just a snapshot... A few glimpses into my week... 4 days of overtime. Not nearly enough sleep. Accidentally telling my vice principle that I wanted to go on a date with him (in Japanese). Staying up until 2 AM making my first ever apple pie. 8 of my favorite students immensely enjoying the pie, ranting and raving about its "oishii"ness. A mother, probably about my age, with 2 young children, on the train. At one point she got up, for just a minute, walked to the other side of the train, and stared dreamily out the window. Till her daughter screamed, "ma ma." Then she came back to reality and joined them again. Eyes of weariness and determination to hide it. A smile for her children. I wonder what her life is like... One of my (dear, extremely hard-working) students winning first place in one of the English speech contest categories. She will be going on to the prefecture contest...until said time, I have been commissioned to "work the accent out of her." I have three weeks. I think we can do it ; ) Cicadas serenading me on an evening run through the rice fields. Frogs singing me to sleep. Tears. For various reasons. These seem to punctuate almost every week. I'd rather they continue, though, than stop. Therein lies the danger... A wonderful lunch with a dear friend. Sharing of hearts. Connection over coffee. Wisdom and encouragement are always found at Starbucks sitting across from a sister in Christ... Contortions of faces on camera. Raucous, tear-streaked laughter. Longing for home. But what is this? A place? A feeling? A person? Probably not to be found on this side of eternity. Only in intimate moments with my Creator can I receive brief glimpses into an eternal longing filled... These words: "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand...I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 41:8-10, 42:6-7 In the presence of my God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, my Emmanuel-under whose wings I take refuge, I lay my head down and ask for peaceful rest.