Matt's Shanghai

And I was doing so well...

Today was a reletively good day to start with. I spent most of the morning replying to e-mails that I had put off from last week. A quick lunch with Jütta on campus. Spent the afternoon writing a recomendation for a CRK staffer for a sholarship to App, notes to the people I met with last week and sorting through pictures from the Holland Fellows program & the UNC Office opening last May. Five o'clock came relatively quickly for only a Tuesday.

I came home, changed clothes and headed out for dinner. On the way out of the building I stopped by my mail box and I got three letters! I recognized right away who the first two were from, but the last was from Mountaineer Apartments... and I don't really know anyone that lives there...

Then I realized who the letter was from. Today, I got a letter from Julie... 20 days after she sent it from Boone.

I thought I was doing so well with this. All the letter talked about was when the next time we would see each other and how unfair it was that we didn't get to spend time together before I left. I know it's pointless to say now, but I'll always regret that.

She sent two pictures with it: one of Julie and her cousins at her sister's farm; Another of Julie and Hayley before a game at App.

I've just sat here for about an hour listening to Picture of Jesus by Ben Harper over and over. No clue why that song, but it started playing when I opened the letter and it was really appropriate.

It hangs above my altar
Like they hung him from a cross
I keep one in my wallet
For the times I feel lost, I feel lost
In a wooden frame with splinters
Where my family kneels to pray
And if you listen close
You'll hear the words he used to say

I've got a picture of Jesus
In his arms so many prayers rest
We've got a picture of Jesus
And with him we shall be forever blessed
Forever blessed, Forever blessed

Now it has been spoken
He would come again
But would we recognize
This king among men
There was a man in our time
His words shine bright like the sun
He tried to lift the masses
And was crucified by gun

He was a picture of Jesus
With him so many prayers rest
He is a picture of Jesus
In his arms so many prayers
So many prayers, So many prayers rest
With him we shall be forever blessed
Forever blessed, Forever blessed

Some days have no beginning
And some days have no end
Some roads are straight and narrow
And some roads only bend
So let us say a prayer
For every living thing
Walking towards a light
From the cross of a king
We long to be a picture of Jesus, Of Jesus
In his arms, In his arms so many prayers rest
I long to be a picture of Jesus
With him we shall be forever blessed

I was happy when I was with you too kiddo and I'm so glad you sent a letter.

posted by Matt Dull @ 7:43 PM