Watch the Walk

This student was so nervous giving her speech that her friend came up to hold her notes. "Don't be afraid, Mary," said the angel, "for you have found favor with God." "Fear not," said the angel to the shepherds, "For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." "Fear not" said the angel as he spoke to Joseph. "Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit." As I read the Christmas story this year, this phrase kept hitting me in the face. Now, I'm not exactly a fearful person most of the time. My parents have been known to call me "No-Fear Abby." But there are things that worry me. The future is one. There are elements of my future which I can't really control. Yet, that which is of God is not to be feared. Joshua was told multiple times (by God and by Moses) "Don't be afraid. God is with you." And as much as "perfe...

This week I agreed to teach a couple classes for an islander friend. He's taught a few of my classes when I was off-island, so when the person he'd originally asked to teach for him became unavailable, I agreed to teach. But on one condition: he had to arrange transportation for me. The place where he teaches is a full hour's drive from my town, more if you're taking a bus. Since he has a motorbike, that's no big deal for him to get there. But I don't have a motorbike and don't like the idea of catching a taxi bus at 6 in the morning in order to make it to class on time. So he arranged for a friend to give me a ride. Let me tell you, the back of a motorbike is the best way to see the island. You've got an unobstructed view, can pick your way around a lot of the potholes, and breath the fresh air of the mountains. Take a look at this video of part of the ride: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/56521309/20151221_104228.mp4 It's easy to fo...

An unusually nice piece of road There’s something about riding in an uncomfortable taxi bus that puts me in a poetic mood. I think it makes me more aware of what’s around me: from the body odor wafting from all the people around me, to the cool breeze coming from the window, the natural beauty surrounding me, the sheer drop-offs next to disintegrating roads… and then I put in ear buds and suddenly I’m in a movie with an awesome Christmas soundtrack.  Truly He taught us to love one another His law is love and His gospel is peace Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease.  There’s oppression here, so much of it. The rich get favor from the courts and the poor are left to suffer. Corruption abounds and, as much as people are tired of it (see a popular local song titled “We’re Tired”), they also are resigned to it, because putting down one corrupt person inevitably means another rises up.  O Holy Night makes me think of ...