There was a very good book about Gustav Klimt in the room and of course, you know I had to read as much of it as I could. I like his art and enjoyed this book very much indeed. There was another book in this room and even though this hotel was opened in 2008, I could tell that not one person had ever once turned any pages in this book. I promise you I could tell, the pages had not been touched. What was this unread book? It was the HOLY BIBLE! Recently, I heard of another hotel whose owner replaced the Bibles in his 40 room hotel with copies of "Fifty Shades of Grey". http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/07/25/hotel-replaces-bible-with-50-shades-grey-420750936/ (The Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District in England and I have a link to the story about it.) Well.
When he said that no one ever read the Bibles, I couldn't help but think of this lonely Bible in this hotel room. Now, here is the thing I want to tell you... it was a beautiful version of the Bible, I think it was called English Revised or something like that. I read the Book of Job, I had to leave this room with the knowledge that someone had read something out of this Good Book. (God's words to Job: "Where were YOU when I made the Heaven and the Earth, when I said to the sea, this far you may come and no further". Really awesome to read this when you have the English Channel outside your window!) Of course, I believe the Bible is more than just a book, it is the Holy Bible and is important to my faith and beliefs. I appreciate the quality of a well made book, the quality of the paper and the binding, and this one was excellent. Thank you, Gideons! I, for one, am grateful to have a Bible in a hotel room.
Exciting news! At least for us, is that we were able to put one of the videos on Youtube that we made while we were in Eastbourne! I say "we" but it was really Richard who made this video and I think it is really good, with the seagulls circling lazily overhead as the waves crash against the pebbled shore. Hope you like it as much as we do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNnB_UfrMwU&feature=plcp
I'm a Klimt fan too. Once I stayed in a hotel room where, in addition to the Bible, there was also a copy of the Hindu sacred text, the Dhammapada, in the same drawer. I guess they were giving "equal time" to other religion(s) too, LOL!
ReplyDeleteD'oh! It's a Buddhist sacred text, according to Wikipedia. My bad.
ReplyDeleteDebra,
DeleteYou are so funny. Like I would know your mistake! :-)
That Bible was so beautiful, I thought of asking if I could have it, but wanted to leave it for the next guest. Maybe the next one will read it!
shades of grey books are not sacred books...that is too bad. the hotel looks beautiful!! with amazing art...but I would not give an establishment $ that replaced the Bible.
ReplyDeleteI edited my post to make it clear that the hotel that replaced the Bibles was not in Eastbourne but in the Lake District and I have a link to the story about it.
DeleteI feel a great sadness at the thought of that hotel owner doing that but it does not surprise me.
Always good to see the sea.
ReplyDeleteTo see the sea and to smell that wonderful English fresh air and to hear the cry of the seagulls!
DeleteThat was such a nice video, Kay! I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the ocean. I find that so soul soothing. That looks like a very pretty room you stayed in. I'm one of the (maybe few) people that enjoys staying in hotels. Maybe because I don't have to do any chores there! Anyway, I hope you had a lovely anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI like Debra's comment about that hotel having different religious books available to people. I think that's a great idea. Equal time for all religions, and for thos who are not religious, they just don't bother with them.
Dear Martha,
DeleteSo happy we finally figured out how to put the video on here! It was a pretty room and it had a pretty seaview also!
This is from the Book of Common Prayer:
For the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect and
forbearance may grow among nations and peoples, we pray
to you, O Lord.
Dear Kay, that video is wonderful!! I felt like I was there with you. And the waves were so soothing.
ReplyDeleteI love Klimt, too, and cannot get enough of looking at his art.
And I, too, like Debra's comment of equal time for all religions and having different sacred texts available for perusal. What a novelty that would be!! :)
Hope you are having a great weekend!! Love, Silke
Hey Silke!
Deleteyour reply is below! :-)
That answers my question, thanks Kay.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou are welcome. Did you like Richard's video?
DeleteSorry, something happened. I said that twice!
DeleteDid you not fancy going for a swim?!
