Serenity By The Sea

Dear Friends,

We want to clue you into something that is amazing, awesome, and you should definitely do it within the next year!

Our dear friends and spiritual mentors, Phil and Patti DiGregorio have just finished building a wonderful retreat home on the Oregon Coast -- and you're going to love staying in it!

Phil and Patti have opened their home and hearts to us over the years. They've been guides and companions in the journey of life. Phil is a "tent-making" spiritual leader. For those who haven't heard this term, the Apostle Paul made and sold tents for a living on purpose -- so he would not take support money from the people he served.

Our friend Phil's first love is blessing people by sharing the infinite beauty of God. But over the years, he's chosen to support his family without taking money from a local body of Christians. This means he works long hours and still puts a lot of his time into encouraging and guiding people in their spiritual journey. And Patti? Well.... she's a walking, talking, kindness-machine!

You can help us support Phil and Patti by staying at their new place. Its amazing! Instead of giving your money to some hotel on the coast, consider supporting your local "tent-making" spiritual guide.

Serenity by the Sea is the perfect place for a family group, church group, or corporate group to reflect and enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the Oregon Coast.

Please check out Serenity's website and give them some business in the next year. If you can't give them business, commit to sharing their site with someone who might!

This is SO IMPORTANT, we've chosen to create a PERMANENT LINK TO THEIR SITE in the right column. Just scroll down and click on "Serenity By the Sea" to find out more!

PS Looking for an investment and life insurance advisor and live in the Pacific NW? Our friend Phil can help you out too! Click on the Serenity link and send him an email to get started.

This is the Pond . . . .

STA60269, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This is the pond. . . .

This is the pond at Lutherhaven in front of the Welcome Center with goldfish in it . . . .

This is the pond at Lutherhaven in front of the Welcome Center with goldfish in it that was surrounded by snow and starting to get icy last week . . . .

This is the pond at Lutherhaven in front of the Welcome Center with goldfish in it that was surrounded by snow and starting to get icy last week that Zoe wanted to explore . . . .

This is the pond at Lutherhaven in front of the Welcome Center with goldfish in it that was surrounded by snow and starting to get icy last week that Zoe wanted to explore and into which she fell . . . . breaking through the ice . . . . to be rescued by mom who was hanging christmas lights nearby.

This is the Zoepond.

Blustery Day on Lake Coeur D'Alene

STA60296, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This was a windy and wild day on the lake a few days ago. We'll be posting more in a few days. Our lives have been a little wild as we settle into our new roles. But soon, we'll make a little more time to connect with our friends and family!

Peace and Hope This Season!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are thankful for so many of you! We would love to list each person but the list would be so long and we would risk leaving some key person out! We are now getting settled into our new jobs and temporary home. Idaho is incredibly beautiful! We don't have a reliable internet connection as of yet (we are at Mom and Dad Kunkels for Thanksgiving just now) but are hoping to soon. We will be updating our blog more often....we promise! Check out the fliker link on the right hand column "get kunky pics" from our last week in Edinburgh and our entry back into the USA.

We May Be Out of Touch . . . .

Funny title, huh?

Just to say that things are wild right now. We are preparing for a big trip, and afterward, will be in transition for a few weeks.

We won't be able to post to this blog for a while, or very often.

There will be pictures, at some point, of our last few days here in Edinburgh. Also our trip and travels in the States. And our new place, when we get there. Stay tuned.

And in the meantime, check out some of the other links on this site.

House Gig

Okay. . . so its sort-of a "house gig!"

We were originally hoping to visit with friends in homes when we returned. To share some "key learnings," and play some tunes. Have a dinner. Chat a bit. Talk and listen to God. That's the mix that makes a "house gig."

But we don't have the time for more than a single gathering when we first get to the States. We will be heading quickly up to Lutherhaven to work -- so, enter plan B, exhibit number two, stategy deux:

Wednesday, November 8th is a House Gig at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oregon City. . . yeah, they've got enough room for anyone who wants to show up! Please RSVP, see info at end of this blog.

Here's the details:

Where: Trinity, Oregon City. (16,000 S. Henrici Rd. -- googlemap it if you don't know how to get there!)

When: Wednesday, November 8th, 5:45PM Soup Supper, 7 PM "Show and Tell Time"

Who: Anyone who likes Dust, Jan, Lil' or Zo', wants to hear about how they've been, hear a couple of tunes, capture a piece of what God's up to in their lives and the world beyond America. . . . Did we mention, Show and Tell?!

Why: Hmmm.

Post your "why would I come" in the comment section under this blog!!!

Please RSVP the Trinity Office: email at trinity@bctonline.com or call 503-632-5554

An Email to Lily and Zoe

Snow Dining Hall, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Yesterday, Lily and Zoe got a special email from Rebecca, our friend at Lutherhaven where we will be going to work.

Rebecca sent some pictures of camp too! The picture above is from last winter. She also wrote a wonderful little email that gives you an idea of the landscape and animals. . . . here's a portion:

"Dear Lily and Zoe . . . . Yesterday, Bob (he’s a guy we all work for) saw an owl on the tree outside the office, it was really small and cute. There are deer that run all over this place and the other night one of them actually climbed up on mine and Uncle Stephen’s back porch and ate my flowers. I guess they like pretty red flowers. Can you imagine a deer climbing stairs just to get flowers to eat? There are turkey’s that you’ll see on the road into camp, and a bunny that lives up the road, and sometimes you’ll see lots of big elk in the field on the way into camp. One night I counted 20 of them! There are squirrels that live here (mostly right now they live in the wall under our bathroom) but you’ll see them this spring, and there are fish in the pond. Big orange ones and a catfish that lives there too. Bob likes to feed them and he’ll let you help!"

Thanks Aunt Rebecca for making Lily and Zoe's day brighter, and giving them pictures of where they are going.

Click on the "ILK" Icon!

Our friend Colin, runs a business here in Edinburgh and has just kicked off a sweet collection of fashion T-shirts hand-printed and sweatshop-free!

Click on the ILK icon in the right column to visit his site and check out some of the merchandise. Dust already wears one of the Tiger T-shirts. . .maybe you'll see a pic on this site someday!

