Spring Things

In Cana, there are two churches commemorating Jesus' first miracle: one is Catholic, the other is Orthodox. They do not seem to get along at many of the sites here. This is the Orthodox site, with only a pigeon enjoying the quiet, evening courtyard and holy water.

St. George is also important it seems. He is from Palestine and therefore depicted in many churches.

The Catholic church was filled with many more people, tour groups from all over.

We watched a group of couples renew their wedding vows and then went outside. In a back courtyard we observed a protestant group having their own marriage seminar, complete with roses for each wife, baklava and tiny cups of bad wine.



In other news, it is spring!
NV is busting with flowers and new things.
Rosemary hedge:
Wildflowers:
Baby donkey (one of three):
Baby lamb (born just last week!):


Almond blossoms:




Poem:

“unite my heart to fear your name” Ps. 86

With the croaking of the pigeons, the feathered rocks that must cry out,

And in the morning’s ever-light, a lamp never ending, laughing, shouting,

Unite my heart with hand and body, brain and lips, to fear your name.

What mystery to see your praise on lips that, unexpected, still sing songs.

The little badgers, frogs, and baby goats, a part of choruses for kings?

I am the least of all your souls, a little lower than the angels, yet a heart,

Give me a heart that is not here and there divided, but one piece of praise.

And in this desert land, where for most months the rocks are bare of green,

One season bursts the fetters of long-suffering and screams in scenes

Of red and yellow, sunset, blush, all incandescent flames of spring.

Still, where are my lips? Do I hold the flame within an undivided heart?

Do I see the stars in chorus and still think my life is big enough to keep?

Unite my heart to fear, to hold like fresh caught eggs, the glory and the awe,

The unexplaining and revealing story of the song of who you are.


B