A dark, rainy morning but the weekend promises to be a fine one. Once every six weeks I have four days off, this time round being Monday and Tuesday. However, I offered to work Monday pm, so am on for it. This year, however, May 1st (Tuesday) is a holiday.

I saw a tv program which gave a scientific explanation of the Exodus plagues and Red Sea crossing. They were attempting to see where faith, history and science agree or disagree. Although scientific principles were followed together with sophisticated instruments, there was something bordering on the naïve about all this. It was a familiar science vs. faith confrontation with the former coming out as victor even before any conclusions were drawn. I´ve always felt that the Bible should be used as a vehicle for lectio divina, especially when using the original languages. Not only that, but a contemplative attitude is crucial to see another dimension. Unfortunately, the program never touched on this nor did I expect it to. At the same time, I was painfully aware of the absence of this contemplative-lectio approach. This makes the faith side a looser by default. If anyone were to bring contemplation to the discussion, people would look at you with the blankest of stares. And so, best to leave alone these programs and the attitudes they represent and work quietly away. When you do, sooner or later you´re bound to meet a like-minded person, even if one in a billion.

The Virginia Tech massacre faded from the news quickly, no surpise there, and we´re moving on to the daily horrors of Iraq. One co-worker made an interesting observation…he has no problem with (gun) violence in America. When I asked why, he responded by referring to the European history of warefare and violence which makes everything else pale in comparsion.