His Cherry Blossom

As the sun rises across the Arabian Peninsula today, the people of these nations enter fasting mode. They will not allow food or water to touch their lips. In fact, they will not allow anything at all to enter their mouths during the daylight hours, including gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, smoking or anything of the sort. The only thing they are allowed to chew on is a stick from a certain tree known for its resin flavor. They will continue throughout the day attempting work and study, sleeping and abstaining from anything considered a distraction from the holy including listening to music, physical intimacy, and any sort of entertainment. Instead they are to read through their holy book and pray more frequently.  Why do all this? Because they are following in the footsteps of their leader and believe God requires every devout believer to observe this type of fast for an entire month each year based off of the waxing and waning of the crescent moon. I asked one of my local friends as ...

Imagine a tall slim figure standing erect poised to start a dance. Everything from the tip of her curved hand to the bend of her toes speaks of grace and control. Then, suddenly, a note hits the air and she's off spinning, leaping, and dancing as though the music lived inside her. What is it that keeps our eyes fastened on her? What is it that speaks of beauty and freedom and hope? It is the divine mix of grace and power poured into one human being. The strength of her muscles and the self-control of the mind that calls her body to be fully alert and yet appear to be effortlessly floating.  I see it in the palm trees too. As the wind whips around them, they bend and sway just like that dancing figure. They appear to be effortlessly teased around by the wind, but their trunk stays sunk firm in the ground and deep below the surface their roots grow stronger still. There is an invitation for us as created beings to dance in rhythm with the song of our Creator.  Now I realize that...