Sisters

Ah... Sisters. Tonight the family went out for dinner for an early birthday celebration. All I will say is that the "sharing" (more like stealing with spoons appearing out of nowhere and disappearing again before I could even begin to protest) of desserts had me crying with laughter. Oh my goodness, my sisters, no one like them! 

I never say it enough, but I really love you, admire you more that words could express, think that you are both so beautiful, inside and out... you make me so angry at times (but we're sisters - it's normal!) but you make me so happy too, and I feel such pleasure and pride being able to stand next to you as the middle sister, having the best on either side...

Flower picking

Do I really live in such a beautiful place? Yes! When my dad was offered the position of teaching at the Bible Institute of South Africa he always says, "They said there was no pay, but I said, 'There is a view of the ocean - we'll take it!'" And on stunning, sunny days like these, it is only the greatest pleasure living in Kalk-Bay :)

After dancing, Ray and I went walking along the mountainside with the dog, admiring the natural beauty quietly surrounding us. I laughed as I watched Ray throw sticks for Nao to chase after, disappearing into the tall, swaying grasses, my clothes getting caught on thorned berry bushes, their grey-green velvety leaves brushing against my legs, red-tipped succulents and aloes underfoot. 

The Spring flowers are in full bloom and I was desperate to capture but a glimmer of their bright, brilliantly coloured petals and vibrant promises of Summer, but I had no camera! I started by picking a single flower, one that I could not resist to enjoy, and before I knew it I had handfuls of flowers!! 

Standing on the top of the mountain, overlooking the bay, wrapped in Rays arms, I could only feel happiness. But soon I was stumbling over rocks, trailing behind Ray and Nao, searching for precious fynbos to add to my collection, suddenly aware of the magnificence of God's glorious creation, how each and every flower is so intricately designed, some so tiny, yet rich in detailed colour, unique in textures, sweetening the air with their own fragrances, the bees buzzing about... 

After I arranged my treasures into vases, bringing joy to the kitchen table, Ray and I sat outside, him with his coffee and me with my tea, having a late (well actually second) breakfast. Oh how I love these lazy moments! 

I hope that you all too have a lovely day and notice the beauty of all the little things around you, remembering the One who made them all.

Coming home

Now that she's back in the atmosphere 

With drops of Jupiter in her hair...

She acts like summer and walks like rain 

Reminds me that there's time a to change...

Tell me, did you sail across the sun...

Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star...

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet...

Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day 

And head back to the milky way 

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind 

Was it everything you wanted to find 

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there... 

It is past midnight and so I can say that today my beautiful, both inside and out, big sister is  returning after a year and a half in South Korea!! We are so excited, and what makes it even more special is that it is a surprise - my parent's don't know!! I cannot wait to have her back with us - we have missed her so very, very much. Thinking of her constantly and praying that the hours will pass swiftly until she is safely home. 

Thoughts on creation versus evolution

"God is; if He were not, nothing could be."

{Sibbes}

I have found myself becoming very frustrated this week in my Human Physiology lectures. I have had the privilege of having one of the greatest scientists in South Africa, and a worldwide leader in sports science, teach me. 

Here is a quote from his first lecture: "We somehow evolved... We have no idea how... We can't understand it... We somehow learned... We don't know..." (Sigh, how disappointing to hear an "expert" speak like that...) I would prefer science and not unsubstantiated human speculation please. He will often say, "It is so incredibly designed!" but won't give credit to a Designer. He will make ridiculous, completely unscientific statements... if you say we "somehow evolved to get an intelligent brain" without being able to give the slightest explanation as to how, then he has no basis in saying what he says at all! 

