It’s almost seven in the evening, and I’ve been meaning to leave the house for an hour to meet some friends for dinner. (They said I could come “whenever.”) Anyway, they just left to run a quick errand–and then I really need to get there–so I’m going to try to make tonight’s blog a ten-minute special.

You can do this, Marcus. You can do this.

Yesterday I spent all evening helping some friends pack for an upcoming move. We were up til four in the morning. Then I came back to where I’m house sitting and crashed, sleeping past one today. This afternoon I continued reading a book I started yesterday–Illusions by Richard Bach. My favorite part so far says, “There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.” Talk about a great perspective. You got 99 problems?

You got 99 gifts.

Otherwise I’ve spent all day internet-ing. I’m currently fascinated by the fact that–apparently–there are seven major liquids mentioned in the Bible (just like there are 7 days of the week, 7 heavenly bodies in the ancient world, and 7 main chakras)–water, blood, wine, milk, honey, (olive) oil, and dew. Anyway, I’ve been researching what these 7 things symbolize, and am working on some theories about the whole thing. Having JUST STARTED, I don’t have much to share, but here are a few things I find interesting–

• In the Old Testament, Moses and Aaron turned water into blood. In the New Testament, Jesus turned water into wine.
• All seven liquids, with the exception of olive oil, contain water, which is can be used as a symbol for change or the start of new life (as in baptism).
• Symbolically, blood and wine are often used interchangeably. In some systems, like the Chinese’s Yin and Yang, blood and water are seen as complimentary.

Okay, I really need to go. I love you and would like to write more, but I have plans. I’m telling myself this ISN’T a problem, writing a super-short, somewhat-out-of-the-ordinary blog. But even if it is, surely there is a gift here. Like the fact that I’m demanding less of myself, or the fact that both you and I now have time on our hands to do something else with our lives.

So let’s get going, shall we?