Sometimes You Just Need a Meme

Have you noticed the death of blogging memes? On the whole, I’d say that’s a good thing. I hated them, mostly, because I’m deliberate in what I do here on the blog. I’ve got my schedule and I stick to it week in and week out, and when I throw in something different, it’s because I’ve planned ahead to do it. Being tagged for a meme and feeling like I needed to do it or I’d be a blogging snob threw everything off-kilter.

But once in a while, I need a good meme. Once in a while I need something light and easy. Once in a while I need direction from someone else. Today would be a once-in-a-while.

So I’ve found myself a meme-like thing to do. Like Kim, I’m going to copy Lisa’s status report.

Sitting…on the couch in the living room, beside an open window, enjoying the summer-morning breeze. 

Drinking…Earl Grey English Breakfast Tea and wishing it were black coffee, but coffee does bad thing to me.

Watching…the flittering leaves from the May Day tree through the open window.

Resuming…nothing yet. Maybe I’ll call today a holiday and do nothing all day. Or maybe not.

Anticipating…a walk downtown with the dogs. Beautiful weather should not be wasted.

Hoping…the dogs behave themselves and don’t pull on their leashes. Mostly they don’t, but when they do, it’s not pretty. 

Still looking…out the window. Summer morning views should not be wasted.

Planning…to paint the foundation on the house and the railings on the decks this summer. I am perpetually planning painting projects.

Completed…reading John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology and now I’m reading Adopted for Life by Russell Moore.

Wanting…to do the kinds of summer activities families or couples do. You know, camping trips, road trips, etc. I miss them.

Deciding…whether to fly to Kansas for a family reunion at the end of the month. It’s expensive (and I’ve had several unexpected expenses recently) and it’s only for a couple of days and I can’t fly all the way to the town I need to be at, so either I’d have to rent a car (also expensive) or someone has to drive quite a ways to pick me up and take me back. But I really want to be there. My sister and father will be there, along with five of my sister’s children, including 3 newly adopted ones I haven’t met yet. And some of the relatives I’d like to see again are quite elderly. I flip-flop on this daily.

The Diverting History of John Gilpin

Showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again.

John Gilpin was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he,
Of famous London town.

John Gilpin’s spouse said to her dear,
“Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious years, yet we
No holiday have seen.

“To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair
Unto the ‘Bell’ at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.

“My sister, and my sister’s child,
Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaise; so you must ride
On horseback after we.”

He soon replied, “I do admire
Of womankind but one,
And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.

“I am a linendraper bold,
As all the world doth know,
And my good friend the calender
Will lend his horse to go.”

Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, “That’s well said;
And for that wine is dear,
We will be furnished with our own,
Which is both bright and clear.”

John Gilpin kissed his loving wife.
O’erjoyed was he to find.
That though on pleasure she was bent,
She had a frugal mind.

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Sunday's Hymn

This week’s hymn writing poet is Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Since without Thee we do no good,
And with Thee do no ill,
Abide with us in weal and woe,
In action and in will.

In weal, that while our lips confess
The Lord Who gives, we may
Remember with a humble thought
The Lord Who takes away.

In woe, that while to drowning tears
Our hearts their joys resign,
We may remember Who can turn
Such water into wine.

By hours of day, that when our feet
O’er hill and valley run,
We still may think the light of truth
More welcome than the sun.

By hours of night, that when the air
Its dew and shadow yields,
We still may hear the voice of God
In silence of the fields.

Abide with us, abide with us,
While flesh and soul agree;
And when our flesh is only dust,
Abide our souls with Thee.

Other hymns by poets:

• William Cowper
• John Donne
• George Herbert
• Alfred Tennyson

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Lord’s Day 27, 2009 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Christ By Heavenly Hosts Adored at The Happy Wonderer
• Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Lanquid at Hiraeth
• Mighty God, While Angel’s Bless Thee at Fieldstone Cottage
• Conflict from The Valley of Vision at The Upward Call
• God of All Power and Truth and Grace at Tapestry of Graces
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Keeping to the Old Truth

Have you posted a hymn today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.