dim reflections

 While passionate love certainly has its benefits, platonic love has the advantage of duration, as well as (constrained) passion. As anyone who knows me well knows how I emanate the Brontes, I find this poem well worth the emphasis that the value of friendship exceeds any fleeting attachment. From Emily Bronte, which sheds particular light on the often too-romanticized perspective on her masterpiece, Wuthering Heights : “Love is like the wild rose-briar, Friendship like the holly-tree – The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms But which will bloom most constantly? The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring, Its summer blossoms scent the air; Yet wait till winter comes again And who will call the wild-briar fair? Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now And deck thee with the holly’s sheen, That when December blights thy brow He may still leave thy garland green.”

Wulfharth Manor was as dismal and gray as the rain pelting the carriage roof. Three children sat squeezed inside the coach---two girls sitting opposite a small boy and his governess---occasionally peeking out the tiny window from beneath bonnets and cap, respectively. Serpentine streams obscured any clear view of the estate. Still, its condition was easily ascertained by the most cursory glance. English Ivy clawed along the massive face in a desperate attempt to secure the withered stone, and oak boards closed the hollowed window-eyes.  "I wish Mamma were here," the boy murmured, clutching something like an amulet at his chest. "There, there, dearie," the spindly woman at his side rustled in a strong, Yorkshire tone. She promptly placed a bony hand at his cherubic face and drew it to her arm, stretched across his chest, "You have your sisters, and they shall be mother enough now." "That is right, Orville," the older sister chimed in, leaning forw...

  Having finished the record of Margery Kempe last year and bits of St. Hildegard intermittently, I find myself fascinated — and, consequently — plunged into the fascination of the medieval female mystics. While I'm technically a newcomer, I simply cannot get enough. I find their writings total respite from the concerns and fears so prevalent (moreso with the strife of Time) in this world. This life is so very brief and, while  blessed, burdened with the looming actuality that I am truly "...but dust." I'm thankful for trials as without them, the Deception of this age might conceal my own mortality; this Valley I presently walk is truly a Shadowland, and Pain is, as C. S. Lewis put so aptly, "...a megaphone to rouse a deaf world."   So, I am onto Julian or Norwich's Revelations of Divine Love and, again, what a breath of fresh air; as I pray throughout the text, reading its content is like ceaseless prayer. I feel vastly undisciplined in the area of con...

  So ...a lot has happened since my last, pathetic, solitary little post:  I started my Master's degree (Master of Arts in Theological Studies) and began (recreational) introductory New Testament Greek--- eek !!! I told myself for years that I would never "do" college again as I'm pretty sure my inner perfectionism traumatized my faculties. Yet, here I am. And, may He be glorified in it all. Now that I'm over the shock and settled into balancing my daily routine, dare I say that (so far) I am actually enjoying it? I pray I'm not speaking too soon, lol. But seriously, it is such a blessing. I pray He uses it as He wills. So far, I'm learning more and more about what I do/don't believe about Him...and, discovering along the way, that I am SUCH a tiny minnow in the ever-expanding SEA of life (embellishing a previous professor's critique ;). It's SO true. I know so little and haven't even scratched the surface. Yes, I'm orthodox, but I hon...

 I'm easily overwhelmed, so I thought I would introduce myself with a very concise (and certainly underwhelming) post on recent reads, both finished and current. One of my biggest passions is talking about books (INFP, here) and hearing others' passionately comment on theirs (this is your cue, dear reader to please leave a comment). So, beginning with the finished (First three): I ADORE pastorals, both in painting and in writing. They're such a source of relaxation to me, and I savor every bit of natural description. This was my first Hardy finish, and, I can say that it will not be my last. Any Hardy fans recommend a favorite? This was not an academic choice by any means. It was more of a "return-to-adolescence" decision, and I was not disappointed---mainly (well, pretty much entirely) due to Spooner's excellent and on-point interpretation of Sir Guy of Gisborne. If you enjoyed the BBC Robin Hood show and wish it had ended differently, this book is a satisfy...