Sunday, July 15, 2018

God and gods

Friday, July 13, 2018
We sit in traffic for hours but finally make it to the Airbnb. We hear many languages: there are tourists everywhere -  from Europe, Indonesia, and all over Asia. There are American visitors, too.

You can buy gods of many kinds along the streets. In front of our hotel, there's a collection of Hindu parade gear and ceremonial things. Gilded musical instruments, statues, costumes. It's fascinating.

Saturday
You have to watch your feet as you walk along. That's a 3'X2' hole in the sidewalk, and you'll fall 2' until you hit the ground underneath.

We have breakfast at a restaurant that backs onto a rice paddy. We dangle our feet off the edge and watch the ducks parade back and forth along the fields.

It's a vegetarian and vegan place. I have cashew cream over porridge.
;

Waldemar has a tempe scramble. I'm more impressed than he is.

Beautiful flowers are for sale as we walk along ... or you might find them growing in your yard. 

Everywhere you look up from the sidewalk, there are temples, gateways with statues inside, and evidence of the integration of religion into everyday life.

Lunch is at a restaurant famous to locals: the mango juice and fresh coconut juice are refreshing.

The sink is totally weird. We wash our hands anyway.

Every corner has so much beauty that we can hardly take it in. The tropical heat and humidity produce moss on every stone and concrete surface.

Around a corner, a fence post overlooking the jungle has a crown on it.

As we walk back to the hotel, I take one more picture of a gateway. Bali is full of them.

Sunday
It's a long day. I have mango yoghurt, organic lettuce leaves, and part of a package of salted cashews from yesterday's run to the grocer. W is not interested, but I make lettuce wraps for a delicious breakfast.

W always makes sure we arrive on time, so we start for the airport at 8:30 for our 1:30 flight.  When we drive from Ubud to Kuta airport, we pass a huge Rama and Monkey Warriors installation in a roundabout. We're at the airport about 11.

We come home after an uneventful flight. As usual when we open the car door, the dog jumps all over us, brings a leaf in his mouth, and is happy to sit to be petted. He's guarded the place since we left and continues on night patrol when we're back.

Last week's conference is now a memory. It's back to regular work. This week,  I'm prepping to teach a class in a few weeks. That's got to come into sharp focus.


Read more:
*Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:9
*Lord, you silence the song of the ruthless. Isaiah 25:5
*The Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
*The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
*If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him. 1 John 2:29
Moravian Prayer: God of all things—help us to wait on you in faith that, in time, all will feel the blessings of your truth and justice. Help us to seek you for daily guidance.
Great Protector—thank you for keeping us safe from harm as a hen protects her chicks. How good it is to be kept safe, nestled in your care. Amen.

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