-Jan 14th. It finally stopped snowing around noon, although last night we received and through this morning we got the light, fluffy stuff. It served to create an amazing sight when I woke up, a yellowish hue created by the street lights, and not the slightest sound. Even snow in Iceland seems purer than elsewhere; maybe my imagination or wishful thinking but seems to have some truth. The negative side: 60 car accidents, most minor, in Reykjavik. No surprise there, given my earlier remarks in the 06 blog about Icelandic driving habits.

-`World series?` A remark from Elli, weekend floor boss at work today about the American World Series, that it doesn`t represent the world, only taking place within the USA. Elli is a rough-and-ready sort of fellow: tall, thin and rangy with a poker face. However, this belies a kindness I`ve come to appreciate very much in the work place. Elli also noted that Americans like to say they`re `going to Europe.` I paused for a moment, what was he getting at, and then realized that Americans tend to lump European countries into one lump. I love these little bits and pieces of what Icelanders think.

-Some months ago at work there was an American Jew, since fired, who was very defensive about his heritage. I recall several Icelanders remark unfavorably though not with mean spirit about Israel`s invasion of Lebanon this past summer. It set off this fellow big time who kept repeating how the Jews were horribly treated during the Holocaust. While undeniable, I`ve seen the Holocaust transformed into a weapon adroitly wielded by some Jews. If anyone criticizes Israel, not necessarily bad, automatically he or she becomes anti-Semitic and implicitly aligned with the Nazis who perpetrated the Holocaust. That might be a bit exaggerated but contains some truth which needs to be put out there so the Holocaust isn`t abused…and I mean by Jews.

-My work at the post consists of 3 afternoon shifts (2-10.30) in a row followed by three in the morning with an occasional weekend thrown in which I don`t mind. However, Friday nights…and we close at 9pm…for some reason or other have tension or things go wrong. Nothing major, just an overall atmosphere. I don`t know why, the work load isn`t special. Perhaps it has something to do with people wanting to get out, weekends being notorious for partying here in Iceland.

-Back in or around 1986 Reagan and Gorbachev met in Iceland at what`s called the Hofdi House, right by the sea. Several times a week I pass by it and think that despite the disappointment that came from that meeting, it was a turning point which led to the eventual end of the Cold War. As for that period in history, it looks benign compared to the world after 9-11. Too bad Iceland doesn’t capitalize on that summit; makes a terrific locale for meetings of reconciliation.

-For the first time since I arrived here I decided to stop in a local fish shop (of which there are many neighborhood ones here) to get some fresh haddock. Don`t know what I haven`t before, just that I didn`t. What a treat, like nothing else, so soft it melts in your mouth. Yes, Icelandic fish is unsurpassed.

-Jan 15th. Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. I check to see if there was a First Sunday but no. Anyway, today`s Gospel is Jn 2.1-11, Cana wedding feast. This is the first time Jesus says his hour has not yet come in response to his mother`s statement about the people having no wine, this not being a request, even indirectly, for Jesus to provide more. The verse right after today`s Gospel excerpt says that Jesus, his mother, brother and disciples went to Capernaum for several days, nothing more. Perhaps it was then that Jesus talked his `hour` and manifestation of glory (cf. vs. 11), concepts new to them which were destined to be played out in other circumstances. For example, the Gospel continues with Jesus driving out money-changers from the temple. At this point many people saw `signs` which he had done. Compare this sign (semeion) with that of vs. 11.

-In the Book of Amos I came across a frequent Old Testament notion, remnant (she`ryth). The verbal root, always important to understand deeper levels, means to remain, be left, to survive. Throughout Israel`s history a small group somehow makes it through, just barely. `Remnant` has a comforting tone despite the usually harsh conditions which brought about destruction of the larger nation, that each person has a chance of coming off all right. Not everybody, of course, ends up in the remnant. However, the possibility that one might do so has a thrill about it difficult to put into words. Actually, the true mission of Israel (and this is often extended to the Church) is to remain small. This is difficult if not impossible to maintain, hence the frequent growth of that remnant into a larger group which, in turn, collapses.

-Recently tv had was a show on Moses of which I caught just a fleeting glimpse. Like many such presentations, they go into historical documents (i.e., the Bible) and compare it with physical places, etc. Such an approach is common, trying to bring together a spiritual record with an historical one. Somehow this misses the point and has missed it so much that we`re not aware of it. This approach makes religious beliefs susceptible to assaults from evolution theory: the list is endless, really. I don`t think evidence from history and science, when thrown up against religion, should pose a problem. Sacred texts are meant to be read in the spirit of lectio divina. Okay, let`s say we do that. Then someone might come along and justifiably ask how we are to reconcile our lectio with history-science. A valid response is that lectio is a discipline in its own right which has validity if you`re doing meditation. That is the chief criterion and at the heart of an order or discipline subject to pretty much the same rules of validation. You have to do both meditation and lectio to see if it`s worth while and have it validated by others who`ve done the same. This is where Ken Wilbur`s book, Eye to Eye has a valuable contribution. He says contemplation and lectio (though doesn`t use that word but implies it) are just as valid as any other scientific endeavor. The problem? Nobody has done it for years or too few are doing it now; so few that we equate this paucity with non-existence. Into this vacuum steps the religious vs. scientific/historical approach so well organized and discipline that it blows away any competition.

