Walking on promises #1

^{2 Chor. 9:
8}And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Scylla and Charybdis in Sepia #11

Shakespeare in love?


Scylla and Charybdis are two sea monsters of Greek mythology noted by Homer; later Greek tradition sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and mainland Magna Graecia (southern Italy). They were said to be located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too closely to Scylla and vice versa.



In this chapter young Stephen Dedalous and his friends are discussing literature in general and William Shakespeare in particular, in what was also James Joyce's favorite hang out; The National Library of Ireland.
Themes from Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice are analyzed with great skill.
Shakespeare seems to have been an author highly respected by James Joyce. In Hades he let Leopold Bloom say, "He was a good man,just like Shakespeare, had a friendly word to everyone." Both Stephen Dedalous and Leopold Bloom (Images of Joyce as a young and a grown man) did not have so much positive to say about contemporary authors, they were either too romantic or out of time national.

A point in the discussion is William Shakespeare's long absence from his wife Ann, born Hath-a-way, who in Shakespeare's will only was given his "next best bed". Penelope is her pendant, staying home, waiting for the wayward Odysseus.
How deep was their love, really?
The biography of James Joyce also reveals, that the author had long and mysterious trips away from his Nora and the rest of the family.
I'll let this be the theme with a question hanging in the air, from my outtake from the Scylla and Charybdis chapter.

Teach Mary is the host of Sepia Scenes,visit her.

From Jeremiah with love

I have not got the gift of preaching.
I feel humble and unworthy, when I talk about our Lord.
Those who know me, will assure you; I have got much to be humble about.
I have got a gift, though, to find a comforting word in the Bible, when I need it.
Today I found these words from Jeremiah 29, and felt it right to share them:
"11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 And ye shall call upon Me, and go, and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. "

Ruby dripping Laestrogians # 10

The Laestrygonians (or Laestrygones, Laistrygones, Laistrygonians, Lestrygonians; Greek: Λαιστρυγόνες) are a tribe of giant cannibals from ancient Greek mythology. Odysseus, the main character of Homer's Odyssey, visited them during his journey back home to Ithaca. The giants ate many of Odysseus' men and destroyed eleven of his twelve ships by launching rocks from high cliffs. Odysseus' ship was not destroyed as it was hidden in a cove near shore. Everyone on Odysseus' ship survived.

This chapter is about the wandering Leopold Bloom trying to get himself some descent lunch at the hour from 12 to 1.
All the time he is philosophizing about Irish politics, various Christian Churches and Judaism.
Bloom is painfully obsering how lust for power is corrupting the good intentions both in politics and religion..
"In aid of funds for Mercer's hospital. The Messiah was first given for that. Yes Handel. "(James Joyce) Here: Gunnar ans Serina in the St. Mary
Church.


Bloom is analyzing the life in various social layers from the outcast whores and beggars, and their contradiction; the noble upper-class.
He chuckles at the memory about the time he sneaked in to a royal dinner at Dublin Castle and mingled with vice king and his court.
My mom is also a bit bewildered about her seven course Chinese dinner...


He's jealous of a man, Boyle, who he suspects his wife might have had a one night affair with.
This does not prevent him from keeping fantasizing about the woman Marta, who he just might like to have a more intimate relationship with ...
A man of contradictions and knife sharp observations.

He's using money to feed the seagulls, but cannot seem to find an appropriate place to have his own lunch.
Lamb at sundown, in two months; lamb chops."No fear. No brains. "(James Joyce)
He is disgusted by the over eaters as well as the poor, literally eating from the street.
Bloom would have hated this. Potato cake, shrimp salad, sausage, bacon and smoked ham.From hiker ladies last day out.
Finally he ends up in a vegetarian restaurant, very pleased and relieved.
A posh place and very up to 2010 standards. I don't think we even have a restaurant like this neither in our town nor on the island.
Fish eaters after sundown July thrid.
All the time his reflects on various sides of the theme advertising.
Some of his ideas are simply brilliant. The Leopold Bloom of 2010 would own his own firm and probably run a multi million pound business.
"Wouldn't have it of course because he didn't think of it himself first. " (James Joyce)
It has never been profitable to be ahead of ones time (read:equals).


"Heart to heart talks.

Bloo... Me? No.

Blood of the Lamb.

His slow feet walked him riverward, reading. Are you saved? All are washed in the blood of the lamb. God wants blood victim. Birth, hymen, martyr, war, foundation of a building, sacrifice, kidney burntoffering, druid's altars. Elijah is coming. Dr John Alexander Dowie, restorer of the church in Zion, is coming.

Is coming! Is coming!! Is coming!!!
All heartily welcome. "(James Joyce)
A druid grave from with triangles of standing stones. The old St. Olavs Church and a third standing stone across the strait.Midnight shot July forth.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today