A Quote: "ILK's collection is about creative living and the simple things, making music, growing vegetables and the beauty of what’s outside our front doors."

Leaving Comments

A thought occurred to us. . .

Many of you used to leave little notes on the "chat box" that we had up in the right column. Why don't you consider doing the same thing -- just use the comment link at the bottom of each post. That way, we'll still hear from you if you want.

For example, you could click on the "comment" below this post and write something right now!

Smilin' in the Hebrides

STA60262, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Yup.

That's sun in our faces.

We got some of it! In fact, we had a wonderful time. Dust's friend Alastair and girlfriend Claire were with us at his family place in North Uist.

North Uist in the Hebrides is an amazing landscape with beaches and peat bogs and lochs and machar (scottish prairie) and meandering estuaries and islands as far as the eye can see. . .

Some of you may not want to see the 200 - odd pictures we took during our trip. . . but if you do, just click on the link in the right column titled "get kunky pics here."

Final Scotland Trip. . . .

Since we are now preparing to leave Scotland on November 1st, we decided its important to get out one last time and see the country. Many of you may not know this, but we went over a year here as a family before we were able to "get out" to the highlands together just a few weeks ago. Crazy! Well, we're going to make up for lost time now.

Dustin has a Scot friend, Alastair, from his outdoor education group, whose family owns a croft (Scots old-school farm and cottage in the highlands) up in the Hebrides. To get there, you drive up north through the highlands, turn west, cross the bridge between the mainland and the isle of Skye and drive to Uig where you board a ferry and cross to North Uist. . . . yeah, its out there on the edge of everything!

We're looking forward to just getting out as a family one more time before we leave.

Here's a link to the Hebrides to see where we're going:

http://www.virtualhebrides.com/location/index.htm#location_hebrides

Keep us in prayers -- a little sunshine in late October would be nice, but probably not required!

Dust, Jan, Lil' & Zo'

Okay, never mind. . .

Alright. . . never mind. The chat box was giving issues, so I just chopped it up and dropped it off this site. Sorry to those of you who like to leave notes.

Here's an idea: send us a real card on real paper (preferrably made by your own hands)!

Chat Box Up and Running

Hey everyone. . . got the chat box going again. . . enjoy! Leave us a message!

Be sure to check out the little "extras" on the site. . . the labels will continue to take shape as we label our posts -- a great way to look at stuff that is linked by a common theme.

Some Changes on This Site!

You'll probably notice that things look a little different.

Blogger just kicked on their "beta" version for blogging and we're giving it a go! The only thing we can't figure out how to put in here is the little "chat box" some of you have used. . . I'm sure we'll put that in later. In the meantime, if you really, really, really need to talk. . . send and email or phone!

One of the great things added to beta blogger is the opportunity to tag all entries. There will be a "Tag Link" in the right column soon, so keep checking back to find blogs in searchable categories.

Achtung! House Gig info coming soon!

Piper down. . . I mean, up!

STA60004, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Notice the piper on the battlements. . . .

We went for a saturday drive last week and stopped at a castle, only to find it closed for a wedding. Bummer!

Then we heard the screaming wail of Scotlands favorite instrument streaming through the trees. Score!

You Know You're In Scotland When . . . .

STA60015, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

You know you're in Scotland when. . . .

The local butcher shop is older than your native country.

A Change of Pace . . . Meditation on Rublev's "Trinity"

Rublev's Trinity, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

(Rublev's "Trinity" is considered a historically "ground breaking" icon by most scholars)

First of all. Don't read any further unless you are ready to stop what you are doing and be still. Really. There's no point in reading further unless you are prepared to stop, and make some space for meditation. If you cannot do that RIGHT NOW, then come back another time and meditate. This post will still be here!

Now. If you have decided that you are ready to make space, here we go. The icon above hangs under the cross at our meeting place here in Edinburgh. Recently, one of our leaders preached on some of the themes found within this icon. I have found a decent meditation that helps explain the significance of the icon, and copied and pasted it below. The following are not my words (see link at the bottom).

Rublev's "Trinity":

This icon takes as its subject the mysterious story where Abraham receives three visitors as he camps by the oak of Mamre. He serves them a meal. As the conversation progresses he seems to be talking straight to God, as if these 'angels' were in some way a metaphor for the three persons of the Trinity. In Rublev's representation of the scene, the three gold-winged figures are seated around a white table on which a golden, chalice-like bowl contains a roasted lamb. In the background of the picture, a house can be seen at the top left and a tree in the centre. Less distinctly, a rocky hill lies in the upper right corner. The composition is a great circle around the table, focussing the attention on the chalice-bowl at the centre, which reminds the viewer inescapably of an altar at Communion.

On one level this picture shows three angels seated under Abraham's tree, but on another it is a visual expression of what the Trinity means, what is the nature of God, and how we approach him. Reading the picture from left to right, we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Colours

Rublev gives each person of the Trinity different clothing. On the right, the Holy Spirit has a garment of the clear blue of the sky, wrapped over with a robe of a fragile green. So the Spirit of creation moves in sky and water, breathes in heaven and earth. All living things owe their freshness to his touch.

The Son has the deepest colours; a thick heavy garment of the reddish-brown of earth and a cloak of the blue of heaven. In his person he unites heaven and earth, the two natures are present in him, and over his right shoulder (the Government shall be upon his shoulder) there is a band of gold shot through the earthly garment, as his divinity suffuses and transfigures his earthly being.

The Father seems to wear all the colours in a kind of fabric that changes with the light, that seems transparent, that cannot be described or confined in words. And this is how it should be. No one has seen the Father, but the vision of him fills the universe.

The wings of the angels or persons are gold. Their seats are gold. The chalice in the centre is gold, and the roof of the house. Whether they sit, whether they fly, all is perfect, precious, and worthy. In stasis, when there is no activity apparent on the part of God, his way is golden. When he flies, blazes with power and unstoppable strength, his way is golden. And in the Sacrifice at the centre of all things, his way is golden.

The light that shines around their heads is white, pure light. Gold is not enough to express the glory of God. Only light will do, and that same white becomes the holy table, the place of offering. God is revealed and disclosed here, at the heart, in the whiteness of untouchable light.

