This Past Weekend.

This past weekend was particularly wonderful, particularly restful. Instead of making the trek into Seoul, as I usually do, Robin came out to Ganghwa. I haven't spent a weekend out here in months, which despite the endless number of things to do in Seoul, is a shame. Saturday, Robin and I went hiking. We hiked the mountain immediately behind Naega Market at a leaisurely pace, taking in the views of both the Yellow Sea and the sprawling countryside to the east. Robin really enjoyed our hike and was of course enraptured by the various flowers growing in the brush. I had been hiking at this spot once before but only partially; this time we hiked the entire extent of the trail. One of the more interesting sites on the moutain was a granite dome ten feet in height that was errected near the summit. Neither Robin nor I could figure out what the purpose of the structure was. I was later told, however, that it was a signal beacon from the mediaeval period that had been recently restored. After our hike, we hitchhiked back to Oepo-li and made our way to the bath house there. We both spent about an hour relaxing in the warm spring waters. On Sunday we went to Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Anglican Church in Ganghwa-eup. It is always a wonderful experience worshipping there. The high Anglo-Catholic liturgy is so familar to me that I feel quite at home, although the language is Korean. People there are so warm and kind. Robin was impressed. Like all places in Korea ( and Asia for that matter), the hospitality of the parishioners is immense. Sister Clare, a religious attached to the parish made sure we had our hymnals and prayerbooks in order, reminding us where we would find the day's lessons in our Bible. We had marked our places before Mass in anticipation but her help was really appreciated. After Mass, we were whisked away to the parish hall for lunch. Like always, an enormous amount of food was prepared. Long after I was full, I ate four slices of watermelon at the insistence of one of the church ladies. Hospitality is very aggressive in Korea. After our meal, Robin and I headed toward the bus terminal, bought some food for that evening's supper, and heade off back to Naega. That night we made pork tacos. He had somehow come accross tortillas at the grocery store and decided right there and then that that's what we were going to make. The tacos actually came out really well. That's pretty much it. It was just a relaxing weekend but aren' t those the best?

-Dave

Update, finally!

Well, after many months, an engagement, and two countries visited, I've finally decided to update my blog. The last several months have been so momentous and so wonderful that I would be strained to record it in an entire book so I'm not going to even attempt to set out to do so in the context of blog. So I'm just going to start anew describing my day to day life. This past weekend was quite wonderful. Sunday, after church, Robin, Lindsey, Jamie (a coworker of Lindsey's) went to the Lotus Lantern Festival in Insadong. Its sort of an early celebration of the Buddha's birthday. He's 2,523, by the way. During the day there are tons of crafts booths. With paper flowers as far as the eyes could see, the girls were completely ecstatic. I was content to just take in the sights and sounds of the event. Making pressed flower cell phone ornaments is not really my thing. When the crafty stuff got old even for the girls, we went out for some bulgogi. For some reason we decided that the soju at that particular restuarant was better than any we had before. It was just jinro, though. After that, we went to the lantern parade which I have to tell you, is pretty darn impressive. For the greater part of two hours, thousands of paper laterns iluminating the evening sky processed along the main street near Insadong, some being in the shapes of animals or figures from Korean history. We're not talking about your average chinatown paper lantern. Some of these things are massive. There was a dragon that was easily 30 feet in length complete with licks of flame shooting from its mouth. It's an event that is definitely worth seeing. My only complaint is that 2 hours spent outside on a drizily evening is too long regardless of what kind of show is on.

Dave

Say AHH!

What could have been a wonderful weekend has turned into a weekend of grossness and of pain. Robin and I have strep throat. I didn't even know adults got that. I thought it was a shitty thing that elementary students got but apparently teachers get it as well and let me tell you, it sucks as much I remember. This past weekend was Robin's birthday (well, technically it's today) and we had planned to do number of things. I did manage to take here out for Indian food Saturday night before either of us were really that sick but soon after that, both of our muscles started aching and by the time Sunday morning came around, we felt as though we had been run over by firetrucks. Instead of singing for Mass and for the evening Lessons and Carols service, which we had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks, we laid around, not able to do much and not able to eat much. We were able to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and most of "Howl's Moving Castle" which was some reprieve from awful burning sensation in our throats.

This morning, we both went to Yonsei Hospital's international walk-in clinic. I didn't trust going to a Korean doctor on Ganghwa. The staff there was very nice and it was neither dirty or crowded like Gimpo hospital. We were both diagnosed with strep throat. Well, 'acute tonsilitis'. We were given antibiotics and iodine mouth wash (yummy). After that, I returned Ganghwa and Samryang High School with a doctor's note in order to explain why I couldn't teach any classes today. They couldn' get the idea that my voice was completely shot and couldn't possibly talk for the duration of one 50 minute class, nevermind four. They tried telling me that if I took a nap, I would be better. They apparently have no idea what strep thoat is. I can't raise my voice over a certain level without it being excruciatingly painful. They finally relented after I mentioned that I can take a sick day provided that I have a doctor's note which I had. Those crazy Koreans. But anyway, I've been sleeping most of today, only having woken up a few minutes ago to eat some ice cream and take some antibiotics. I'm feeling a little better but not much. Hopefully, I will be right as rain tomorrow.

Sapientiatide

Tomorrow, as some of you may know, begins the 'mini' liturgical season of Sapientiatide, which is sort of a precursor to Christmastide. In the ancient Church and presently, the season celebrated the mystery of the Incarnation. However, there are only vestiges of this major liturgical cycle retained in the modern Church, namely in the the Magnificat antiphons at Vespers between the 17th and 23rd of December. However, these antiphons are better known combined as the lyrics to the beloved carol, O Come, O Come Immanuel. As we move into the final days of Advent and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, I think its fitting to reflect upon the mystery of the Incarnation and the love of God that it so strongly demonstrates. These ancient antiphons are not only quite beautiful, they help us reflect on this very crucial reality.

