Last evening around eight I saw Eimskip’s container ship Dettifoss depart through the still fog-like mist lying just offshore (each Eimskip ship is named after an Icelandic waterfall). Within a few minutes the ship was lost from sight headed to God-only-knows-where. I could check the Internet, but that’d take away the mystery.

A lot of people are escaping Reykjavik for the countryside, a long weekend in store. Because the forecast seems promising, I just might return to the Hengill area…not to hike but walk around in leisurely fashion to absorb the unique atmosphere, especially that unique Icelandic sensation of being watched. Even though I plan on it, given the unpredictable nature of Icelandic weather, it just might no happen. For example, right now (9am) it’s bright and sunny, but the wind is howling at what seems hurricane force. There are no leaves nor tree branches to gauge the strength as you would in other places, just the sound and occasional piece of paper flying by.

I read some material in passing which says that our task in life is to return to the Garden of Eden. However, that seems incorrect. Better to say Eden is a half-way house of which we retain anamnesis and use that anamnesis for future attainment.

A few entries ago I mentioned a tv program where scientists were examining the miracles in Exodus. And so this morning I opened my Hebrew Bible and read most of chapter 14 (will finish the rest tomorrow), that is, in light of science. First impression through the Hebrew text: that it is an oral account which changes completely how you view it. The genius of this Hebrew text is that while it is something that had been written down, it is very close to the oral experience. One verse (14.14) caught my attention: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” The verb here is charash, fundamentally as “to plough,” “to fabricate (evil).” Apart from this, I picked up a subtle kind of humor. Here were the Israelites pressed in on every side, their backs up against the sea, making them cry out and lament. Quite a few references to this are before vs. 14. Next, God tells them basically to shut up, tired of all this babbling.