Awed by nature’s force and power
that threw up and cooled
columns of wonder,
I found time to be equally awed
by a more delicate, transient beauty.
The Giant’s Causeway
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
2 May 2012
Category Archives: Travel
Purple flowers, Giant’s Causeway
Arrival
At 1:00 PM on Sunday 17 March, Asiana Airlines Flight OZ 221 left JFK International Airport. I was a passenger. The flight went well. I fell asleep for about 30 minutes two times. Each time was during a movie.
Arriving at ICN International Airport, all went well again. Except that I chose the slowest line through immigration. That did make it easy to find my lonely suitcase on the carousel. One of my hosts, the Rev. Dr. JC Lee met me as I entered the waiting area.
We drove, the Rev. drove and I rode, to Gunsan. We stopped for a great dinner along the way before arriving at the hotel. I slept some in the car.
I wrote a couple pieces on the plane – since I did not sleep, I needed to do something. However, they will have to wait until I have rested before I post them.
How Dickensian of me to keep you in suspense.
See you along the Trail.
Where the trail leads next
With thanks to the Rev. Dr. Hyunju Bae who invited me,
with thanks to several friends who advised me,
with thanks to family and friends who are praying and will pray for me,
tomorrow I leave for the Republic of Korea.
See you along the Trail!
Purple flowers, Old Bushmill Distillery
Purple paints the petal edges
of a flower that graces the grounds
of the Old Bushmill Distillery.
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
2 May 2012
Purple flowers,Carrick-a-Rede
On the trip to Belfast,
the bus stopped at the
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
The bridge remained uncrossed,
but the views were enjoyed
including this solitary flower.
Carrick-a-Rede
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
2 May 2012
Purple flowers, Carrickfergus
Delicate purple flowers,
take root among stones:
life.
2 May 2012
Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Purple flowers, Cliffs of Moher
Along the cliffs they stand
in silence:
watchers,
greeters,
sentries.
30 April 2012
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Why I like New York 27: tourists
As I sat waiting for the shuttle to take me from Times Square to Grand Central this morning, I watched a couple of tourists make the mad dash across the station to the train door. They entered the car, smiled and hugged each other. Joy filled their eyes as they pulled maps from their pockets and planned their day. Joy filled my heart as they reminded me how blessed I am to live in this amazing city.
See you along the Trail.
What would you do?
Photo by Ad Meskens
What do you do when your cab driver makes the sign of the cross while the cab is moving?
I confess it befuddles me. When I notice a cabbie make that simple, profound, ancient gesture in that context, I wonder what to think and feel.
Should I feel safer because the driver has reached out to the Divine for guidance and protection?
Should I worry because clearly the driver no longer has confidence in his or her abilities to navigate the situation and has to turn to another source for assistance?
Should I rejoice in the drivers affirmation that we all live and move and have or being in God?
Should I scan the area for danger?
Fall to the cab floor?
Prepare to fling open the door and jump, tuck and roll toward safety?
Join the driver in the action?
Use the situation for an opportunity to write something boring?
The possibilities seem endless.
To help explore them, I ask: “What would you do?”
See you along the Trail.
Along the Graybeard Trail 