Dec 17th:* O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end [of the heavens] to another, and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come to teach us the way of prudence!

Dec 18th: O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai: come to redeem us with outstretched arm!

Dec 19th: O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, unto whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, make no tarrying!

Dec 20th: O Key of Davd and Sceptre of the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth; and shuttest and no man openeth: come to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death!

Dec 21st: O Day-spring Brightness of the everlasting Light, Sun of Righteousness: come to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death!

Dec 22nd: O King of the Gentiles, yea, and Desire thereof, O Cornerstone that makest of twain [two] one: come to save man, whom Thou hast made of the dust of the earth!

Dec 23rd: O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and Salvation thereof: come to save us, O Lord our God

(from the Anglican Breviary)

Aquinas' Treatise on the Incarnation from the Summa Theologiae

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.TP_Q1.html

Athanasius' On the Incarnation

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/athanasius/incarnation.i.html?highlight=on,the,incarnation#highlight

Poem for Robin

Should I post this or should I not. Oh well, it has been done:
From the high vaulted ceiling of the night,
the myriad stars set within Heavens' dome,
though dimmed across the aether's bound and by
the ill weakness of our eyes now pursued,
shine for us only this night, though all Seoul,
does sleep beneath the same celestial cover.
O Lover! (And yes, you are my lover),
let me take your hand, let me hold you close.
Let me, now, in my failing French proclaim,
“Je t'aime.” And at your blushing reply,
raising your head to mine, I will kiss you,
our embrace becoming ever closer
and this, our love-fever ever hotter,
cooled only by the chill of the starry night.

Christmastime in Ganghwa.

I'm sitting here, unshaven, listening to Christmas music, having just done some reading. I had most of today off. My students are taking their final exams. The time I was there, I just finished writing out Christmas cards. This past weekend, like every weekend, was quite wonderful. I am very much in love with Robin. I don't think that's a mystery to anyone, considering the way I speak about her. Any time I spend with her is amazing, even just sitting together reading silently. We did not really do any of that this weekend. It was actually a very busy weekend. Saturday, we went to house warming party of a Korean friend of ours. We had a wonderful dinner there. Stewed chicken, noodles and no kimchi in sight. Jennifer, whose house we were visiting, gave Robin a wonderful necklace hand made onGanghwa. It is very pretty.

After dinner, we headed back to Seoul to Robin's apartment. We watched the Passion of Joan of Arc, which is an incredibly powerful film chronicling the trial and execution of the saint, directed by a young Carl Th. Dreyer. It's not a very romantic film but it is wonderfully moving. I have seen it before but the scene where Joan is refused the Blessed Sacrament by the chief priest brought a tear to my eye once again. The black and white cinematography, focusing on the facial expressions of the actor, allows the viewer to be engaged in the emotions of the characters and ultimately to fear the suffering and the humiliation of Joan. It is a wonderful film. Robin really loved it.

The following, we went to Mass at the English Mission. The both of us got to the chapel early to rehearse for the choir. Robin has a beautiful voice and is much more musically inclined than I am. She follows all the choir jargon perfectly well while I have no idea even what parts I'm supposed to sing. I must seem so ignorant to everyone. My lack of musical training is a little emabarassing. I feel slightly uneducated in that regard. Oh, the things one does for love. But we sang one of my favourite hymns Be Thou My Vision which turns out be one of Robin's also.

After Mass, we went to lunch with a friend we met at church. His name was Chris. He's an incredibly intelligent guy, with a pretty good knowledge of Koine Greek. He definitely had his eye on Robin which definitely made me rather jealous. We ended up going to a Thai place that's in the same building as Robin's school. It was very good. It blows Korean food out the water any day.

Well, that's all for now. I'll be updating again soon

Providence

Certain events in my life, especially as of late, have called me to reflect on the role of Providence within my own life. For me it has always been such an abstract concept and one that, though I have always believed in as dogma, never really felt its power within my own life until now. Providence, God's plan for creation, can be understood in two senses. The first being more of a general type of Providence. God simply provides for all. This the meaning of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount: " That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."(Matt. 6:45). It is through God's providence that we have everything. The sun, the rain, food, drink, love, and even beer can be understood in this way. They are gifts to mankind in general. We must be thankful for these kinds of gifts and many of them, of course, are life sustaining. One couldn't live without sunshine or oxygen for instance. These gifts are for everyone, however, and are not aimed at the individual person. There is, however, a second type of Providence and it is one that is harder to understand and for most, including myself, harder to believe. This second type is Providence ordered toward the individual and is experienced as a special gift, a miracle even, that equips the individual to better to serve the will of God. This idea of Providence is expressed throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testement. Gifts such as prophecy and kingship can be seen in this context as well as the election of Israel (think of all the instances of God breaking the natural order to come to the aid of Israel). For us, especially in the modern world, this is pretty tough to believe. The idea that God breaks through the barrier of the natural order of things to intervene in our daily lives seems pretty absurd. It was pretty easy for the Puritans to believe in this and they believed in it alot but for us, it seems almost silly. As Christians, we believe (or rather, are supposed to believe) that with God anything is possible. But we tend dismiss miracles and throw providence on the rubbish heap of erroneous ideas. And I, like most, have effectively done this while still maintaining the doctrinal notion. However, there are certains events and certain feelings that I have recently developed that make me reconsider Providence. I am left speechless now and in awe because without a doubt Providence is working in my life and not in some abstract theological sense but in a very visceral sort of way. I must thank God for these precious gifts that I have received and am receiving still. This Thanksgiving will be special in a way that I never thought possible.