Science is empirical. It is based on observations. (And observations do change! My professors constantly tell us how science has changed over the decades, how we discover more or disprove what they thought to be correct - there is not constancy or absolute truths, there is no solid foundation!) When he teaches us real science, based on actual, observable, repeatable research,  he is brilliant. But as soon as he begins to make up stories about human origins I become angry. (It is not as though he as literally observed any of it!) How can he say we evolved from apes yet cannot explain what processes allowed this to happen - how did the molecules happen to know where to go in deleting nucleotides from genomic code, how did these amazing genes just happen to randomly form in the right place, how did the vitally needed proteins also come into existance to express these new genes, how did the biochemical environment of the body tolerate or allow such harmful "mistakes" to occur, how did the physiology adapt to cope with these new conditions and abilities - there are literally an infinite amount of factors to include in explaining his "facts" which he totally ignores, or just unthinkingly accepts. A good scientist is one who asks the right questions, who looks for the right explanation, who considers the millions of contributing consequences... He will just say, "I have absolutely no idea!" (And I agree!) He tries to put a roof on a building that has no walls. 

Evolution creates questions, questions that only the Bible can answer, for God is the Creator! It is so (mindblowingly) simple: the body works so perfectly, its systems intricately and beautifully integrating, working together as a whole is because He made it exactly so. I cannot even begin to describe the details of marvels and wonder of how the human body works: from the very structure of the atom, the forces holding it all together, its almost magical, constant, instrinsic properties, forming the building blocks of life, forming molecules that make everything we see around us on a microscopic scale... 

I believe that God created the world. It says that God spoke and all of the universe came into being. It was good. And humans were VERY good! It may not explain how He flung the stars into space or hung the sun and moon in the sky, but the Bible (which any unbiased historian will tell you is infallible) tells me that He did it, and I believe it! There will always be mystery, for we are finite beings trying to understand the Infinite! Do I believe that a mighty, all-powerful, sovereignly upholding, sustainer, creative genius, designer God make it all? Yes. Of course. 

What further frustrates me is that evolution is a naturalistic/materialistic worldview, and yet the believer (yes, evolution is a faith) fails to take their view to its completion.  If you believe in evolution then what you are saying is that you are a random, directionless, pointless accident. You are not special, you are not unique, you do not matter, you have no worth, you have no purpose and your life has no meaning. If evolution had to happen again then you would not be here. You are no more important than dirt - you came from it. (And please don't even get me started on the "Big Bang" and the impossibilities of the chemical evolution - how can everything come from nothing?)

In a world where every one is searching for purpose, for acceptance, for love, for a meaningful existence, it is unfathomable to say that you are the pointless result of a random accident. You were created. You were created for a purpose. You were created for a reason. You were created in God's glorious image, for His glory, for His enjoyment. He created you for a loving relationship with Him. That is why you long for more. That is why you crave belonging, for you are lost! You can only find lasting fulfilment in Christ Jesus, in being a part of your Maker's family, in living forever in His awe-striking presence, praising Him for all of eternity. Without God you have nothing. Without Him you are nothing. 

Imagine looking at the Mona Lisa and saying, "It is an accident, the paint just happened to fall exactly where it fell onto the canvas, resulting in this breath-taking picture." That is ludicrous! And how do you think Leonardo da Vinci would feel hearing that about his masterpiece and not receiving the rightful credit he is due? Looking at the spectacular, indescribable awesomeness of creation and attributing it all (including astounding you!) to evolution instead of to God is unfathomable. 

I have realised, though, that getting upset about evolution is like getting angry at asking a blind man to describe a rainbow - he cannot see! In the same way, my professor is blind. But I pray that one day, by God's grace, he will see the life-changing truth. 

All you need is a cup of tea

Some days are just longer and harder than others. They begin wonderfully - a calm, cool morning, happy hello's, running into your friends, students smiling around campus (it had to be because of the sunshine!), laughing in Human Physiology at your professors stories, eating M&M's in Genetics and Biochemistry finishing early. But then everything seems to collapse around you at the same time - from a nightmare practical, to blinking back tired tears of frustration, feeling replaced and discarded, wanting nothing more than to just get home and not have to endure train delay after delay, trudging back in the dark with only a tower of work waiting that was meant to be done yesterday.

Just as I was ready to give up I glanced out of the window. It took my breath away. Pearly, pink skies reflecting on the tranquil ocean. It was beautiful. It reminded me of the bigger picture, of who is in control of it all, of who's purposes for me are perfect!

