Friday, June 23, 2006

Ten Thousand Places: A Beginning

Well, I've decided it's time for me to start blogging.

I've been tempted to this for a while, especially because of some friends of mine, including the Coolclan and Clattercote. But I've also been doing a few "mass emails" to keep people up-to-date on my travels. And, I expect, I'll do more as I'm about to move. And it seems like blogging might be a better way to keep in touch en masse than emails which are too long and boring for most.

And, after much debate, I decided to call this little blog "Ten Thousand Places." Unsurprising to those who know me, this name comes from a line in a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name ;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I do is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices;
Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces ;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is—
Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

I hope that somehow, as I describe moments, people, travels, etc, that Christ playing in each of these places shines through.