The Father looks forward, raising his hand in blessing to the Son. It is impossible to tell whether he looks up at the Son or down to the chalice on the table, but his gesture expresses a movement towards the Son. This is my Son, listen to him… The hand of the Son points on, around the circle, to the Spirit. In this simple array we see the movement of life towards us, The Father sends the Son, the Son sends the Spirit. The life flows clockwise around the circle. And we complete the circle. As the Father sends the Son, as the Son sends the Holy Spirit, so we are invited and sent to complete the circle of the Godhead with our response. And we respond to the movement of the Spirit who points us to Jesus. And he shows us the Father in whom all things come to fruition. This is the counter-clockwise movement of our lives, in response to the movement of God. And along the way are the three signs at the top of the picture, the hill, the tree, and the house.

The Spirit touches us, even though we do not know who it is that is touching us. He leads us by ways we may not be aware of, up the hill of prayer. It may be steep and rocky, but the journeying God goes before us along the path. It leads to Jesus, the Son of God, and it leads to a tree. A great tree in the heat of the day spreads its shade. It is a place of security, a place of peace, a place where we begin to find out the possibilities of who we can be. It is no ordinary tree. It stands above the Son in the picture, and stands above the altar-table where the lamb lies within the chalice. Because of the sacrifice this tree grows. The tree of death has been transformed into a tree of life for us.

The tree is on the way to the house. Over the head of the Father is the house of the Father. It is the goal of our journey. It is the beginning and end of our lives. Its roof is golden. Its door is always open for the traveller. It has a tower, and its window is always open so that the Father can incessantly scan the roads for a glimpse of a returning prodigal.

The tree is on the way to the house. Over the head of the Father is the house of the Father. It is the goal of our journey. It is the beginning and end of our lives. Its roof is golden. Its door is always open for the traveller. It has a tower, and its window is always open so that the Father can incessantly scan the roads for a glimpse of a returning prodigal.

Staffs for the journey

Each person holds a staff, which is so long it, cuts the picture into sections. Why should beings with wings, that can fly like the light, have need of a staff for their journey? Because we are on a journey and these three persons enter into our journey, our slow movement across the face of the earth. Their feet are tired from travelling. God is with us in the weariness of our human road. The traveller God sits down at our ordinary tables and spreads them with a hint of heaven

The Table

The table or altar lies at the centre of the picture. It is at once the place of Abraham's hospitality to the angels, and God's place of hospitality to us. That ambiguity lies at the heart of communion, at the heart of worship. As soon as we open a sacred place for God to enter, for God to be welcomed and adored, it becomes his place. It is we who are welcomed, it is we who must 'take off our shoes' because of the holiness of the ground.

Contained in the centre of the circle, a sign of death. The lamb, killed. The holy meal brought to the table. All points to this space, this mystery: within it, everything about God is summed up and expressed, his power, his glory, and above all his love. And it is expressed in such a way that we can reach it. For the space at this table is on our side. We are invited to join the group at the table and receive the heart of their being for ourselves.

We are invited to complete the circle, to join the dance, to complete the movements of God in the world by our own response. Below the altar a rectangle marks the holy place where the relics of the martyrs were kept in a church. It lies before us. It invites us to come into the depth and intimacy of all that is represented here. Come follow the Spirit up the hill of prayer. Come, live in the shadow of the Son of God, rest yourself beneath his tree of life. Come, journey to the home, prepared for you in the house of your Father.

The table is spread, the door is open. Come.

AT THIS POINT, DON'T STOP. THERE IS TEMPTATION TO STOP AND QUICKLY MOVE ON. SLOW DOWN! GO BACK TO THE ICON AT THE TOP AND GAZE. ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO DIRECT YOU TO THE SON TO ADORE THE FATHER. SLOW DOWN. . . . . . .

(this explanation is an excerpt from the full explanation at http://www.stjohnscamberwell.org.au/Sermons/ExplanationofTheTrinityIcon.htm )

Dust Gets Job -- Family Plans to Move Home!

For many of you, this is what you have been waiting to hear. . . . after applying for work in Australia and California and other places . . . it seems rather ironic, that. . . .

Dustin and Janette found work back in the U.S.

We will be returning on November 1st to the Pacific Northwest. Dustin begins work at Camp Lutherhaven in Idaho two weeks later as "Interim Manager of Outdoor Education." Janette will work as the "Part-time Day Camp Manager." These positions are firm until the end of May, at which point we will review and decide direction with the Lutherhaven leadership. Hence the term, "interim." Lutherhaven's call was unexpected. A real surprise. We're excited to work within an organization that passionately and creatively serves communities all over the inland Northwest.

As a family, we had already decided (prior to hearing from Lutherhaven) to return in November with or without work. We felt that we had reached our limit both emotionally and financially, and it was time to return. Our major goals had been achieved. They were:

1. Share an international experience together
2. Gain further education to expand our options as leaders and educators
3. See what the church is up to in another country
4. Step away from "professional church work" to gain perspective
   
5. Share Jesus' love with people who don't know Him
6. Listen the the Spirit as He directs our family forward through word, prayer, and circumstance.
   

What is most interesting in all of this is that after truly remaining open to the Spirit, knocking on many doors that could have led us anywhere in the world (and having them stay completely shut), the only door that opened was back in the Pacific Northwest. For this reason: we are sure this call can only be from the Lord.

As a friend of ours recently said, "Wow...and to think you had to go to Scotland to work at Lutherhaven....what a round-about trek for something that was available to you all along!!!!" Ironic, yes. Unlooked for, absolutely. Spirit-driven? We think so!

As a family this has been a wild ride. The closest picture we have to describe it is being in a tiny boat in a great storm, with no land in sight. It's dark, a night without stars. The wind and waves are high. We know Jesus is in the boat, but it seems that he is sleeping. We have been tested and pushed beyond endurance in every way. Many of you have also had a year of trial and testing. We've had times of severe doubt. God seemed silent. His ways darkened to us. But we took the example of faithful people who have gone before us, and we just didn't let go. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Esther, Job, Daniel, Mary, the list goes on and on and we sure needed to hear their stories.

Now as we step forward, we are aware stories have a lovely way of looping around like pathways and crossing one another between valleys, across hilltops, at springs. Here's hoping yours and ours intersect more than once!

