Another heavy snow squall early this morning, causing white-out here and there but quickly passed. It was replaced by puffy clouds tinged with pink and later became dead-calm. Over the years I’ve noticed that except for during the most violent storms—and these are pretty much similar to Massachusetts—you have constant breaks in the overcast which give the atmosphere that odd domestic feel to it.

Joshua 3.7: “That they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Words addressed to Joshua just after he and Israel had crossed the Jordan River and not long before the assault upon Jericho. To have God be with Israel as he was with Moses is quite a claim, given the intimacy Moses had throughout his career. Nevertheless, it is a step down because there are no accounts of this divine intimacy with Joshua He picked up a lot by being an attendant to Moses as opposed being the direct recipient of divine favor. Also, Joshua was more a military leader compared with Moses who was a lawgiver.

Next Wednesday is the day taxes are due, a first for me in Iceland. Since I know next to nothing, I asked around. The husband of a co-worker does this, so will bring her the necessary documents. They say it’s easy to get an extension, something I don’t think will be necessary.

I did drive my friend to þorkakshafn last evening and enjoyed the conversation en route. During the 50 minute trip and some coffee later we discussed envy, of how pervasive and dangerous it is. In many ways envy is the vice we admit to least because it’s so embarrassing. Yet there seems to be a positive envy. One can be envious of someone in another status of life. The problem is when you want to usurp it which can take the form of anger and acts of deprivation. That’s where jealousy comes in which seems to lack a positive counterpart.