful Love Who is beyond words, beyond emotion, beyond intelligence.
"Cradle me, Holy Spirit, in Your dark silver cloud and protect me against the heat of my own speech, my own judgments, and my own vision. ward off the sickness of consolation and desire, of fear and grief that spring from desire. I will give You my will for You to cleanse and rinse of all this clay.
"I want to give myself to You without solicitude, without fear or desire, not seeking words or silence, work or rest, light or darkness, company or solitude. For I will possess all things if I am empty of all things and only You can at once empty me of all things and fill me with Yourself, the Life of all that lives, and the Being in Whom everything exists."
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Guess how much?
The slices of bread and pieces of fruit above were just purchased from the least expensive place in town. Take a guess as to how much all of this cost?
$6.77
Meditations from Thomas Merton
I picked up a book last evening which I've had for a while but have not read..."Dialogues with Silence" by Thomas Merton. While it is not to be read in one sitting, being more of a devotional, I devoured it and turned down corners of pages which hit my heart deeply. So here is one of those:
"Tribulation detaches us from the things of nothingness in which we spend ourselves and die. Therefore, tribulation gives us life and we love it, not out of love for death, but out of love for life.
Let me then withdraw all my love from scattered, vain things----the desire to be read and praised as a writer, to be a successful teacher praised by my students, or to live at ease in some beautiful place----and let me place everything in Thee, where it will take root and live, instead of being spent in barrenness."
"Tribulation detaches us from the things of nothingness in which we spend ourselves and die. Therefore, tribulation gives us life and we love it, not out of love for death, but out of love for life.
Let me then withdraw all my love from scattered, vain things----the desire to be read and praised as a writer, to be a successful teacher praised by my students, or to live at ease in some beautiful place----and let me place everything in Thee, where it will take root and live, instead of being spent in barrenness."
Monday, July 14, 2008
Trains and Theatre - two cultural extremes
An "action" shot of the opera from our nose-bleed section seats, which I loved!Saturday proved to be an interesting and fun day. My wonderful neighbor, Kati, who loves and takes care of my cats as if they were her own, invited me to her workplaces' annual picnic celebration. I knew she worked for MAV as some sort of secretary, but somehow, I never made the connection: She works for the company that builds, runs, maintains and organizes all the wonderful trains that go to and fro criss-crossing the country! So, yes, it was a celebration for those who work for the train system company in Hungary!
It was cool to see a photo gallery of the history of trains in Hungary, and to see probably 50 or 60 different large kettles of goulash and porkolt simmering in a row. It was definitely a cultural experience, but not unlike a celebration in the U.S....lots of food, lots of people, lots of drinks, music and fun!
Then in the evening, I donned pretty clothes and went to the Szabadteri performance...each summer there are various theatrical performances outdoors at the Dom here in Szeged! My sweet friend, Eniko, who lives in the U.S. now but just happened to be in town, invited me to see a wonderful opera performance...can't tell you the name in English, but it was very fun, funny and extremely well-done! There was a special appearance of a famous opera singer...again, no name land here....who has performed on this particular stage for 45 years!!! Of course she got quite an ovation!
Needless to say I was pretty beat after my two cultural experiences, but thankful, as ever, to be a part of this precious land's culture.
It was cool to see a photo gallery of the history of trains in Hungary, and to see probably 50 or 60 different large kettles of goulash and porkolt simmering in a row. It was definitely a cultural experience, but not unlike a celebration in the U.S....lots of food, lots of people, lots of drinks, music and fun!
Then in the evening, I donned pretty clothes and went to the Szabadteri performance...each summer there are various theatrical performances outdoors at the Dom here in Szeged! My sweet friend, Eniko, who lives in the U.S. now but just happened to be in town, invited me to see a wonderful opera performance...can't tell you the name in English, but it was very fun, funny and extremely well-done! There was a special appearance of a famous opera singer...again, no name land here....who has performed on this particular stage for 45 years!!! Of course she got quite an ovation!
Needless to say I was pretty beat after my two cultural experiences, but thankful, as ever, to be a part of this precious land's culture.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Switzerland Photo Album
Hoping that the link below will lead you to my photo album! Click on it!
http://ardencampbell.myphotoalbum.com/
http://ardencampbell.myphotoalbum.com/
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Quick post...first vacation pix
Just one of many amazing vistas!
At the top of Europe: Jungfrau!
The hills are alive!
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