Carpe Diem. . . Seize the Carp!

Watching this fish-cleaning action and what comes to mind but that matra, carpe diem. Seize the day. . . seize the carp . . . seize the opportunity.

This filleter of fish took his eyes off his decapitation work just long enough to flash a smile our way. Nice of him. By the way, do you know how to clean fish? Wish I knew. . . but I just watched and documented the action. Decided it's a task that takes guts intestinal fortitude.


Here are more carvers of carp. So nice of them to let me nose into the action. Scraping of scales, whacking off heads, slitting the tummies and pulling out the innards. Looked easy enough. You will forgive me, will you not, for not sharing the photo of the entrail bucket? Carpe diem, but enough is enough. Alrighty then.


This was all part of a fish boil along the Don River. These folks seized the Saturday by standing in line waiting for a bowl of this classic Russian soup. Sometimes potatoes, carrots and greenery are added. Do you go for hot soup for a summer picnic? If you do, you might be Russian at heart.


This Carpe Diem idea is center-front in my mind. I find myself thinking, What can I be doing here and now to make any difference in this congregation? What can I be doing this week, this month, this summer that will be a wise investment here? Especially considering that there is never a guarantee about visa renewal and my 3-month visa expires September 2nd.


Seize the kids! That's it - aren't they cute little carpies? Here are three sweet girls who used to come to church. But it's been a long time. So this summer, at least this week and next and so on, we're doing Camp Stitch. I go to them and we stitch up a storm in the back courtyard. And we're easing into Bible stories and such. And their mothers want to learn to cross-stitch too. And we're playing UNO, soon to add some English to the mix. What we're really doing seizing the opportunity to make connections.


Time passes so quickly, we hardly notice one season blending into the next. Perhaps you've seen this video: The changes in nature through a year: one year captured in 40 seconds.

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

The cycle of life whirls faster and faster. It's summer now and in the blink of an eye, it will be autumn and then winter.

Reminds me of something that great philospher, Dr Seuss said,

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?


Oh dear Lord, open our eyes so that we may Seize the Day. Make us your fishers of men. . .and children. . .and a few fresh carp might be nice, too.