Tuesday morning

18 April 2017

— lazily drifting clouds

Good Morning All,

The road beyond my backyard and the abutting wood lot runs pretty much east/west. It’s about 100 yards off, so I do not hear the light traffic when I am inside with the door closed and my hearing-aids where I like them best, namely by my bedside clock. Once I back out of my driveway, which I am getting better at, avoid running over any neighbors pushing baby carriages, and head south along Kløvervænget (Clover Lane), I soon reach a t-junction. Going left and up the gentle incline will take me to Ringsted eight kilometers east; turning right will bring to me Sorø, also eight kilometers off. Ringsted is a picturesque and pleasant small city; Sorø may--with its cathedral and its high street fronted by centuries old buildings—be the most picturesque and pleasant town I have been to in Denmark.

Since Holly’s birthday on 21 December, the rising sun has been slowly heading east, seemingly a tree trunk or two at a time, and of course getting up a little earlier each morning. A month ago, after I’d put on the coffee and cranked up this computer, usually between 7:00 and 8:00, the sun could be directly in my eyes, enough so that I either had to close the blinds or put on my Red Sox cap and tilt the visor just so. Now, by the time I get here, the sun is already above the eaves. 

The reason I mention all this is that sun now comes in at a much different slant than even a month ago. If my backyard were a theater stage, which in some ways it is, I’d think the lighting crew had moved some of the spot lights. The different angle of light makes me see things afresh. There is, for example, a fairly large tree in the corner of yard that was fenced in for the former owner’s dog. It might be a maple; I won’t be able to tell for sure until its leaves come out. My first three months here, I hardly noticed it, but now the sun lights it up so that it stands out the way trees can in Surrat paintings.

Here’s a little more on our man Luther, who certainly had the brass! (I lifted this from somewhere off the Net.)

Luther arrived in Worms as part of a triumphal procession. The emperor and church officials expected him to recant his theses while at the Diet. Luther's books were placed on a table. He was then asked if they were his works and whether he wanted to recant any of the information. Luther requested time to think over his reply and the next day he answered with the well-known speech:

"Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." It is legend that Luther said the words "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me, Amen!" These words were probably only added to make the story more interesting; to make it a 'press sensation’. 

You may believe what you want. As far as I’m concerned, he did say: Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. Maybe not in so many words, but by the flaring of his nostrils and the fire in his eyes.

Go Well and Stay Well,

Bhekaron