Yes, I cried when I got home (mostly in relief to finally have the day end) but it was cleansing, a release of exhaustion. And of course he held me and spoke such truth with love into all that I had been struggling with. His gentle care, his comforting wisdom, his understanding, his encouragement and support were just what I needed. He brought back perspective. He always reminds me of what is truly important and to keep my gaze on eternity.

A steaming bath, warm pyjama's, tea (of course), and chocolate after this long and hard day have also helped a smidgen :) 

Afternoons spent with you :)

Every afternoon R and I walk our family dog Nao (except when it rains... you know all about that!) Today was stunningly beautiful - the warmest winter day :) Just before we left I saw fishing boats coming into the Kalk-Bay harbour.

This is home. This is the route we walk, the mountains behind us and the ocean ahead. I love how the colour of the ocean changes each day... We walk hand-in-hand, Nao straining on the lead, the trains rumbling next to us, following the saltly smell of the sea, listening to the gentle crash of the waves on the sandy shore, running up and down, the foam disappearing as quickly as it appeared... (Thank-you Lord - we love living here!)

We walk the monster around the lower Silvermine Vlei. I love the crunch of our feet on the orange clay pathway, and how it turns to a rich, red mud after it rains, patterned with footprints, bicycle tires, dog tracks. It is so quiet and peaceful - I always feel refreshed after one of our adventures around the wetland.

(And the relaxing under the clear, brilliant blue sky, begins)

(Wet feet!)

(Splashing in the river)

Walking between walls of flowers... tall golden rushes, towering high above our heads, the grass swaying back and forth, making music in the breeze, listening to the birds chirp and sing, dart in and out of their nests... the fiery orange and bright yellow fynbos, red tipped aloes, velvety succulents, budding proteas... 

(The wooden bridge flooded)

(Nao eating a flower, of course...)

(My "puppy")

And when we all come home, the dog wet, our legs aching, lulled by the sound of the rushing water, eating orange slices in the warm sunshine we are already excited for the next day's afternoon... where I can spend more time with my best friend (and the naughty Nao), because nothing makes me happier :)

Dancing is poetry in motion*

My older sister has always loved dancing. For years she pleaded with my mother and was the first of us sisters to join Rhythm Productions Dance Centre, with my then tiny, younger sister of three years next and finally me. We had no idea that years later we would all still be dancing and loving every moment!  

Dancing for me is a form of expression - I may not be the most talented, the strongest or most flexible, but I have passion - a light that shines forth from within. When you see that glow on someone's face you cannot tear your gaze away...

Nothing is more wonderful, yet terrifying, than performing... you are standing in the darkened wings of the stage, the number before you a blur... you are totally focussed, heart pounding with fear and excitement, sweat dripping down your back... you see the heavy velvet curtain rise, you feel the beat of the music flow through you, blinded by the bright lights are you step on stage... this is your moment!

It is always over so quickly. When you strike your final pose of your final performance and the rush of adrenaline suddenly disappears, you feel a sense of exhilaration, disbelief, disappointment. Hour upon hour rehearsing for months on end, only to be over after a few minutes on stage. It is surreal. 

I have the opportunity of dancing for a company called Grace. This icy morning, while the rain poured down, we re-learned a piece of choreography that we performed more than a year ago at the Artscape theatre for an upcoming show. The laughter, the confusion, how it all comes back, how we so candidly tease each other, rely on one another, how all our different personalities are able to combine, bringing out each other's strengths, covering one another's weaknesses - we are a family :)

It is worth the early mornings and the late nights. It is worth the sacrifices we have to make - the sore bodies, the burning legs, the gasping breath, the agonizingly stiff muscles, the blisters, the bruises, the bleeding feet. When you have to push yourself to the very limit of your abilities, to the breaking point, in order to achieve something beautiful, the end result is indescribably worth it all. It is a small glimpse of perfection, the sheer joy  of being able to simply dance, the roaring applause of appreciation, the pride of your teacher and memories made with friends. 

Dancing is about creativity, commitment, pain, a story being told, growth, challenges, respect, relationships being built, freedom, life, worship, giving glory to God...