entry

I have been in a whirlwind of sorrow, song, prayer, laughter, many many tears and flowers. I saw my Grandfather die this weekend, his funeral, and his burial. I've been so far for so long, and I've only seen him and spoken with him last in May, but during the trip I started remembering little things and memories. What a rush of grief and love and life. How will I forget the too bright sun glinting through the rainbow colors of leaves, mountains, tornado weather--that too-strong and gentle wind, the bright sunlight through the living room windows and flowerpots...

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These all look to you to give them their food in due season.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Hallelujah. Amen.

The Cranes Are Flying

I just saw The Cranes Are Flying (1957 Russian) last night and got to cry. I've been browsing Anne Frank and Holocaust memorials and downloaded the movie Crossing about North Korea. I don't why, but I've been having trouble concentrating during classes or studying lately...I've been writing poems in Physics class...it seems that's the only time I write anything interesting. Sigh. Anyway, The Cranes Are Flying is a GOOD movie. It is about what happens to a country or families during a war, how there is so much destruction and loss and yet having the strength to still hope and love and hold no bitterness or hatred. The actress is looks a little bit like Larissa in The Cruel Romance (Zhestokiy Romans) only she is so 1950s--innocent and good. This girl reminds me a little of St. Bernadette in The Song of Bernadette. Anyway, I also recommend that film, as well as Crossing. How beautiful and good are these stories that have so much pain and yet so much hope and belief in the eternal!