how brilliant is this??

Here is a passage I hold dear to me whenever I am experiencing deep guilt from committing something wrong by word, thought or deed and just can't seem to see the light from the darkness.

Micah 7:8-9

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies!

For though I fall, I will rise again.

Though I sit in darkness,

the Lord will be my light.

9 I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,

for I have sinned against him.

But after that, he will take up my case

and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.

The Lord will bring me into the light,

and I will see his righteousness.

Just today I was told by Sanbo that the Winter Festival was ending tomorrow which threw a spanner in my works because I have only just realised that the Winter Festival was even going on. Looking over the events now there is an outdoor skating rink and a bright "ding" metaphorically resounds in my head to conjure up memories of skating in Nanjing outdoors on the large frozen river where all you could see beyond the horizon was more ice.

It was a daunting experience skating all the way out whilst everyone else was hundreds of metres away but nonetheless memorable. Above you snow gently floating through the crisp winter breeze and all around you was a plain of ice stretching as far as the eye can see. Underneath you you would hope that the water is frozen solid for metres but you can never be sure. Taking it all in I would think sublime would be the most appropriate word to describe the feeling but knowing the 10 year old me "oooh" was all I could probably muster up.

The alternative would be doing this overseas perhaps in the UK or in the very cliche location of Central Park at night but cliches are cliches until you try it personally.

That or finding someone to share the experience!

This semester is going to be busy for all the right reasons and will test my time management skills. If this blog is any indication then I have already been lagging behind by three weeks. However this will eventually translate well if I am able to keep up but will be all for naught if I slip up which is a really high price to pay. I really am excited about the prospect of settling well into all facets of life instead of cruising along without a worry in the world.

If I were to name one thing which has captured my fascination and interest it would be CORE. Unfortunately CORE is not a secret organization for superheroes which means you won't be having the added perk of knowing a very cool superhero. CORE is actually a Christian fellowship group which meets up on Wednesdays at 7:30PM for university students and young working adults. Despite having a 10 to 10 day on Wednesdays it is ultimately very rewarding and when coming out of a fellowship with CORE I always feel elated rather than drained. In a way the fundamentals I have always held have been shaken and reestablished with a firmer foundation which in any terms is always good news. I have managed to hold off going to fellowship groups for over 2 years and I'm making up for lost time by being as actively involved at Church as I can. Ultimately it is still early days and I am only approaching my 3rd week at CORE but seeing as how I have been at this Church for over 10 years it has been a long time coming and I am glad it has finally come.

In other news I have been enjoying the aromatic scent of strawberries before me for the past hour or so and will be leaving you here to be the amicable liaison between the strawberries and my mouth.