Cada Día; Te Niego

Cuernavaca,

I am falling in love with you.

The life you display in your pain. The life you've made out of nothing.

Still, I deny you every day. You ask me to buy one of your necklaces, which could probably mean dinner - and I don't. I don't want things and I don't have money.

But I am wealthy, because I sit and read and sip in the name of education, while you find me at my outdoor café table. And you ask me to buy a painting, or a package of gum. But I deny you.

I am wealthy in experience and love, and still I have something more. Better than money are my prayers. Because I only spent a dollar on this coffee, and 60 cents on the bus. Between the two of us, we've got so little things, and so much faith.

I know your faith. I know your conquered hearts and I see your accepting brow. I know you might even have more faith than I do. I've seen more love in you, than on the streets of Paris.

Cuernavaca, you always smile. You have the flowers and the sun and your neighbors. There is art and love in every plastic street stand.

We rode the bus for fifteen minutes and the whole time you only played one chord on the guitar, your song had no words. And there was more love than I'd ever heard. So I paid for your bus ride, an investment, I know.

I'm sorry. I wish I could help more. But what you don't see is the castle I'm building every day I deny you - every time I pray.

No One Greater

"When God made his promise to Abraham,

since there was no one greater for Him to swear by,

He swore by Himself."

Hebrews 6:13

This is the God we have.

The God who knows us.

The Greatest of all.

"When Christ came as high priest 

of the good things that are already here,

he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle

that is not man-made, 

that is to say, no a part of this creation.

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves,

but he entered the Most Holy Place 

ONCE FOR ALL,

BY HIS OWN BLOOD."

Hebrews 9:11-12

This is our God's Son.

The only son, the only saviour,

who did everything he did,

to be perfect for us.

"Men swear by someone greater than themselves,

and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

...

We have this hope, as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

Hebrews 6:16,19

This morning I am amazed

at the greatness of our God.

May we all be amazed,

every day we live.

Sra. Ignacia

Off the beaten track; the best description of yesterday in México.

Our primary destination was Chalcatzingo, an ancient site of the Olmec people,

nestled between two large and very steep peaks, not quite full mountains their selves.

The carvings on this site were discovered in 1930, by little boys while playing on the peaks.

We drove through a tiny village on what was barely a road to climb and explore.

We saw many carvings that represented Olmec gods of fertility, rain

and their origination from the jaguar god.

We also met our first "amate amarillo."

The amate tree covers the state of Morelos, its paper was often used for writing and paintings.

This special kind of amate has striking yellow bark and engulfing branches.

After Chalcatzingo, we went in search of some "exconventos."

These churches were built by Native Méxicans, under the supervision of

Spanish Catholic priests, therefore they all portray the same European style.

On our way, we met Sra. Ignacia, the star of the day.

Sra. Ignacia handweaves wool ponchos, blankets and purses

from her own sheep.

She invited us off the streets of the zócalo, and into her home.

We met her three daughters and one grandson.

Chickens and roosters roamed the house,

much to the jealousy of the geese in their cage

next to Leonardo, and a horse made his presence known from 20 feet away.

I am humbled by their simplicity and

lack of reliance on modern commodities.

Brett bought a poncho from Sra. Ignacia, and Kate a purse.

I always want to remember this little town,

happily forgotten by the rest of the world,

hidden among chains of volcano mountains.

(Pictures courtesy of my sweet roommate, Kate.)

Perfected: Like Jesus

"Although He was a son, 

He learned obedience from what He suffered and,

once made perfect, 

He became the source of eternal salvation

for all who obey Him."

Hebrews 5:8-9

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the examples Jesus set for us.

Isn't that why we're all following Him anyway?

Sure, we're following Him into eternity with God, but there is more

and it starts taking place now.

Today I follow His example,

by accepting God's will in every part of my life.

Today I follow Him,

through any pain or confusion I face.

I can never wrap my mind around what Jesus faced.

We're talking about the conversion of Native Mexicans to Christianity, 

in my class.

Can you imagine trading all your gods, all your sacrifices, a great gap

between Heaven and yourself...

for one Man, one God, one who sacrificed Himself so nothing more was

needed?

Jesus did so much (understatement.)

He did it by allowing Himself to suffer for God's will so He could be

perfected.

What an example. Surely I can try to follow Him, my life sufferings

are trivial compared to His.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by

such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and

the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us."

Hebrews 12:1

I love that image of running.

With perseverance.

The race marked out for us.

Esperanza

Esperanza = Hope.

Esperanza = my host mother.

I'm sure I'll have much more to say about here as time goes on,

but while everything is still a little too much to take in, she is

the one thing I can focus in on.

She is aged beautifully and wise.

She is half Lebanese.

She says she will accept us (Kate and me) how we are.

She says we will accept her as she is.

She is in love and her husband is doting.

She talks about the whole world being sad these days.

She also talks about painters and talented writing.

She says all churches have God, they do not love war

or have weird paintings at their altar, only God.

She made me eggs and salad for breakfast today,

she will teach us how to cook.

She thinks it is important to write down my family history.

She is thankful for us and she prays for us.

I am so thankful for her.

"Sure of what we hope for and confident in what we do not see."

Hope = Esperanza