No Packing Formula

Posted on August 14, 2022 by vanbraman

This week I am teaching a course in Germany. However, there is no packing formula to apply as I am teaching virtually.

Empty Suitcase, Packing, packing formula, Trip, TravelOf course, I would have started with an empty suitcase. I would have done laundry so most of the clothes that I planned to take would have been folded and ready to select. This week I just have to figure out what to wear in front of the camera.

100's, triple digit heat, temperatures, weatherOf course, another  major input to The Packing Formula would be to check the weather. No need to check the weather in Germany, but it is probably cooler than here. This is not the weather for here this week, but it will be similar this week and maybe a bit hotter.

Packing, Suitcase, Clifford the Big Red SuitcaseI would then apply the packing formula and determine what to take. My suitcase would have looked very similar to this if I were going to Germany instead of teaching from home.

I would also have tidied up my toiletry kit and dropped it in the suitcase and made sure that I had plenty of books tucked away in the suitcase. I am at home so have plenty to read here.

Clifford the Big Red Suitecase, Packing Formula, How to Pack a SuitcaseThe suitcase will soon be zipped up and be ready to load into the car  for the trip to the airport.

Germany, Regional Train, Weimar, Jena, TravelThe suitcase along with a small bag and backpack would then have been lugged through the airports and train stations as I made my way to Jena, Germany.

Now to figure out my sleep schedule for this week. I will be teaching all night long starting on Monday night.

Now to decide whether to stay up part of the night and sleep most of the day tomorrow, or to get a good night of sleep and sleep again on Tuesday.

Steven

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Assumption 2022

Posted on August 13, 2022 by vanbraman

I took a look at the calendar hanging above my computer this evening and noticed that this coming Monday is Assumption. I have written about this holiday before, so thought I would share what I wrote nine years ago. Assumption is not until Monday, but since I am thinking about it tonight I will share what I wrote before.

Steven

Here is what I wrote nine years ago.

I had to stop and think, what is the Feast of the Assumption? I started to think of the assumption of Christ, but that would have been before Pentecost which is much earlier in the year.

What is this day?

I had to look it up and found that it is a Catholic and Eastern Orthodox feast that celebrates the Assumption of Mary. Where is this found in scripture?

I did remember that there was a site in Jerusalem close to the Garden of Gethsemane that was known as the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. I thought that I had at least taken a picture of it from the bus, so decided to look back through my pictures from the trip.

Tomb of the Virgin Mary - Feast of the Assumption - Kidron Valley - Mount of Olives - JerusalemHere is a small domed structure that stands in the courtyard of the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary. It had caught my eye and I had taken a picture without knowing what it was.

Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary - Tomb of the Virgin Mary - Feast of the Assumption - Kidron Valley - Mount of Olives - Jerusalem

Here is the picture of the entrance to the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Mary. The entrance is below ground level and the tomb is even further down with more than 50 descending steps behind the entrance.

There are some very interesting Eastern Orthodox traditions about the death of Mary. One tradition is that she was raised after three days and only left behind a cincture or sash. There is even some debate as to whether she was assumed into heaven before her death or whether she actually died.

There are early references to a tomb of Mary in the Kidron Valley, but there are also references to Mary spending the last years of her life in Ephesus.

Even though Mary was blessed among women, it is not her death that we are to remember. Mary was blessed because she was the mother of the Savior.

Tomb with rolling stone - Tomb in Israel - Ressurection - Easter SundayWe are to remember that there was an Empty Tomb when Mary’s son was sacrificed for our sins and was resurrected on the third day.

Steven

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