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Annie and I went to a Taize service last night at St. Mary's, the parish church here in Charlbury. It was a moving and much-needed experience. This form of worship has some solemn joy in it that speaks to me of the holiness of God. It is a time of singing, scripture, and silence. In that high-arched sanctuary where Christians have worshipped for 700 years, it was very good to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

It was Candlemas. Appropriately, the service was candle-lit, and each one of us was invited to light a candle in prayer at one point in the service. In both our morning service at the Baptist church and this evening one, the theme of trusting God has been repeated. I was reminded of my need for Him and my own baseness and inability to handle the new challenges I am facing without His daily support.

In the morning the message was about possessions: are they a source of security of a millstone around our necks? The answer is pretty clear -- our possessions can easily weigh us down. Yes, we have physical needs, as food, shelter, water, but we hesitate to trust God to provide them, feeling safer when we can accumulate wealth and provide them for ourselves. We trade joy for this security, feeling the need to protect our possessions at all costs so that we have time and freedom to do little else.

"Like an almond tree that blossoms at the first hint of spring, a breath of trusting makes the deserts of the heart burst into flower again."

As we listened to the above meditation from Brother Roger and sang:

"It is good to trust in the Lord our God,

Trust and hope in the Lord our God."

I saw glimpses of events in my future life, things that I dream and worry about -- from the essays I have to write, to the vocation I long to find, to the marriage I may or may not ever have. I dream and worry, but these things are already complete in the mind of God.

"Our darkness is never darkness in your sight.

The deepest night is clear as the daylight."

We spent some time praying together after the service, for the town, for our hosts and fellow students, for our loved one, for each other. I know that God has a plan for us, reasons for us to be in England, purposes to fulfill.

His plans are so intricate, and he makes them so simple for us:

Trust and obey.

"Amonge ws synfull wrechys he oweth to be magnyfyde."

-from Mankind

I love this place! It's the Saxon tower on Cornmarket -- the oldest building in Oxford! It was built in 1050 AD -- before the Norman Conquest of England, which totally blows my mind.

One thing I love about England is the high regard the British people have for the law.

Anatomically correct bathroom (sorry, I mean loo) sign, at Morton's on Broad Street, one of my new favourite places, not least because, like many Oxford eateries, you can buy your food/drink downstairs and eat upstairs. This works out particularly well when you pack a bag lunch on a rainy day!

The Radcliffe Camera (aka Radcam), another part of the Bodleian Library, and a very beautiful and distinctive building. As soon as I went there, I started recognizing it in the background of movies.

This is the old schools quadrangle of the Library with doors to all the original schools. (I love these doors! They're one of my favourite things.)

Main entrance to the Divinity School in the Library -- statue of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Bodley.

Amy swearing her oath before Helen :

I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, nor to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library, or kindle therein, any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library.

This semester, we have the privilege of being readers at the Bodleian Library, a revered and fairly exclusive institution -- chances are good that this is the only time in my life that I will be allowed in the reading rooms of the Library, which are off-limits to the public.

More of the courtyard.

Inscription

The courtyard we entered when we first went into the Bodleian Library.

The Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street -- there's a little door in the fence through which we first approached the Bodleian. The heads are of Roman Emperors.

But they moved the castle, and it became a jail, and now a hotel/shopping centre.

Oxford Castle mound -- the castle, built in Norman times (1071), fell off and now it's just a mound.

This pic shows Madeleine and Peter, the two wonderful directors of the program.

Waiting for that eastbound train to Oxford the first Monday -- keeners that we are, we were all early. We soon learned that the train is generally late.

Not a great shot, but it shows the ever-present sheep!

I love the cottages, and I especially love the vines with the little yellow flowers dotting them -- can you believe it's January?

Charlbury fields forever. . . you can see the cricket club sort of behind the trees, on the right side.

Heather Mackenzie under the archway of the church door.

I gasped in wonder when I saw this tree You can't tell in the picture how huge and storybookish it is, but trust me, it's wonderful, unreal. Sort of like the rest of the country.

The Charlbury parish church, St. Mary's. The interior has recently been renovated, but the building itself dates back to the 1300's[!], making it the oldest building in the village.

Peeking into someone's back garden on our tour of Charlbury

Sunset over Brown's Lane, Charlbury

Peter told us that the Playing Close (basically the village green) is "probably the most attractive bit of Charlbury". . . such an unattractive town generally.

This "fountain" is a memorial to Queen Victoria's visit to Charlbury and to the introduction of running water to the town two years -- apparently they were a little late on one monument, so they very practically combined it with the other one!

The Bull Inn in Charlbury -- one of four pubs, this establishment is also a hotel.

A house in Charlbury. Most are built from Cotswold limestone -- the village is utterly beautiful.

The beginning of our tour of Charlbury on the first day (Christy M.)

The journey from London to Charlbury.

What we saw from the bus window.

Said first glimpses.

Annie gasping at our first sight of the English countryside.

Our Plane.

Wing

Sunrise over the Atlantic

Boarding

Carly in the Maple Leaf Lounge

Heather O'Brien, one of the girls in the programme from ABU -- she got herself, Carly, and me into the Maple Leaf Lounge at the Ottawa airport, which was sweet -- free fruit, cheese, olives, baguette, soup, and beverages, a lounge with leather chairs, even an open bar, though we didn't use it. . . very posh

free food!

and with Dad.

at the airport with Grampa, Grandma, and Krissy

Location

in 12 hrs: Peterborough
in 24 hrs: Ottawa
in 36 hrs: London
in 48 hrs: Charlbury

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Smile from a Veil? (so you think you can tell. . .)

Idealist (NF) You are a passionate, caring, and unique person. You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals. You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily. Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings. You seek out other empathetic people to befriend. Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships. In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily. At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career. With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone. As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style. On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.