Important!

• We are still definitely in need of financial and prayer support. There are many details to take care of during these major transitions.
  
• Stay tuned for the schedule for our "house gigs" around the Northwest. These will be gatherings in homes where we'll meet friends, Dust will play some tunes, we'll share "key learnings" from our time away.
  
• We can't wait to see you, hear how you've been!
  

Zoe is Five!!!

STA60019, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Zoe turned five on September 21st!

We had a wonderful little family party, with Ryan and Janna attending and Emily showing up a little late (because of work).

Zoe loved her gifts, and loved the cards and messages of love from so many of you!

Thank you for remembering her!

Live in the Present, Plan for the Future. . . .

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE KUNKS!

Dustin has been recently put in a lot of effort seeking work while simultaneously completing his Masters dissertation research.

A couple of potential jobs as a Director of Environmental Education did not work out, so we are continuing on with the "default" option with which we began our adventure: to return to the U.S. once the degree was completed (official date is Nov. 30th). This is primarily for financial reasons as the dollar continues to be weak compared to the pound, and our money does not buy much here. The second reason is that Janette has worked very hard for our family as a receptionist at a local clinic, but she's ready for that to be done and ready for being a full-time mother. As a family, we are very ready to return and see all of our loved ones -- family, friends, cheerleaders, encouragers, financial supporters, prayer warriors!

The plans are in the very early stage of development, but we are planning to return home for the holidays. Stay tuned for developments on this site as we determine what will work out the best for us.

One of our goals will be to visit some key people who have supported us on this adventure. More on that also in future blogs!

For now, continue to lift us up in your hearts to God and ask Him to do His will in our lives. Dustin will be working long hours on his dissertation, with the hope that he can complete it and return with the family (date yet to be set).

Pray that we are open to the leading of God. . . He's at work in His world, and we're listening for His whispers. . . .

Peace and Joy from Dustin, Janette, Lily, and Zoe.

A Much-Needed, Long-Awaited Family Get-Away

STA60157, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Thanks to the gift of a family friend, we had the opportunity to get away for the weekend! The girls had an extra day off of school, and we took off for the Northeast coast of Scotland. As a family we have never been up to the highlands together, even though we've been in Scotland over a year!

It was a good time to do so, as many of you know, Dustin was awaiting word on a job possibility in the United States. After waiting over a month for word regarding a position as Director of Outdoor and Environmental Education, he found out he did not get the job. . . We needed a little time as a family to regroup and figure out what comes next.

We found cheap room and board at "the best youth hostel in the world" -- Carbisdale Castle. The girls enjoyed dancing in the upper storey ballroom which you see in this picture.

For more pictures of our time, click on the link to Kunky pics in the right column and then watch the slide show in the "Weekend Away" Set at the top of the page. Amazingly, the sun was out all of the days and -- as they say here -- we had a lovely time.

A Visit from Friends!

STA60003, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

We had a lovely visit from Marjorie and Sheila a few days ago.

We showed them a little of Edinburgh and they took us to dinner. Then, the next evening, we had them over for Italian dinner at our flat.

The girls had a wonderful time showing them around, and you can see in this picture the weather cooperated too!

The Edinburgh Festival

Danuta and Ian Perform at the Festival, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

The greatest festival of arts (so they claim) in the world came to an end last week. We didn't make it to any of the indoor venues, but we caught some street acts by some amazing artists.

Our very own friend, Danuta (the one holding the pose in the air) is an "Acro" professional performance artist. With her partner, Ian, they held us spellbound for a half hour with some incredible, mind (and body) bending art.

The kids loved it -- and so did Lily and Zoe ;)

Lost Dogs!

The Amazing, Scintillating, Beautiful, Musically-Geniusastical Lost Dogs are coming to Washington and California to play their tunes. If you live in or near those states you should go.

I highly recommend you check them out, since I (Dust) can't!

Click on their link in the right column under "artists" and then check out where their shows will be. . . .

Updated Songs

I put a new song on The Slings site . . . click on the link in the right column. The song is called "Under the Healing Tree."

Roses and the Sisters

Roses and the Sisters, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

It was a good morning. . .

We got ready in time. . . and on the walk to school, stopped to smell the roses.

It's amazing to watch them growing before our eyes.

What an amazing universe we live in!

Zoe's First Day of School -- Primary One

STA60028, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Zoe was so excited!

She got to go to school!

Mom and Dad were happy. . . . and sad. . . .

Zoe was. . .

Happy.

Songs on the Right!

Dear Friends and Fam:

You need to know two major things. . . .

One: The reason Dustin has been out of touch (and will be for a while longer) is that he is working 9 and 10 hour days on the dissertation at home in our tiny flat. This does not count the time used to feed and watch Lily and Zoe.

Two: For a long time I (Dust) have wanted to share my songs with friends, since its one of the few things I can give as a gift now that I'm a poor student! If you will look in the right column, you'll find a new link to a page that has a couple of songs of mine -- for your downloading pleasure.

Consider it my way of thanking you for caring for us.

These are songs I recorded using a program on my laptop mac, so the quality is so-so. But good enough to enjoy!

Thanks for all your support over the last year. Share the songs with your friends!
Dust

Pilgrimage

STA60074, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Here's a riddle:

What do you get when you take 5 men, add prayer, a walking/driving/ferry-riding journey, sleeping on hard ground, buckets of rain, biting midges, large amounts of cheese and sausage, probing questions, and an ancient holy site from the 6th century?

Pilgrimage.

Adam, Ben, Graham, Glenn, and Dust took a trip across the Isle of Mull to the Isle of Iona, where Celtic monks from Ireland first landed in the 6th century.

Pilgrimages are interesting organisms -- you never know how the Spirit will show up, and where He'll send you. . . . you are walking in the footsteps of others who have gone before, so you're not really exploring "new" ground. Yet, it IS new ground. . . . for the pilgrim. It is critical in this journey of faith to "walk in someone else's shoes" -- to gain a sense of context, history, and the "cloud of witnesses" who have gone before.

