It's been...

...an odd day, of convictions and of mercies, of errands and of rest, of contact and of solitude.  I did not grade this weekend, but there were more important things than grading to attend to.  I'll pay for it this week, but so be it.

Kathleen Norris's The Cloister Walk is knocking me out.  I'm going to hear her speak on Wednesday, and I'm trying to finish the book by then, but it's the kind of book that slows me down, in a good way.  I'm reading slowly, carefully, marking the margins and pondering her insights, instead of devouring it too quickly the way I normally do.  She has made me consider things about the Psalms, the book of Revelation, Emily Dickinson, God, poetry, and sin that I've not considered before.  What an amazing Lent this has been.  I know, that sounds weird. 

In other news, my conservative family and friends are sounding the death knell for the country as regards health care.  My liberal family and friends are rejoicing for the sake of justice and "doing unto the least of these."  May I be honest?  I don't what I think about it.  I don't know who's right.  I see valid points on both sides of the deep chasm.  I don't want to be angry tonight -- I'm tired of being angry about things outside of my control, because despite all my anger, nothing gets fixed -- so I'm just giving the issue up to the only One who really knows what's going on, and trusting that he will see it through as he intends for it to happen. 

Heavy, heavy burdens people are carrying;  much to pray for.  I feel like a newbie pray-er. 

Something is different.