CHERRY PINK

This past week (March 25-29) we spent in Kyotanabe (the suburb of Kyoto). Steve was preaching at KIC on Palm Sunday but on Saturday Becky and her daughter Meg took us on an afternoon tour of Kyoto along the Duck River. Several cherry trees were in full bloom and the walk along the river was beautiful. It was a cold but sunny day and so we had a wonderful time. Everywhere you looked along the river or city streets you could see trees of pink or white. Made me think of the song "Spring is Busting Out All Over".

Just across the river we entered a "market place". Hundreds and hundreds of shops under covered walkways. There were shops just for chopsticks, honey, purses, you name it and it was there. We went into the honey shop and tasted blueberry honey and mango honey, grape honey and some honey flavors I couldn't pronounce. They were all yummy tho. The little shop girl could speak English and was very helpful and a good salesman, we bought some blueberry honey. Don't think I will sweeten my coffee with it but it will be great on toast or pancakes. Well. . .maybe I will try it in my coffee.

Speaking of coffee, there were 2 Starbucks in the market place. I have my Starbucks card with me but don't know if they will honor it here - will have to try sometime. But we did come across a cute little coffee place.It also served ice cream and pastries. I could barely get inside to take the picture. It was packed with people. Good sign!

While walking along the river we watched 5 or 6 hawks soar and dive to the river to grab bits of food people were throwing in the river for the ducks. The hawks would snatch the food, soar upwards only to be dive bombed by other hawks intent on stealing the snack from the
talons. What an exciting game of "steal the bacon". It was impossible to catch it all on film but we did manage to get a picture of one of the hawks as he dipped close to us.

As the clouds began to move in and it was getting to be close to dinner time we headed for the train station for our ride home. We certainly enjoyed the beautiful sights and sounds of Kyoto and yet. . .as we were waiting for the train we learned that someone had committed suicide by throwing themselves in front of a train and so the train was delayed. All the beauty of Spring, all the wonder of nature, all the variety of goods to buy does not bring peace and hope. Our hope, our peace, our joy, our salvation is in nothing else but "Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name."