We learned that while much of the church rotted away in the 6th century, these crazy Celtic saints were crossing seas in cowhide coracles (small circular boats) and creating communities wherever they landed. They would set up a cross at springs where people came for water, would bless the spring in the name of Triune God, and share the good news that "God's love is a gift in His Son accessed through His Spirit." It enlarged our hearts, zapped our minds, and pushed us to consider whether our day and age require similar men of courage and compassion.

Iona is a tiny island far off the coast of Scotland. We had to take two ferries to get there. The picture above is the four guys on the top of Iona's largest hill. By the time the photo was taken, we had already visited the typical sites that most tourists visit: the abbey, the interpretive center, the village. . . . The rain started coming down in driving sheets, and we cinched our hoods tight and climbed the hill.

As we slipped and crawled up the hill, each man was caught in his own meditation. I know that I wondered if this wasn't closer to the original spirit of the men who pushed their coracles into the crashing North Atlantic surf. You can see the look on our faces after just reaching the top. Wet, cold, full of fire.

We walked down to a beach on the far side of the island and the older men prayed a blessing over the two young "lads" on some rocks that jutted into the surf. The sun came out and blinded us all. Imagine that!

There is so much more to share. . . . each man has his own stories. The key is that we didn't walk away with a "high" -- no, it was deeper and springier than that. A tensile blade of steel inserted in the spot where our backbones used to be.

We tasted the rough spray of wind-tossed sea and Spirit. It is a cliche, but still so true: we'll never be the same.

Receiving the Gift

STA60021, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

I told my friends a story last night about Lily receiving a much wanted -- but completely unexpected -- gift for her birthday. It's the boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. The look on her face (and her sister's!) says everything.

The gift of Life ("Zoe" in Greek) is free.

Receive it, open it, enjoy it!

Paris, Hamburg, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow -- on A 35-Year-Old Bike!

STA60006, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Adam and Ben, young men whom I have mentored for a few years, came over to the U.K. and Europe for an extended biking trip.

Look at the picture. Notice the age of the bikes. Notice the lack of gear, and the small paniers for a month's travel. Notice the look on their faces. . . . like "we're not comin' back until we do this thing."

I've been doing some reading in adventure education where recent research is claiming many Western young adults go on "packaged expeditions" with all the "right gear" so they can claim an adrenalin buzz and "veteran experience" with minimal risk. Trouble is, life's not like that. Sooner or later, real risk is involved in life. Safety nets are really only helpful in the circus.

I'm proud of Adam and Ben for doing something that will make them better men. It's not a mission trip. Its not a service trip. But it is a risky trip on old bikes with very little money. They'll have to think quickly and learn how to survive on almost nothing with hardly any gear except new helmets for their new noggins! And maybe along the way, they WILL serve, WILL share God's love, WILL salt the earth with a little daring and strength from their Father.

I submit to you what the world needs is not more men softened by the padding of their office chairs or a padding of a life lived without risk -- the world needs dangerous men hanging over the edge of eternity whose only safety net is the Almighty God and only strength is from the Master, Jesus, and for His loving purpose in the world.

I believe Adam and Ben are taking risks that will help them be this kind of man.

Pray for them during this coming month.

Pray for them on the pilgrimage when they return back to Scotland on July 6th and travel with me to Iona.

LILY HAS A PARTY!

STA60065, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Little girls and parties!

Does it get any better or more innocent and special?

Lily had a wonderful little party with a few friends at a "paint your own pottery" place. After painting their little ceramic animals, they ate cake and had their faces painted too!

Happy 6th Birthday Lily!

Daddy takes a Break for a Story

STA60001, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

I haven't written much on our site about what work is like for me these days. Now that the "taught" portion of classes are officially over, and I've turned in my last major paper, all that's left is the 20,000 word dissertation. . . . yeah, all that's left!

Janette goes to work and Lily goes to school and Zoe, well, Zoe stays home with Daddy. Nursery is done now, and Zoe actually stayed home for the last three weeks too. Partly because we travelled a bit, and partly because nursery fees were a bit steep.

So Zoe stays home with dad and does her own work and play. Every now and then, there'll be a little monkey climbing on my back begging for a story or a "buckin' bronco" ride.

And Dad stops writing about the hermeneutic process as an interpretational tool for listening to the stories young adults tell about their motivations for being summer camp staff and picks up "Where the Wild Things Are."

We read and talk and, if its a "good day," Dad gets a few more hours of study without interruption. Its just a fact of life, that dad's have to sometimes get things done, and they have to say "no, I can't do that right now." But for me, that isn't easy to do.

The other day, we were reading a picture book about Jesus and Zacheaus. We took our time -- really took our time and looked at the pictures and wondered what the people were thinking.

"What is Jesus thinking?" I would ask pointing to him walking in the crowd.

"What is he thinking?" Zoe asked, pointing to the little man climbing the tree.

"Good question, hon'." . . . . . . what IS he thinking?

I was the little man in the tree, I was the little man wishing and hoping for just a sight. Not a conversation, just a glimpse of compassion. I knew all the people in the crowd below, knew all their dirt. And they knew mine too. What a distance between us all. Like galaxies staring at one another through the wrong end of a telescope.

And he walks up and stops and looks right at me. And he wants to come to my house and eat dinner! I am the little man in the sycamore tree, I feel the smooth, peeled bark under my hands and the wind pushing through the leaves and I am really, really there stuck in that tree.

"Zacheaus, come down. I'm going to your house today."

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

"I don't know."

"Are you sad?"

"No, I'm not sad."

"But you have tears," she says, and touches my cheek.

"I guess they're happy tears."

"What are happy tears?"

"They come out of you when your heart is really full of happiness and you can't help it, so you cry."

"Daddy. . . . are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. I'm more than okay."

Sometimes its the little stories, the ones we learned as kids, that come back to haunt. A tree, a crowd, a little man, a daddy and his little girl. And Jesus. Always Jesus.

Zoe "Graduates" from Nursery. . . . . WooHoo!

STA60033, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Zoe had a wonderful little sending off at her nursery with her other classmates. There were little grad caps, parents all dressed up, smiling teachers (were they smiling because it was sunny or because they were done?), food and punch and cake!

What a joy Zoe has been in our lives, and how beautiful it is to watch her grow. Little did we know that her name "The Life that is Found only in God," would be so profoundly true about her.

