Sometime
May Riley Smith

Sometime, when all life’s lessons have been learned,
And sun and stars forevermore have set,
The things which our weak judgements here have spurned,
The things so’er which we grieved with lashes wet,
Will flash before us out of life’s dark night,
As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;
And we shall see how all God’s plans are right,
And how what seemed reproof was love most true.

And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh,
God’s plans go on as best for you and me;
How, when we called, He heeded not our cry,
Because His wisdom to the end could see.
And e’en as prudent parents disallow,
Too much of sweet to craving babyhood,
So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now
Life’s sweetest things, because it seemeth good.

And if, sometimes, commingled with life’s wine,
We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink,
Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine,
Pours out the potion for our lips to drink;
And if some friend you love is lying low,
Where human kisses cannot reach his face,
Oh, do not blame the loving Father so,
But wear your sorrow with obedient grace!

And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath
Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friends,
And that, sometimes, the sable pull of death
Conceals the fairest boon His love can send;
If we could push ajar the gates of life,
And stand within, and all God’s workings see,
We could interpret all this doubt and strife,
And for each mystery could find a key.

But not today. Then be content, poor heart;
God’s plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold;
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,—
Time will reveal the chalices of gold.
And if, through patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest,
When we shall clearly see and understand,
I think we will say, God knew the best.”

My sister's snorkelling analogy that i couldn't remember:

wearing goggles is like opening up our spiritual eyes to Jesus

the snorkel helps us to breathe in fresh air, the Holy Spirit

flippers are a reminder that we need god's word in order not to give the devil a foothold

when we point others to the fish and corals, we're showing others God's beauty and what he can do through us, we're inviting those who don't see it yet to come off the boat and join us.

the life vest is our CG.

My mom took at least six of the above failed jump shots. the photo on top is of when we finally got tired and let mel do it instead.

dunno how to take jump shot -> evidence of generation gap :P

but no, she joined us!

(click to zoom)

I loved my year end holiday to Phuket because I...

removed myself for six days

haven't flown in awhile

had lovely company subject to lots of fun and a healthy dose of retardedness

am tan again for the next few weeks (hopefully months)

see and appreciate the majesty of creation



i'm not posting in one awesome chunk because the drafts page is horrible to handle. Each post will have a relevant label but scrolling is from bottom up :)

Psalm 103: 2-5

Praise the Lord, O my Soul,
and forget not all his benefits -
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion
who satisfieds your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's

~