There is nothing quite so frightening as visiting an emergency room when you're away from home. Alone.
The good news is that they don't think I have appendicitis - but it took three hours, blood work, a CT scan, and other more humiliating examinations to find out. All the while Handsome was two thousand miles away worrying. I feel awful for causing him that much anxiety.
But, this is what love looks like - he was ready to drop everything and catch the next plane out if I had to have surgery. Thank God that wasn't necessary, but I've never wanted for him closer to me more than last night.
Side note: it is amazing how quickly pain killers can affect you when they inject them directly into your IV. It is also amazing that the hospital people will decide they need to get important information from you at the exact moment that those drugs begin to alleviate the burden of consciousness.
This morning, I read an article with great interest and could hardly wait to share it with all of you. Scientists have some new insight into the formation of our universe. Here's the money quote:
"In that trillionth of a second after the big bang, the universe expanded from the size of a marble to a volume larger than all of observable space through a process known as inflation. At the same time, the seeds were planted for the formation of stars, galaxies, planets and every other object in the universe."
First, the universe was nothing and then, in "less than the blink of an eye," it was everything. You see, I believe that God created the universe and all the physics necessary to hold it together. We all get to explore and experiment to find out His secrets. (Not unlike how our relationship with Him grows.) But when the astronomers and mathematicians and physicists look deeper and farther into the universe, they always find more mystery - which is cool.
But I was really thinking about a theologian and scholar I like to listen to who translated a certain verse in Genesis a little differently. "It wasn't 'let there be light,'" he said. "It was really 'Light, BE!' and in that one word 'be' everything was." And I love that image, such power and command. It seems the scientists have found it too. Nice.
Sitting here half-watching some TV, and my ears perk up at the sound of a commercial. I check it out. Great music, outstanding visual production. Could be us. But it isn't really our current "style."
Nah, I think to myself and return to whatever it was I was doing. And then it happened. That sleek white beauty.
1,000 songs in your pocket.
Yep. I work for the coolest company ever!
This morning, I read some science news so interesting that I must share it with all of you.
1) NASA has caught up to Star Trek with their latest invention, a tricorder. Finally, something useful!
2) Physicists created plasma hotter than the interior of the sun. BUT, they don't know how they did it, which is actually kinda scary. In any case, check out the cool, fractal plasma traces.
Christmas trees - everywhere! Apparently, they just grow here, like oak trees or something. Except, there are firs and pines and balsams, taller than builidings, and glistening with snow and icicles. It's like a wintery fairy land.
I've spent the past two days within 100 miles of Yellowstone and Teton, and last night a nasty snow storm blew through the area, complete with high winds that persist even now. This morning, on my way to my first meeting, I got to hear the interesting sound produced by the ABS on my new company car. Blind panic in the wintery fairy land.
Last night, I discovered a lovely gourmet restaurant in rural Ammon, Idaho. Go figure. I had a perfect salmon & scallop mousse amuse bouche, a fabulous lobster bisque (with tarragon!), and a delicious Belgian endive salad with bleu cheese and candied walnuts. I can't wait to bring Handsome here sometime.
Thank God for audiobooks. They are the ultimate answer for long drives. (Podcasts work well, too.)
Life on the road necessitates a certain amount of fastfood meals. But today, I stopped at Subway for a turkey wrap, as opposed to fries and chicken strips. AND I did not eat in my car. Aren't you proud?
Leah and I recently counted up all the books I've read so far this year - most of which has been spent on the road in the Northwest. What we learned will remain secret, I think. Suffice it to say that I have no life.
Traveling for a living precludes many of the daily responsibilities of home; my evenings are mostly empty except for frequent conversations with Handsome. Thank God for free mobile-to-mobile wireless and iChat!
I am embarrassed to say that although I knew today was the first day of Lent, I didn't realize it was Ash Wednesday until I spotted a woman with that beautiful, grey mark. And this got me to thinking about the nature and practice of Lent, specifically in my own life. I'm still trying to figure out how to mark this season - it has to be more than just a flippant gesture of self-denial.
Most of us don't have the freedom to practice a serious fast, to follow the actual deprivation that Christ endured. What would happen if each of us (myself included) were able to set aside 40 days every year to devote ourselves to prayer and to deny ourselves all meals? What would happen to our families, communities, and churches?
Still, I am unconvinced that simply avoiding dessert or adult beverages or meat really brings us closer to God and His will. But perhaps that is my own ignorance. I know I should have thought about this sooner, but I'm going to consider what I can fast. And I'll be looking for something truly sacrificial.
Now for the audience participation portion of our programming: Do you celebrate Lent? If so, in what way? If not, why not?
Seriously, I'd like to know what you all think.