She has a way with making people feel comfortable around her, she has a way of sharing life with others that doesn't wait for them to "get it all together."

Zoe prays for her cousin Addie every night--and sometimes during the day too! Will you keep Addie in your prayers as she lives up to her name "Hope" and keeps us hoping in the strength of the Master, Jesus?

Reminder: You Can Leave Comments Under the Posts On This Site

For all of you who have been wanting to say your piece. . . .


Below each blog, there is a little comment icon that you can click and write to your heart's content.


Just a reminder so that you feel free to interact with this site and other people who visit it!


Enjoy!

Of Mountains, Ecology, and Field Studies . . . Creation Bears Witness . . . .

DSC_0191, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This is a picture taken by a friend of mine, Emily, on our final Environmental Ed. Module on the Island of Rum.

Rum is a nature reserve off the northwest coast of Scotland, and we were there all of last week. I left the fam in Greece, flew back and went to Rum at 5AM the following day! What a change!

Amazingly for the west coast, we had incredible weather. I must've brought it from Greece!

We were out in the field from 8AM to late night. . . freshwater, pond, seaside, bog, mountain, cultural history, tensions in environmental management. . . the list goes on and on.

There were a number of highlights: The picture here is from the day we climbed and traversed the 5 highest peaks on Rum. It was, shall we say, a good long day. At the end of it, tired and hot and dehydrated, some of the guys leapt into the sea. . . to emerge two seconds shaking off the icicles from parts that will remain unnamed.

There was a night up high on a mountain, sitting on a rock in the mist and dark, listening to the ghostly cries of Manx Shearwaters coming home to nest. There was another night, when three of us chose not to go to the folk music festival raging in a tent by the castle and instead forged off through hip-deep bog to find a deserted beach and a Celtic Christian standing stone from the 7th century. . . climbing up a cliff in the dark to enter the cave where the Celtic saint is reputed to have lived. . . . finding a pile of shells that have probably sat there since the 7th century when he had his meagre meal once a day. . . .

Thanks for praying for me.

I felt the prayers throughout the week. They strengthened me in my joy in the Lord, opened my heart to those around me who have not met Him yet. My hope is all these friends of mine meet HIM soon . . .

Again, thanks for the prayers.

To Saint Paul, The Apostle:

I just returned from a week away in the highlands doing ecology and field work studies (more on that later) and this is my first chance to reflect on our time in Greece.

I wrote a poem while in Athens, after we had climbed the Acropolis (Hill with all the Temples) and then walked the long hill down to the Areopagus (public meeting place and market). This same route was walked by the Apostle Paul, as narrated by Luke in Acts17:16-34.

The Parthenon at the top of temple hill was dedicated to Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, contended with Poseidon the god of the sea for the rights for the city. Considering that Greeks look for wisdom, as Paul says, and that we continue to wrestle today with the themes raised by the first Greek Philosophers, it is an aptly named city. (To see how God views Wisdom, read the first few chapters of Proverbs.)

The reference in the poem to "Alexander and the dog-man" is to a story about Alexander the Great visiting Diogenes "the cynic" which literally means the "dog-man" in Greek because he refused to leave the filthy hole on the edge of the city. Alexander reportedly asked him, "What can I do for you?" to which Diogenes replied, "Get out of my light."

However, as my poem laments, wisdom serves God and not man, but we usually don't get it.

To Saint Paul, The Apostle

Today I walked
up the knobby
thronging hill
and saw the remnant of the gods
you cried over --

I looked for the altar
"to the unknown god"
and found it
not among the ruins of ancient Greece,
found it
resting heavy and thick
with uncut stones
jumbled up and resting
like a cairn around my
dead heart.

Upon this altar did I pray,
weeping and crying
for all of us whose
idols now are portable,
who rode them and carried them
up this hill
to ask the ancient question
like Alexander to the dog-man --

I cried for wisdom.

And She came.

Pallas to her holy hill
and held me shaking
gently held me,
told me,
"I still stand on the corner
of First and Main and cry out,
giving wisdom to all who ask."

I begged her to stay,
and she said
"I never left,"
and took my hand pointing
to the white city of 5 million souls,
she said,
"I walk among them, will you?"

Paul, oh Paul,
I wept to see her face,
in helmet stern and joyous
with the dawn of the
very first morning.

We held hands
and walked down to the Agora
to hear you preach.

and finally, Paris!

This picture is of my mom and us at the tip top as high
as a person can go at the Eiffel Tower. We just left there this morning but it already seems so far away.
Highs
1. Crepes, Creme Brulee and Pastries
2. Notre Dame(even though we didn't find Quismodo--much to the girls' dismay!)
3.Have we mentioned the Crepes?
4. Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
5. Beautiful buildings

Lows
1. The cost
2. Rain and lots of cold wind
3. Not a kid friendly place
4. Le Louvre is closed on Tuesdays which was our only full day there which we intended on spending at the Louvre.
5. All the elevators were shut down at the train station hence the joy of packing the kids and all our luggage down four flights of stairs into the bowels of Paris.

When we got into London (our Layover) we were thrilled to see that the earlier flight into Edinburgh had been delayed and the nice guy at the ticket counter got us home 4 hours early and we didn't have to sit in London for those four hours! In the taxi ride home I asked the girls what their favorite part of the whole trip was. Lily said "Pudding Lane (in London where the great fire of London took place, she just liked the name) and playing on the beach in Poros". Zoe says "that we are back in Scotland...and the swimming pool in Poros." I wonder what they will really remember from all of these journeys. My grandparents took all of us (5 ) grandchildren to Disneyland by motorhome when I was just four and I think "what were they thinking?" But I have such fun memories. If you need any suggestions about any of these three cities, I would be happy to offer up our opinions. If you are ever to travel to Greece, Poros is a great island and Zefi at Saga Hotel will treat you like family. Dustin will be home on Saturday and get all our pictures uploaded onto fliker. Until then, off to get the kids in bed and myself ready for work tomorrow. 

Pussy Cat Pussy Cat Where have you been?