The Three Question Personality Test

All these personality tests! I now know that I am a green-blue golden retriever who usually scores as INFP. We're all amateur psychologists these days. But what difference does it all make? I think I have learned more about myself from a few of my close friends who are willing to speak the truth in love than I ever will from a quiz. Certain things ring true though:

"you enjoy beauty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life"

"living in your own inner world"

''You are hesitant to let people get close"

"You love to laugh"

"Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision -- no matter what it is."

"You can spend all night talking to someone." (This annoys my sister.)

One thing I have realized about myself is that I can be a people pleaser. I often try to shape myself into a person that I think other people will like or approve. Too often I look at others, see the wonderful qualities they have, and wish I was more like them (and, consequently, less like me).

I don't want to stop caring what other people think; I just think I need to focus that energy into being considerate of others, not into being someone I'm not. What I keep reminding myself is that God did not create me to be a second-rate clone of someone else. He created me to be the best Lauren that I can. (Check out Galatians 6:4.) Just something to keep in mind as I move into a new adventure. . .

(Why the huge gap? I don't know; I don't understand html, but read on. . .)

Your #1 Match: ISFP

The Artist You are a gifted artist or musician (though your talents may be dormant right now). You enjoy spending your free time in nature, and you are good with animals and children. Simply put, you enjoy beauty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life. Gentle, sensitive, and compassionate - you are good at recognizing people's unspoken needs. You would make a good veterinarian, pediatrician, or composer.

Your #2 Match: INFP

The Idealist You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world. Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships. It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close. But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop. You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

Your #3 Match: ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you are very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

Your #4 Match: ESFP

The Performer You are a natural performer and happiest when you're entertaining others. A great friend, you are generous, fun-loving and optimistic. You love to laugh - and you like almost all people equally. You accept life as it is, and you do your best to make each day fantastic. You would make a good actor, designer, or counselor.

Your #5 Match: INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

You scored as Donatello. You are intelligent and peaceful...maybe you should consider going into a different line of work. Even though you are friendly, you should try to fit in with other more often. Donatello 68% April O'Neil 54% Master Splinter (The Rat) 54% Leonardo 43% Michaelangelo 36% Raphael 25% Which teenage mutant ninja turtle are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Holidays Out

Christmas has been a tempest! I have finally gotten a break for a few days. . . but why is it that as soon as you give yourself that break from going non-stop, your body decides that it is the perfect time to get sick? Yep, I’m coming down with a cold.

I can’t complain, though. The holidays have been wonderful. I kind of laid out my plans for them in an earlier blog, and things went according to schedule. I got to spend Christmas with family and New Year’s with friends. It was so wonderful to see people that I have missed more than I realize. . .

Some memories from Christmas 2005:

1. Going to see Narnia. The first time I went, before school ended, felt like the start of the Christmas season. Plus, it was followed by several rounds of Mafia, which is always fun. Last night I went with my sister and it felt like the end of the Christmas season. Full circle and all that. The movie wasn’t perfect, but it was great to see that magical kingdom come to life.

2. My sister and I took our little brothers out for a fun afternoon on the 24th – but the bowling alley closed just before we got there! Thankfully someone (I won’t say who, but her name rhymes with foreign) had the *brill* idea of going to McDonald’s Playplace (they were called Playlands in my day, but times have changed). The Playplace has multiple levels; it’s basically a castle. No one was in there but the four of us and trust me, it was just as much fun for me and Krissy as it was for the boys. Then we had a “battle fight” with dollar store swords.

3. My cousin Erik taught me how to play “Smoke on the Water” on the guitar. It actually made me want to learn to play, even though I vowed never to play an instrument again after Grade 8 flute.

4. Boxing Day shopping at the Rideau Centre with my cousin Samantha. For some reason I decided to buy a hideous vest (ohay, not as bad as those ones) from Smart Set, which I realized after looked more like something from Northern Reflections. Fortunately they let me return it to the Peterborough location for a full refund.

5. Visits from out-of-town friends. I am one of these, I suppose. But it was especially nice to see people from far off lands, like Kevin from AB and Shadia from NC. Also, out-of-towners = good food. Heather brought me lavender honey from France (okay, she didn’t go there, but she is an out-of-towner now), I got to try Korean food for the first time at Shadia’s house and some really good Chinese tea at the Pedosiuks. I was counting, and I think I spent some time with about 60 or 70 people over the holidays! How lucky am I?

6. On New Year’s Eve, a friend and I picked up a hitchhiker – sometimes you just gotta live on the edge. Afterwards I realized that he may have been one of the people who ran from the huge party two doors down from my house. The houses on my street are not very big, but it sounds like they managed to fit about 200 people in one before the police came.

7. New Year’s Day service at Calvary. The message was that “God always has a plan”. This is so simple and so true. I want to remember it every day for the rest of 2006. The sermon was preached from the book of Jeremiah, which I am reading right now:

Verse of the day:

Does a maiden forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number. (Jer. 2:32).

A reminder that every day the first and last thing I should remember should be the Lord, much more important that jewelry, make-up, perfume, or what clothes I wear. After all:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. (1 Pet. 3:3-4)

Most of us never miss our morning routine, whether just a shower and change of clothes or elaborate self-styling. But how much more important is it to have our spirits in check every day? Otherwise rebellion or irritability can easily set in. Another one of those things that is easy to understand but hard to live.

On another note, I will probably be at Redeemer overnight Friday, because I have to pick up my loan documents. . . if anyone is free to hang out.
Oh, and finally, congratulations to Meghan Maher and Charlie Elgersma who got engaged over Christmas! (Doesn’t THAT sound like it belongs in Time Out?)