hmm... i am half asleep, but just wanted to comment on my little walk home...so, it is now close to 11:30pm, or 23:30, and i am just getting home. i left somewhere around 8am and have spent most of the day either at the airport waiting for people, on the phone while riding to and from the airport or somewhere related, or going through and revising the schedule for the next few days with people. the past three days there has been an exhibit on the jewish roots of cobeña (a small town outside of madrid) and tomorrow begins three days of concerts with sam rotman, a world-renowned expert on beethoven and incredible classical pianist who is also a messianic jew and the son of holocaust survivors. it should be a good time - one concert in cobeña, one a private garden party, and the final one in an amazing venue in the center of madrid (círculo de bellas artes). anyway, i'm getting away a bit from my point...
so, in the midst of this crazy day i was reminded of God's very near presence and the tenderness with which he cares for me. first of all, i just have to say that some of the people i work with are truly amazing. it's nice to be cared for even in the midst of a crazy day. that thanks to mac, a friend who runs the music ministry and who is getting married to a friend in november.
then as i went to debrief a journalist here from germany (who will be covering the whole weekend also writing about the various ágape ministries in madrid) my cell phone died and by God's grace i found my way to the home at which he is staying and stumbled upon a health food store with my favorite (and by the way incredible) natural soy yogurt. i was famished, so bought it and ate it once i got to the house. then, richard, the guy who is hosting bill, the journalist, as we were leaving told me to take anything i wanted (food-wise). i said i was fine and he then said, "do you want a shot before you go?" i said no and then he asked if i wanted some port. well, it didn't take much for me to say yes to that. so he poured the three of us small glasses of port (it's kind of strong, but tasty stuff). and, richard and twinky (his wife)'s home is absolutely incredible. the sun came in the windows just the right way, they have enough plants to make if feel like you are outside (mixed with the windows), and twinky is an absolutely amazing painter. their house is filled with paintings she has done of her beautiful daughters and of various other things. absolutely breathtaking and peaceful. and definitely the breathe of fresh air i needed today.
so then i returned with bill to meet the others to walk around briefly before solving a few more problems (i was the official personal assistant to the whole crew today, and i suppose for the weekend) and heading to dinner (which was a hit).
we headed to dinner and karen, one of the gals in the team with sam, the pianist, continues to go on and on about how great i am and how on a scale of 1-10 that i've been an 30+. suffice it to say that since words mean a lot to me, my tiredness was the farthest thing from my mind.
we ate incredible spanish tapas (which isn't hard to to in the center of madrid), had some great wine, and had some great conversation. then we headed back to their hotel, where there were apples out (which i love, when the front desk has them out) and we ended up talking to the waiter in the café in the hotel for a bit about wine and such. oh, and did i add that karen insisted on paying for me, which is something else i love (particularly when it's good food and totally unexpected, but hugely appreciated).
then i began my relaxing, unwinding walk home. and i began to think about how well the Lord takes care of me. i walked past cibeles, down the castellana, past colon and the fountains, and then up sagasta a ways. it's about a 30-45 minute walk, more or less. and the weather was absolutely perfect.
as i walked back there were some scantily clad teenage girls drinking and smoking pot (having a botellón) there on a bench on the castillana, there were the fair number of couples going to town, and the normal revelry of a friday night. it made my heart go out to them and made me think a bit about things i try to fill myself up with instead of the Lord. they may seem like "better" things, but essentially it is me trying to be self-sufficient and to live without needing God. in that sense it is exactly the same.
and then i again thought, "but, Lord, why in the world do i try to fill myself with other things when you know exactly what i need and want. and you take such good care of me." good question.
i continued to walk and just take in all the beauty of my surroundings, as i thought and replayed the day. so, anyway... while i am a bit delirious from lack of sleep, and much of this may either be rambling and/or nonsensical, i thought i'd at least write a little bit about my day and about how good the Lord is to me. how he cares for me as a husband would - protecting, providing, wooing me, caring for my needs unconditionally, loving me, delighting in me, reminding me of what he thinks of me, etc., amazing!
here are a few passages that came to mind as i was thinking about all of this:
"...forget your people and your father's house. The King is enthralled with your beauty, honor Him for he is your God." Psalm 45:10-11
"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." Isaiah 40:11
"For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called." Isaiah 54:5
"He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake... Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:3,6
"the Lord is near to those who trust Him, to those who call on him in truth."