We've been to London but we didn't see the Queen. She happened to be at the Windsor Castle when we popped in for tea.
Highs
1. Beautiful weather
2. Hyde Park
3. Great hotel room
4. Kennsington and Buckingham Palace
5. Visiting the Queen's Horses and stables
Lows
1. Missing the changing of the guard
2. Not riding the London Eye
3. Too short on time
4. The Trafalger Square Lions were all covered up for repairs.

Overall London was a great time! It was a bit easier since I knew my way around the city (Dustin and I spent our 10th anniversary there in January). The girls were a bit tired from traveling and the time difference and the stress from Greece but all in all it was really fun! 

Home at Last!

We have made it home from our two week travels with my (Janette) mom and the girls. There is so much from our trip that I will not be able to capture it all. I will try and give you the top 5 or so highs and lows of each place.
We started off our trip in Greece so I too will start there...
Highs
1. Warm weather
2. The Acropolis
3. Island time in Poros
4. Renting Quads and riding around Poros
5. People in Greece love kids!
Lows
1. Pollution
2. Picky kids who have a hard time eating Greek food
3. Not being able to flush any toilet paper down!
4. Leaving the island (see #5)
5. Being whisked away from the city because of riots in the square across from our hotel against Americans ("outlashing for starting the war") being forcecd to spend 10 hours at the airport waiting for our flight.

Even though we loved Greece and it's rich history, the ending made us fear for our lives and the girls (Dustin had already headed back to Scotland for school stuff). There were other Americans that had been attacked that day and we had to go through the riots to get to the train station. Thankfully we were all brave and got to London safely. If we were to go to Greece again, it would definately be to go to the islands and not the main land! 

Sailing in the Firth of Forth

STA60025, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

New Stuff!

We've changed the layout a little on the site!

Included in the right hand column is now a separate area for dust's special sites that he's created, as well as his personal mission statement. This has developed out of a year-long process of praying and listening to the Spirit give him a name, identity, and calling within the Body of Christ.

Remember, you can't "get it" without "getting into it!"

Ten Months in Edinburgh Scotland!

STA60007, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This picture was taken this Easter as we celebrated God's love for us and His great care for us these ten months since we've been here.

Easter Miracle Needed!!

Urgent Prayers for Addie!! The following is what was posted on Addie's site Saturday morning. We are praying for an Easter miracle of healing and HOPE!

URGENT, URGENT NEED FOR PRAYER

Addie is in really bad shape today. Tougher shape than she has been in through this entire transplant process. She is having a very difficult time breathing and has needed more and more oxygen in order to breath. The docs are concerned that she has a viral infection in her lungs. VERY SCARY! We had originally thought it was from the pain from the surgery but they have never seen a child need so much oxygen to support pain. All in all, they don't know what is going on but feel that we need to act soon. Addie could end up on a ventilator (intubated) as she is having to work so hard to breath now.

As far as we have heard , she will be having a CT Scan of her chest done today and a risky procedure where they will shoot liquid into her lungs and pull it back out to see if there is any infection present.

We are all very scared. She has been worsening overnight and this is very serious.

Please pass on the word to pray for Addie. She is in more need for it now than she has ever been. OH LORD, please touch Addie with your healing hands - please perform a miracle!

Good Friday on Arthur's Seat

Good Friday on Arthur's Seat, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

The batteries were dying in the camera, so we got a single picture from the service on the top of Arthur's Seat, the highest hill in Edinburgh.

Lily, Zoe, and Dustin walked over from our place and climbed the hill with about 70 other people. Someone carried a cross up and tied it to the survey marker that rests on the crown.

It was a clear day, with clouds carried by the wind like racehorses chasing towards the ocean's horizon in the east. We stood or sat on the top, windblown and wearied from the climb, singing, "Jesus, remember me. . . when You come into Your kingdom."

Thank You for Your Sacrifice Lord.

No work for Janette!

Well, I spoke with the head boss today at work and he says that I can't come back to work until the doctor releases me. Unfortunately my doctor won't release me to go back to work until the 21st of April. I only had two weeks of sick leave and now I am going to have to take one week unpaid unless I can get the doctor to release me sooner. I will go back to the doctor on Thursday and hope she will change her mind. I would use some of my holiday time but it's all used for when my mom comes at the end of this month and takes us to Greece! We are thrilled to go to Greece with Grandma and have that opportunity that we normally wouldn't have unless she was coming! We are faithful that all will work out and God will meet all our needs--He always does.
In the meantime, I am getting in some really good quality time with Lily and Zoe and Dustin too. Thanks to all of you for praying for us!

Janette

Surprise, we were in the neighborhood!

It's not everyday that we pick up the phone at
8:30am and have someone from Oregon on the
other line saying "we were going to be in Edinburgh for the day and thought we might drop in". But this morning was a great surprise! The Stewart's--a family from Trinity--our church body in Oregon City--came by for a quick visit. Carlene and Norm Stewart are in the picture with grandaughter Cathy. Cathy was in our youth group and college group while we were at Trinity and Carlene was my (Janette) class room assistant one day a week. They were such a blessing to a gray rainy day in Scotland. So, if you are in the neighborhood, feel free to drop in. Oh, thanks Stewart's for the butterscotch chips and marshmallows--I know a little birdie named Nance that I am sure told you!! We are missing you all.

PS--I am healing quickly and being a better patient. Lily has the flu now and vomitting and so we are praying that I won't get it--can't imagine it would be too good on the tummy just yet! 

Doin' the Dishes

STA60007, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

We love this picture, it says so much about Zoe, helping, loving, with that twinkle in her eye that says, "Watch Out!"

When was the last time your doctor visited?

Think in the movies where people buzz at the front door and you hear someone on the other end ask who it is and then buzz them in. Well, we have an entryphone system similar to ones you see in the movies. Actually majority of places here have those.

Today, I woke up very sore with a strange pain under my right breast/rib area. I can't breathe very deep without pain and it's a sharp shooting pain that is there all the time. I was a bit worried as this was not listed in any of the side affects. I called our Doctors to see if I could have a wee chat. The nice receptionist took a message and said she would have the doctor call. So, when our entryphone buzzed and I asked who it was and got this reply "it's the doctor" I was a bit thrown off. You see in Scotland, part of the wonderful health care is that the doctors still do house calls for those who are unable to come in. So, here in my living room the doctor listened to me and checked all the vitals then told me to continue taking the pain medicine and rest. I didn't bother telling him I though that I was feeling well enough to not take the pain meds since Monday. Dustin says it's an inherited thing called "Daughter of Viki" syndrome where I try to be too tough and can't let people take care of me too much. I will say that much, my mom is one tough lady!

