When Hearts Break Open

My heart is sad...my mind is stilled...my soul is weeping.

My mom's cousin and his wife are in a state of shock and grieving as she lost her youngest daughter, her husband and their unborn grandchild as victims in an accident with a drunk driver. Even in this short moment to write a request for prayer that their family would know the peace and grace of our Lord during one of the most devastating moments of life my brow furrows and my eyes tear.

In honor of our dear family members please hold your children a little tighter and a moment longer.  Life is fleeting whether it is a day or eighty years...but the present is the only time we have to express how much we love those that are near to us.

The Tale of Two Cathedrals

We headed south today and stopped by the city of Armagh.

It is a small and beautiful town.  Di wanted to stop due to the remarkable people and events that have occurred in this town throughout Irish history.  

St. Patrick named this town the ecclesiastical city in the mid-400's.  This reality seems to have taken over the people of the town as it has two different yet equally magnificent cathedrals bearing his name.  The catholic version is ornate and around 160 years old.  The anglican version is less magnificent in physicality, but carries nearly 1600 years of history.

I was blown away by the distance between the two.  The proximity, as you will see is nearly nothing.  Relationally it seems to be as if the city is a great chasm and once you climb a hill you have chosen a team for life.  David, the caretaker at one of the sites shared that he had never been to the other. "Not for any other reason than, I haven't found the time."

The disparity between Catholic and Protestant seems to be less one based on hatred and more on an apathy or neglect to actively engage and pursue relationship with the other.  I did not leave judging the people of Armagh, but feeling convicted of the chasms in my own life and the apathy that I show towards crossing over them.

I appreciate that when we come to Ireland we do not feel as if we have arrived.  Both times we have returned home with a greater desire to live well in the present rather than quit life and hold out for the hope of a perfect future.

Why Ireland?

It has been good to travel with Di and Eisha.  One of the greatest additions from our last trip is their ability to ask questions and process through discussions and meetings with another set of ears and equally prayerful hearts.

One of our better discussions and bigger questions occurred around the fire during our last night in Belfast. Why Ireland?

Is it the beauty...the green hills are amazing, the water is refreshing and the country as a whole seems to carry a mystique as you leave Swords and start driving north into the country on the M1.

-but last night we were struck more with the similarities than differences.  The hills were covered with snow and they inspired thoughts of the beauty of Boulder (home). We have come to terms with the fact that a want for beauty is not what draws us to Ireland.

Is it the need...the nation has struggled to find peace throughout it's history.  Belfast almost always brings thoughts of bombs and unrest.  Reports of the increasing numbers of people in Europe who no longer belong to a church or believe in what the church stands for gives credence towards mission.

-but it was our uncertainty and lack of desire to fix something, start something, or claim ancestry that encouraged our N. Irish counterparts.  Whereas the cultural norm of U.S. success standards requires answers and a profitable agenda it was the desire for relationship and need to surrender that we are not sure of how we fit that seemed to excite those we met with.

Is it a calling...hmmm, ask us when we get back.

Antrim Coast

Antrim Coast

Goodbye to Belfast

We have enjoyed our slow mornings and late nights by the coal fires at our farm cottage, but it is time to get another taste of the Republic. In a couple of hours we will be moving to Dublin.  Yesterday was a lot of fun as we drove up the Antrim  Coast through the glens to Giant's Causeway.  

Reports continue to share that N. Ireland gets 1-2 days of snow a year if any at all.  If you take a look at some of yesterdays pics it is kind of surprising how accommodating this country is...they went to great lengths to make it feel like home.  The mountains are not as tall, the towns seem much more quaint and the ocean changes the scene entirely. But you tell us whether or these  look like the snow worn peaks of Colorado or a temperate climate that only gets rain 362 days a year. ( Disclaimer:  Hawaii gets the most rain in the United States.  Day count can be deceiving)

Yesterday was perfect for touring.  The sun came out and the wind blew the waves to add character to the coastal drive.  Once we arrived at the Causeway we all wished that it was warm and still so that we could just sit for ages, but we will have to wait until next time.

