Been Missing the Green Spaces

I woke up earlier this week from dreaming about some of the wonderful places we would walk at this time of the year in northwest Pennsylvania, wishing for some of those afternoon walks that we used to take. The Lord must have know my needs because he has blessed us this week with not just one but with two places to soak in some of the "outdoors" right here in the city.

Yesterday, we had a long day of study and staying in the apartment with the heat of the day. So, in the evening we went out to walk around and explore some. We took the metro and we found a park, just a few metro stops from us that actually has some big trees, grass, water, open space, trails (well almost trails) and just an "out of the city feel" even though the apartment buildings circle the whole thing. 

Funny thing was that this is the same park that we had our first meeting with our co-workers a few weeks after we arrived in Lisbon last August, but we'd never discovered how close it was to us and how easy to get to. 

We found a bench in the quiet part of the park. I took a picture of Don sitting on a bench and then he made me sit for a picture, too. We found an old fountain on the backside of the park with 1916 engraved on it that didn't have any water in it. We have decided that even with some pretty hot days the spring weather here is the best - lush green, lots of flowers, gentle breezes that keep you cool on a hot day. If you want to come here sometime to visit it seems that May/June of the year would be perfeito!

Well, we came out of the metro and passed Chili's (yes, the American restaurant) and ended up going in to share a meal. Who wants to end a perfect walk with having to go back and cook and clean up in a hot kitchen?

A Sunday Afternoon Drive

On Sunday afternoon, our friends, Rui and Susana, drove us over to Cabo da Roca (the farthest point west on this continent), about 40 minutes from our house, and we were as close to Pennsylvania as we could be from across the ocean. It was an enchanting ride as we left the bright sunshine going up into the mist.  There was a front moving in and the wind was so strong that once Don almost stumbled over backwards. The wind made the clouds and sun play a game of tag but it was cold up on top of the mountain! On the way back home, we stopped at a beach side cafe that served crepes - yummy. 

We drove down the mountain, drove the coastline, and headed in the direction of the beaches that you see behind the rock in the first picture. When we got lower down the sand was blowing straight across the road and when we got back in the car after taking some pictures we all had sand in our mouths. Wonder what it was doing to the paint jobs on the cars that had been there for the day?

Anna, this is for you

I know you probably didn't get around to coloring eggs this year and since you couldn't come to Portugal for Easter break from college...

...here are the eggs from last year ; ) 

It is interesting here that they don't color eggs, they don't do the baskets like we do - at least they don't have the Easter grass or big baskets, and they don't really have the wide variety of candy that we do. They do have lots and lots of different kinds of chocolate almonds and other candied almond goodies. They have other varieties of chocolate but not all the same kinds that we do but almost all that I have tasted is really good!

Easter Morning - a song running through my mind...

I woke up this morning with the words, from a song by Keith Green, running through my mind. It wasn't one of the more popular Easter songs but it was a good song for me to think about. Maybe it was because I was having a hard time waking up, maybe it was because I'd seen churches lately who are "asleep in the light", or maybe because I've had some times of "holding it in" when I knew there was something I should be saying. It was a good Easter song for me.

ASLEEP IN THE LIGHT

Songwriter: Green, Keith                                   

Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down,

Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown,

How can you be so numb, not to care if they come,

You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.

---

Oh Bless me Lord, bless me Lord, you know it's all I ever hear,

No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear,

But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs,

And you just lay back and keep soaking it in, oh, can't you see it's such sin?

---

Cause He brings people to your door,

And you turn them away, as you smile and say,

God bless you, be at peace, and all Heaven just weeps,

Cause Jesus came to your door, you've left Him out on the streets.

---

Open up, open up, and give yourself away,

You've seen the need, you hear the cry, so how can you delay,

God's calling and you're the one, but like Jonah you run,

He's told you to speak, but you keep holding it in,

Oh, can't you see it's such sin?

---

The world is sleeping in the dark,

That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light,

How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed,

Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed,

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed.

---

How can you be so numb, not to care if they come,

You close your eyes and pretend the job's done,

You close your eyes and pretend the job's done,

Don't close your eyes, don't pretend the job's done.

Come away, come away, come away with Me, My love,

Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, My love.

Not a Full Reminder

On our walk home, we went into the church that I told you about in the previous blog, just to see what was inside. When you go into these centuries old churches the grandeur can be breathtaking but there is often a coldness and sadness that comes over you, too. Seeing the realistic carvings and paintings of Christ's suffering calls you to remember how much he gave for us, but it is almost like he is kept there on the cross. Where is the reminder of the empty cross and the victory won?

If you can zoom on the picture with the statue of Christ on the cross you will see the realism they tried to convey in his wounds - even to the bloodied knees and bruises from the beating.

White and Red

On Thursday (the day before Good Friday), Don and I walked down to the mall that is near our house to meed with our language coordinator. On the way we passed a very old church that is still used for mass each week. There were young people all around the entrance and waiting on the steps and all of them had on white shirts. Someone later told us that they were probably rehearsing for the procession that will be on Easter Sunday morning.

When we came out of the mall after our meeting and began our walk home we saw so many people walking to the stadium (across the street from the mall) all wearing some form of the color red. This stadium is home to the Benfica soccer team and their fans are hardcore.

I think there could be a poignant spiritual illustration somewhere in the midst of all that we saw.

Spring Around the Neighborhood

Spring is on it's way in to the city and we are enjoying some days of sun and milder weather. Most of time there are people just about everywhere. You see them walking on the sidewalks, coming in and out of buildings, standing in line at the small neighborhood markets and stores, waiting at the bus stop and on the metro platforms...  Oddly enough, if you really want some time without many people around on the streets or in the cars, just go out around 9 on a Sunday morning. You will see some more activity starting around 10 when people begin to get out and run down to a cafe or on the way to some place that they are going for the day.

I took these pictures on a Sunday morning before noon - see what I mean about few people?

This last picture is from the bus stop across the street from our apartment building (the one on the left side of the picture).