Home and Reflecting ...

I am home now and reflecting on my trip to England.

This Blog is a small attempt to share what two full weeks held.
You may want to start at the bottom and read the posts in order ...
Be sure to visit my PicasaWeb Album for the full flavor of my time there.

To say that it was a trip of a life time, is an understatement. It was wonderful to get away and wonderful to get home. I know that this was just my first visit and next time I'll return with Al. There is still so much to discover.

I also would like to encourage EVERY student I know to study abroad. The world God created is so full of beauty and diversity - it is worth every penny to discover as much of it as you can.

In closing this Blog of my thoughts I'd like to say a great thanks to everyone for their love and support:

My Benedictine Ladies
- who held me up in their encouragement and prayers

My Family
- who let go of me for a couple of weeks, loved me, supported me and made sacrifices so that I could attend Oxbridge 2008.

My KISA - you know who you are ;-)

and finally

My New Friends at the C. S. Lewis Foundation who helped me make this trip happen, especially Jill Fort ...

xoxo
~ lisa

In the Darkness, God's Love Shines Brighter

Our last day in Cambridge. The clouds rolled in - warning us that they were about to unleash their furry on us. Everything became increasingly dark, but no matter how dark, the pure metals used atop the spires continued to shine brightly. It made me think of the dark times in my life, how the truth of God was brighter than any darkness the world could bring to me. I was thankful for the reminder.

Late Night Walk

This is for my new friend Robert,
who promises to visit St. Matthew's ...

Finally the sun has relinquished its tortours heat. The sky is still awash with light but the temperature has dropped. The gentle breeze is refreshing almost like a window was opened somewhere. Leaves rustle at my feet as my eyes drink in the deepening hues of the flowers that line the sidewalk. Purples become like velvet blots, yellows pop out cheerfully from their grey backgrounds, reds seem to drip becoming liquid. My senses are heightened as shadows begin to darken. My gaze shifts upward, drawn to the small patch of darkening blue. My mind lost in wonder inexpressible with mere words. I now walk were great thinkers and theologians have walked. How small and insignificant I feel in the presence of their memory. I continue ... without much awareness of self. I feel no worry nor woe. I begin to melt into the surrounding darkness.

I presence of something overcomes me, my gaze is draw skyward, something is watching me. Dare I look up? Without thinking my eyes shift - a face - hideous distorted features break into my calm. Large wide lips, eye open and staring - like lasers burning though me, piercing me. I divert my eyes, and my pace instinctively quickens. At last a bit of distance.

Leaves come at me more quickly now ... I intentionally keep my eyes down cast, but I cannot ignore another face coming at me. Adrenalin is pulsing thought my muscles, I feel hunted, yet my eyes are drawn upward. I behold something so horrible, yet I cannot reign in my curiosity. I am overcome and I look full on into the face of EVIL, a face that mocks everything decent; everything good. Its very presence diminishes the pleasure of living.

All along my walk I've been watched, the faces have been looking - planning my demise, my final moments ... yet I am pulled in and consumed by their ugliness.

King's College Chapel

A quick glance around King's College Chapel.
Beautiful ... spent about an hour here - just looking
at the side chapels, and wood carvings ...

Touching Stained Glass Piece

Beautiful and very old - stained
glass. The details are amazing.
Only 7 inches in diameter.
Click on the picture to view up close.

~ King's College Chapel

The Bells Call Me

Sunday - Only a few souls on the street as the bells of St. Mary the Greater call us to Eucharist. Just the day before the streets were FULL of tourists. What a difference a day makes.

Ely Chathedral

Breathtaking - no need for electronic amplification. What a delight it would have been to sing with the choir.

Stained Glass Museum - Ely Cathedral

Something about this lamb so safe near the Shepperd's heart. It has a modern touch to it.

I saw hundreds of examples of stained glass work, some as old as 1000 AD ... fantastic, inspiring images.

"Look at me, look at me. What do I remind you of?"

Last night we saw a beautiful film about the life
of CS Lewis. He had once said that it was only
after he became a Christian that his imagination
became free. To see the reflection of God's
creation in everything. He said that all of creation
was constantly calling out to him, "Look at me,
look at me. What do I remind you of?"

This morning walking back from church in Cambridge
I came upon these 4 trees. All standing so straight
and tall. They called out to me, "What do we remind you of?"
Humm I thought. They all stood so straight and tall,
pointing up to the blue sky above ...















Then I remembered a stained glass of the
4 Evangelists that I had just seen in Trinity College's Chapel.
Fun stuff - working on letting my imagination
be sensitive to what God wants to show me ... all around my world.

~ missing everyone, but so thankful I'm here.

Off to Ely Cathedral for Choral Evensong.

lisa

Last night in Oxford

Famous - Lamb and Flag Pub
(or Flamb and Lag after a few ales)
Me and new friends - Ian, from England,
bookstore provider for the conference,
and Erin, youth minister from Plano TX.

CS Lewis' home

Went on a tour of CS Lewis' home - The Kilns.
Nice, humble, and homey. There was a Lewis
expert there and he had tons of storys to share
with us. Me in the garden outside the front door.

God became Man ...

I was drawn in my this representation
of the Christ Child - he points the way.
(Pre-raphelite tapistry in Exeter Collge Chapel.)

Ancient Music by Candlelight

A coffee shop in the Crypt? huh.

Church of St. Mary the Virgin -
they've turned the crypt into a coffee shop
and seating is outside in the graveyard.
I am not kidding. The opening reception was
there. Someone said that the church has to
find someway to make money to keep up the
grounds. There was also some mention of
a new concept of the Communion of the Saints,
and that by having a community meeting place
like this one builds a sense of beloging ... uh
what planet am I on?

Down "this" alley, are you sure?

Heading down a dark alley with
two of my new friends, Ryan and Noelle.
Destination? The Turf Tavern -
fav hangout of CS Lewis and pal JRR.
Guiness was good, but a bit dark for my
taste. The had a nice wheat ale :-)

Picture of the Day

"O Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God;
Yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be Thankful." Ps 147:1

The view from my bus this morning,
I am thankful and sunburst made me smile.

Arrived

Arrived -
customs was a snap
luggage was intact
dinner was fish and chips
EVERYTHING is in bloom
Yippe!

(I was, however just asked
if I was someone's mom,
ah well can't all be perfect.)

~ lisa

Map of England

a week in Oxford
a week in Cambridge

leaving TODAY

I can hardly believe it, I'll be on a plane 12 hours from now.

I packed last night and was 4 pounds over the 50# limit, so of course I woke up this morning, my brain already thinking what I could "do without". After some rearranging I and now traveling with a bag of 47#. Yippie.

Heading out to LAX after seeing my daughters' play.
Flight leaves at 8:25pm AirFrance flt #61 -

Thanks to everyone for your kind wishes and prayers. And a special thank you to Albert <3 for encouraging me to go and holding down the fort while I'm gone.

~lisa

counting down

48 hours until I'm on my new adventure -
Check back for updates and leave me messages :-)

~ lisa