Well, I am going to go and lay down watch a movie and possibly take some pain meds. My little bubble was burst when the doctor told me no returning to work for three weeks. I do have a lot of letters to catch up on. Too bad I can't catch up on all that house work!

So for all of my complaining about the health care here, it does work! The doctors go out of their way at times to look after you when you most need it.

Oh yeah, some of our Scottish friends are curious about some American things that they see on the Television or read about and one of things that comes up over and over is "What is a twinkie?" So, for anyone wishing to send Twinkies or any other hostess products to the UK---we would welcome them to do some cultural sharing with!!! We do have a small list of things we love to have sent to us if anyone ever feels the need to send a package....Just ask!!

Off to be a good patient as many of you are just thinking of waking up!!
Lot's of love,
Janette

Sore!

Being a bit experienced in having surgery, I thought that this could be no problem. With the removal of my appendix when I was 8 months preg. and lithiotrypsy on my kidney and then the hysterectomy a year ago this last week. Well, "Let me tell you somethin" (just like my grandma would say it) I am not comfortable or pain free in any way. I have had to wait till the drugs wore off to just write a wee bit. With three one inch incisions and air in my belly still from the anesthetics I am uncomfortable.

I thought I would share a bit about how different the experience was in Scotland versus America:

You check in at 8 in the morning with the other 20 people that are to have "day surgery" for that day.
You speak with all parties involved before you get changed or anything.
You have to bring your own robe and slippers--which I had to borrow--thanks Marya!
You get changed and then they take you to "theatre" which is what us Americans would call the surgery or operating room.
You get your IV and all the anethestics in the "theatre" and then they work on you.
When you wake up, you are in a big room "ward" with those 20 other people of mixed sexes whom have all had different operations.
When you are well enough to go to another room, it's ward for just females and there is only 10 beds.
No Phone, no TV and the food is all prepackaged cold food all but the tea of course!
The biggest difference is: I will not get a bill from the hospital, I won't get a bill from the surgeon, I won't get a bill from the anethestist and I won't get a bill for the mound of meds and spare dressings they sent me home with. Of course when I got out my bed at 7:05 this morning to pee they quick stripped my bed and took the pillow away and put me in a less comfortable spot asking "will you have a ride home soon?" Do they know we have two kids in bed still? Do they know we don't have a car and it's a bit early to call the neighbors.....So, all in all, I am alright. The operation went well and the "theatre" was not showing any good movies!

Och Aye ("Oh Yes") Janette is Okay!

Friends,

A quick blog because I'm pretty tired.

Janette's surgery went well today. They were able to go in laporoscopically (with the little cameras through three "keyholes" that make it easier to heal up) and remove her gall bladder. They found a golf-ball sized gall stone, and a bunch of little gall stones having a disco and karaoke night in her gall bladder.

They broke up the party and disbanded the disco, much to the dismay of the little gall-stoney people, and Janette is now recovering in the ward.

I went down and was able to spend some time with her.

Any of you who know Janette will understand that she just doesn't like to be in hospitals. She left the same day she had Zoe in Oregon City. . .

Well, today, she tried doing the same, but had a bout with nausea (aka the pukies) and the nurses said,

"och aye, why don't ye coom on doon tomorra mornin ta pick up yer wee lassie."

And I said, "okay," since that's the correct response to a nurse when they tell you to do something.

Its late and I'm going to bed.

Thanks for all your prayers. Keep em comin'.

Hopefully, Janette will be home tomorrow at some point, able to rest in a quiet flat the size of a doghouse with two fighting children and a whiny husband.

Nurse: "Och aye, lassie, ye might wanna stae here at the hospital for a wee while, eh?"

Janette: Did I just hear the sound of disco music. I could swear I heard the sound of disco music.

Nurse: Och aye, that's just the wee morphine ye have runnin' in yer veins.

Janette: The little gally stones. They're comin' for me!

Nurse: Dinna ya worry yisself aboot it. Take this and sleep tight.

Janette: Okay. Mmmm. This is good, it tastes kindof like lskjf oim ff s ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................................

Huggin' on Sister Jenni

IMG_0110, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Our sister Jenni visited us last week.

This is a picture of us huggin' her.

We had a great time with her, and we really like her "friend" Matt.

We are soooooo glad Jenni came to visit and we will pray to Jesus to keep her safe this fire season when she's fighting forest fires. We'll also pray for Matt, who is a smokejumper. Cool! We wish we could jump out of planes!

Love to you all,
Lily and Zoe

What You Don't See In the Picture. . . .

IMG_0828, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

When Jen and Matt visited a week ago, we borrowed a car for a saturday and drove up to Loch Lomond and Trossachs national park. It turned into a beautiful day, and we had a great time!

What you don't--can't--see in this picture are the things behind the scenes, under the surface. Some of them are. . . .

• That Janette has a bad gallbladder with a gallstone the size of a golf ball. She is due for surgery this friday to remove the gallbladder. Keep her in prayer!
• That Dustin quit a long trip to Norway that is part of his Master's course (would have left today) to stay home and make sure the fam was in good shape and MOST IMPORTANT--Janette was taken care of.
• That Lily is reading "chapter" books now, and getting better every day.
• That Zoe has finally recovered from her bout with pneumonia and wakes up every morning with so much energy, we're inventing a plug-in so that the rest of us can run off of her!
• That Dustin recently led music at a special quiet prayer time during our weekend Church "House Party"--a retreat away in the hills west of Edinburgh.
• That thanks to some of you, we continue to have breakfast, lunch and dinner on the table. Your care for us really, really matters during these days far away. Thank you!
  

Pray Saint Patrick's Prayer With Us. . . .

Happy and Blessed Saint Patrick's Day!

He was a man of the Spirit and God's Call.

We prayed His prayer to start our morning. . . . Here it is if you would like to join us. PRAY IT OUT LOUD!

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.