Also, Di and Eisha experienced their first pub.  I didn't get a picture but I believe that I read a sign that McHughey's basement has been in operation since the early 1700's.  It is weird to think of a bar that is older than our independence.  It was a bit dissappointing as they each passed on the thick black goodness affectionately deemed Guinness.  If I have not shared with you yet, it is a whole different drink when it is being poured on its home island. (Something about leprechaun magic.)  

Well, off to new adventures and we will update you soon.

Cottage pics plus

From New Album 1/15/09 10:58 PM

Tourist Time

We started with a couple of heritage sites on our way up to Belfast, but the rest of our trip has consisted with meetings to scout whether Ireland could ever be a possible home for the Orf's.  The past couple of days have been really encouraging.

Joy put it best when she shared that our last trip was an opportunity to meet Ireland and this trip is intended to meet the people of Ireland.  What we are discovering is that there are people whose hearts beat similar to our own.

Tomorrow is the beginning of introducing our friends Diana and Eisha to this amazing island.  It will be a short trip and is guaranteed to fall short of embracing the full beauty and mystique of the land and culture, but it should be sweet.  Our drive will begin at our farm cottage, of which I will include pictures and follow the Antrim coast to Giant's Causeway.

The past two days have contained 200% of Ireland's annual snowfall.  Good thing we come from the Rockies where it snows at least 6 feet a week.  All of us except Eisha who is from San Diego and had to cross the Atlantic to find some decent snow.

Bed Time?

It is 7:13pm in Colorado which is a little bit before my bed time.  Too bad it is 2:13 am in Ireland where I currently lay my head to rest.  I am not sure if it is the time change or the blessings of this day, but I can't sleep.  We met some new friends at Common Grounds cafe near Queens University in Belfast on one of the few snow days of their year.

We have hopes of eventually filling everyone in on what is happening on our trip, but it seems unlikely that we will be able to share the details up to date simply because we are in the midst of so many different experiences and trying

 to process them ourselves much less give a credible account.

One thing that is happening universally is our hearts are growing for the people of Ireland. (Yes, even the punk college kids that almost hit my four month old son with a slush ball)  Even though they get rain here on regular basis it was like snow in Dallas.  The city slows down and kids flock to all surfaces where the cold white stuff sticks so that they too can join the fun.

Here is a picture of the moon 7 hours early.  Go outside and check it out in a few hours to see if it is the same one.  We love you all!

Hello, Ireland!!!

Stories and pictures still to come, but we need to sleep.  It is 7:40pm here and we haven't slept more than a couple of hours between the adults.  The ladies are cooking dinner, Padraig is catching up on beauty sleep and Bobby is being awed by the warmth of a coal fire in the fireplace of our 1830's home for the next 4 nights.

Quick insight: 2.5 hour delay in Denver cuts into our anticipated 3 hour layover which leads to a 6:05 arrival in O'Hare's terminal #1 so that Di, Joy, Bobby and Padraig can transfer to meet Eisha at their 6:30 flight. (Waiting at terminal #5, which is not even connected to the other four terminals)  Some strained muscles, many pleas by Eisha on our behalf, a couple of nervous break downs in front of TSA officials and a lot of perseverance and we all...(I am sorry, but we are too tired to finish right now.)

...and we're off!!!!!

We are sitting at DIA and headed to Dublin.  In 23.75 hours we should be driving on the other side of the road with our friends Diana Spencer and Eisha Bohman.  If you think to pray for safe travel and divine appointments with the irish people please do.  We will be updating our blog with pictures, stories and prayer requests as we are able.

Count on no news being good news.

Joy's phone is able to send and receive text messages, but it is just short of highway robbery so only emergencies.

We love you all,

Bobby, Joy, Padraig, Diana