-Jan 16th. Yesterday after work (every 6 weeks I do the weekends, actually enjoyable because it`s easy) I joined some folks at a nearby ski slope. They had brought their children there to slide down a hill popular among locals. Although it was dark (4pm), there were plenty of lights. All in all, a fine time just hanging out.

-Icelanders, like people everywhere, have their share of anxieties. While at that ski slope I and two others talked about this, yet Icelanders seem to lack that heavy-duty spirit of introspection as with Americans. Ever since my arrival here I`ve noticed that, whether it comes up in conversation or not. Many visitors, even casual tourists, note this. Over an extended period of time this carefree attitude sinks in more and more which in my mind is a real inculcation into Icelandic society. You pick out a characteristic, mull over it a while and finally adopt it. How, when or where this occurs is beyond one`s control, it simply happens. Then you wake up and discover that you have what they have.

-We`re all familiar with Islamic religious militancy which makes its presence felt every day in the media. Although you don`t hear it said openly, there is a tacit view that Islam = terrorism. Better, Muslims = terrorists. Going beyond that perception I am curious to see how religion (Islam or otherwise) gives meaning to people and motivates them to do things beyond human endurance. It seems that religion, even in less extreme forms, bestows a certain equilibrium within oneself, levels doubts and self-introspection, which on the surface may look fine. A person under the spell of more extreme forms of religion is perhaps the furthest away from another form of self-introspection, that of philosophia. There doubt or aporia is deliberately cultivated which has a dynamic very different from the kind of religion familiar to most of us. Anyway, I picked this idea up while pondering over some points by Hans Vaihinger, his interesting book entitled As If.

-Jan 16th, i.e., the real 16th. For the past number of entries I`ve been a day behind which is because of my work situation. At the foreign desk in the post we keep the calendar one day ahead because mail abroad goes out then. And so I`ve gotten into the habit of thinking in terms of one day ahead, a bit confusing for regular life.

-Ever since I arrived here last July I`ve been trying to sort out the attitude Icelanders have towards work, very different from Americans. Among other things, I noticed that they are laid back, love to chat and do things at the last minute. You have to be among Icelanders to appreciate this compared with observing it externally. Perhaps it`s my greatest lesson as I become inculcated more fully into society, is full of surprises, all of which have been positive. Two examples: several part time younger works whom I`ve gotten to know help me out on occasion. They`re constantly chatting away, seem disorganized, but when it comes to crunch time, they go at it with a determination that`d make an American boss green with envy. Remember the Gospel parable of the man who hired workers at the 11th hour and who got the same pay as the early ones? Jesus must have had in mind Icelanders. The other example: I`m scheduled to take classes in Icelandic grammar, and some classes conflict with my work. The email response from my boss, very typical, was `don`t worry. We`ll work something out at the last minute.` Last minute, so Icelandic, and I can trust it will work out. As for my dept, when I see the need for something to be done in an hour or two, sometimes I fear it won`t get done but when the time comes, no problem. Icelanders have a can-do attitude much like Americans which sets them off from Europeans who seem more passive to authority. Authority. Now that`s a word at which Icelanders recoil in any form or shape. It`s another characteristic you can pick up only immersed in society, namely, the attitude of those in authority concerning people under them. Such persons (and I see this in situations other than my own) don`t lord it over their employees but are more like comrades. They must be else they`d be assaulted on the spot, as one friend told me. And so Icelandic society is a strange combo of disorganization and (last minute) all-out determination.

-For the first time yesterday I noticed a lengthening of daylight hours, dawn coming slightly before 11am. Also there seems to be more twilight both ends of the day. After all, we`re almost a month out from the winter solstice.

-Jan 17th. `Hah.` This is the most common word (if you can call it that technically) in Icelandic, used dozens of times a day. It`s a combination of `what did you say?`, surprise or spontaneously uttered. Emphasis is upon the first `h` and with varying degrees to reveal one`s attitude or state of mind. After a while you say it just as much as a native speaker. At first I was reluctant because `hah` sounds impolite, rude or just plain silly. Experience quickly teaches not so, very much taken for granted.

-Another common word is `sko.` It has no meaning at all, a type of interjection when people are pausing briefly to find words. `Sko` is said abruptly and softly, emphasis upon the `sk` with the `o` falling off. Something akin to `like` used by many American kids.

-Last evening about 4 the wind started to intensify until in some places there were near white-out conditions: no new snow but that which had fallen late last week. When I was passing through the rotary close to my apartment there were a few seconds I couldn`t see a thing in front of me. Not only that, but for a few meters the snow was very thick. This came as quite a change since we`ve had close to dead-calm conditions since New Year`s day.

-18th Jan. Today I got out of work early, around 3pm, after a staff meeting where the Head Honcho told us that in three years the post, which is privately owned, will face competition from several other companies. Isleskur Posturinn itself went private 4 years back, as well as the electric and heating companies. A lot of people complain that much of Icelandic commerce is controlled by a handful of super-rich people, that is, they`re in charge of previously government owned enterprises.

-En route home I went along Saebraut which hugs the coast and gives a commanding view of Mt. Esja to the north, that is, across Reykjavik`s broad harbor. The sunlight turned the closer snow-covered mountains a lovely pink while those in the background were much whiter though still tinged with pink. A few jet contrails were overhead which, from what I was told, are of flights from Europe to Japan and China over the North Pole. In other lands these contrails create a longing to go over the western horizon, especially at sunset, to some distant land. Not so in Iceland. Seeing them makes you appreciate that you are already there where the contrails lead symbolically.