De anocheceres y amaneceres

Salmos 19:1-6

Psalm 19:1-6

Los cielos cuentan la gloria de Dios, Y el firmamento anuncia la obra de sus manos. Un día emite palabra a otro día, Y una noche a otra noche declara sabiduría. No hay lenguaje, ni palabras, Ni es oída su voz. Por toda la tierra salió su voz, Y hasta el extremo del mundo sus palabras. En ellos puso tabernáculo para el sol; Y éste, como esposo que sale de su tálamo, Se alegra cual gigante para correr el camino. De un extremo de los cielos es su salida, Y su curso hasta el término de ellos; Y nada hay que se esconda de su calor.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Anochecer in Island Bay aprovechando la luna llena, pocas nubes, no mucho viento y temperatura pasable.

Island Bay

Island Bay

Amanecer al día siguiente en el mismo lugar de Island Bay

Island Bay

Pocas veces madrugo y menos hago fotos tan temprano.  Esta vez no podía perderme de hacer fotos del claro amanecer en las colinas de Northland.

From Northland hill

Un poco de cabbage tree y harakeke, y bien pintadas en el azul la primera chaska de la mañana y la quilla todavía brillante

From Northland hill

Flores de harakeke casi listas para hacerse fruto

From Northland hill

La tranquilidad del harbour

From Northland hill

La bendición

 05 - Vocales - Que Dios te bendiga by jaroinz

I learned this song when I was at secondary school, singing bass line at the choir's school. Its lyrics didn't have much meaning to me as I didn't feel connection with God at all. I just enjoyed the melody and the voices blending here and there... so calming, so inspiring, so peaceful. I didn't know why this song was always so touching and didn't know either how was going to be part of my life in the coming years.

In 2005, situation was different. This time, the connection with God was there and also the longing of singing again this beautiful song. With a group of very dear friends from church we learned and recorded this song in Buenos Aires.

When I was going to leave Buenos Aires to start a new journey in NZ, as part of my farewell at church, my friends sang this song to me as a way to say goodbye. Again, felt the Lord's shining upon us. Tears were present this time.

Today's morning is about seven years since that farewell. Friendship with God is strongly present despite all my struggles, He's loving at all times.

Hope you find meaning in this melody as it's been meaningful for me all these years. Take care of yourself.

If the snippet above doesn't play the melody try this one instead:
http://soundcloud.com/jaroinz/05-vocales-que-dios-te-bendiga, or this link: http://www.myspace.com/564045470/music/songs/que-dios-te-bendiga-82630205

Credits and info:


Group Vocales 
Friends' voices: 
Mari C, Tini C, Caro I, Fede I, Javi R 
Letra y música: Peter C. Lutkin (1858-1931)
Arrangements: Javi 
Recorded in Coclea Records. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2005 

Lyrics
Basada en Números 6:24-26

Que Dios te bendiga;
que alce el Señor a ti su rostro
y te dé paz, y te dé paz;
que Dios haga brillar en ti su rostro
y se apiade de ti. Y se apiade de ti, 
se apiade el Dios de amor.
Amén.

English version

The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace, and give you peace,
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you, be gracious,
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26.

La espera / the anticipation

Nouwen writing about the anticipation of his encounter with God:

....
"Every little step toward the centre seemed like an impossible demand, a demand to requiring me to let go one more time from wanting to be in control, to give up one more time the desire to predict life, to die one more time to the fear of not knowing where all will lead, and to surrender one more time to a love that knows no limits. And still, I knew that I would never be able to live the great commandment to love without allowing myself to be loved without conditions or prerequisites. The journey from teaching about love to allowing myself to be loved proved much longer than I realized"
....

The return of the prodigal son. H. Nouwen. p.14

How difficult sometimes is to accept God's and others' love. I thing we measure ourselves so hard that there's no place for compassion and kindness to ourselves. A mysterious confusion we have about how to experience love and not get entertained in our selfish throne. God help us to embrace this mystery, to let your living waters wash away what is hindering us.

Que bueno re-leer este libro aquí en Wellington, esta vez con la capacidad de entender el lenguaje original que no desmerece un ápice de la traducción al español que leí hace mucho tiempo en Buenos Aires

¡Saludos!

What feeds your soul?

A ticklish question thrown by a friend in unexpected moment.

To feed my soul? Only living things need to be fed, otherwise... A living thing changes, grows, realises, goes through seasons... and so

My spontaneous answer to the question was: 'relationships' and then I thought what do I mean by relationships?

Here some links to old posts that may help to easy my thoughts up: Reflection is essential. Self awareness of my own behaviours, moods, strengths, wants needs, etc. A healthy relationship with my self is key.

In the same line of reflection, Dance and music is the vehicle to help relate my body and soul and get less governed by my thoughts and mind.

Then, the closer ones, the loved ones, the peers, acquaintances. To relate them with Compassion and respect to make my self get open my neighbours.

Above all, for me, the key feeding happens here:

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers.

Finding my self submitted to God is the relationship that gives meaning to my life and helps me to navigate this mysterious and wonderful journey of life.

Muchas gracias my friend for your enquiry mind raising this question

Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

La playa de Waikanae está situada en Kapiti que es la costa este al norte de Wellington. Para llegar allí es una hora de viaje en auto y si es en tren un poco mas.

Ya había estado por esta costa en otras oportunidades, lo especial de esta vez fue compartir un fin de semana de retiro con la comunidad cristiana Still Waters.

From Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

No pregunté pero pienso que el nombre de la comunidad Still waters está basado en los dos primeros versos del Salmo 23.

"El Señor es mi pastor,   

nada me puede faltar. 

Él me hace descansar en verdes praderas, 

me conduce a las aguas tranquilas"

From Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

Cuando hice estas fotos era invierno. Era temprano a la mañana con el sol recién calentando.

From Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

Apenas una brisa fresca, los únicos ocupados las gaviotas procurando alimento luego de la marea

From Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

Un fin de semana entre amigos reflexionando y buscando formas de cuidar y nutrir a quienes se acercan a Stillwaters en medio de necesidad.

Ver mas fotos en:

Stillwaters retreat - Waikanae

Un poco de reflexión

A modo de alimentar el alma y reflexionar también acerca de las cosas del día a día estoy leyendo un excelente libro de reflexiones diarias: Bread for the journey by Henri Nouwen. Copio sin permiso el siguiente texto que leí hace un par de días: (mas luego me haré tiempo para traducirlo)

Page 132. Fulfilling a mission

"When we live or lives as missions, we become aware that there is a home from which we are sent and to which we have to return." ..... "When the message has been delivered and the project is finished, we want to return home to give an account of our mission and to rest from our labours" ... "One of the most important spiritual disciplines is to develop the knowledge that the years of our lives are years 'on a mission'. "

From Easter in Taranaki

Folklore en Movimiento

Here's the people who with I've been walking step by step the places where the dance is a simple and spiritual expression of my/our roots here in earth and above in heaven. Great friends I'm journeying with even though not always is possible to experience in person each other.

Enjoy the few following snapshots of what we understand dancing is. Not a show, nor a performance, rather a humble gathering and invitation to celebrate life.

Chacarera de fuego - Chacarera of Fire



Chacarera con postas - Chacarera with relays



Another perspective


Reconocimiento a Ariel - Acknolewdging Ariel's committment and hard work



Hip hop folklorico - Just fun and relaxing



Chacarera Ritual 2010 - A journey of joy and community