ReplyDeleteHA HA Tracey, but I was surprised at people who were swimming! Do you know in all these years I have only paddled there, never gone completely in the water!
DeleteI know, you always see people in the water, even on the most miserable days. That's the eccentric English for you!
DeleteHey, you gotta love the Brits! Keep calm and get in the water even if it's freezing!
DeleteActually, the Gideons themselves say it's okay to take the Bibles if you want, they leave extras at most hotels, and will replace it. They just want the Word out there.
ReplyDeleteMostly i don't open the Bible in a hotel room because i travel with my small study Bible.
One hotel is replacing the Bibles with Kindle readers that have the Bible already programmed in, and you can use them to access more free books on the web (there are thousands of classic titles available free as ebooks, including works of many religions). They will charge the card you used to pay for your stay if the Kindle is missing when you check out, so that keeps people honest.
I knew that I could take the Bible but felt I wanted to leave it for another person, just in case there could be one person who would read it.
DeleteI have a lot of Bibles, but I can always appreciate one more!
Kindle readers, okay, but I still like my Bible in my hotel room.
Dear Silke,
ReplyDeleteYou should visit the Monastery which is just a few miles from us in Rockdale County. They have a big selection of books for sale in their gift shop about every kind of religion in the world.
Silke, can you tell how much I love color? Can you see how that bright peacock blue made me so happy?
Great weekend! Just climbed Arabia Mountain and within the hour I will be at the Monastery and will hear the monks chanting. Peace to you!
Love,
Kay
Aaaaahhhhh. I closed my eyes and listened to the wind and the waves.....it was almost like being there! Thanks for sharing your video....it's so lovely. Loved that blue spread on the bed!
ReplyDeleteDear Audrey,
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you liked this. I can't tell you how in the world we were able to get it on Youtube. Now if we could just figure out how to get it on my blog without making you click on the link!
And I KNEW you would love that color blue as much as I do!!
Keep cool, my dear, we still have August to get through!
that was so beautiful, i came here to thank you for the kind words on my blog via Nana Diana and I ended up reading your posts and reading, and reading, I have joined as a follower, thank you so much,
ReplyDeleteDear Laurie,
DeleteThank you so much for YOUR kind words! You have a lovely blog and I wonder how many recognize your blog name is from "Georgia On My Mind"?
Thanks so much for becoming a follower, I appreciate it!
Right as rain, right as rain, right as rain....over and over, I promise it is calming.
Love,
Kay
Sorry, as soon as I sent that I realized the line is "In peaceful dreams I see", but it is close enough to remind me of your blog name! :-)
DeleteYou have a lovely Blog and it's very nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you stopped by my blog as tgat enabled me to find you.
I'm your newest FOLLOWER!!
Well hello Sweet Tea!
DeleteOf course being Southern, I must love Sweet Tea!
I tried to follow you but somehow ended up following someone who has a name similar to yours! Oh well! This is what my life is like, one blunder after another, think I'll go have another sweet tea and then try again!
So nice to have a new follower/friend!
Klimt's work is beautiful, but next to God's.. well. I know what you mean about lonely Bibles! Sad to say, I find most Bibles in hotel rooms in pristine, uncracked condition -- that in fact goes for all the holy books provided (in Asia, there are sometimes Buddhist and Islamic books as well). Perhaps it's because most people brought their own devotionial reading -- we can hope! I too say, "Thank you, Gideons!" :D
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment. I think there might be a song or poem in the topic of "Lonely Bibles", don't you? It seems a reflection of our times, sad to say.
DeleteThanks again for your thoughtful comment. Please, visit me again. Good-bye! (Did you know that when we say Good bye, we are really saying God Be With Ye?)
Yes, I did know that; isn't it lovely :) By the way, I googled "Lonely Bible lyrics", but did not find anything off hand!
DeleteBeautiful posting, well done indeed. The "lonely Bibles" comment is powerful in so many ways. Good for you for making use of it and may that bless whoever follows you in that room. - Karen
ReplyDeleteDear Suz,
DeleteOh thank you so much for understanding. I REALLY wanted that Bible, it was so beautiful, but felt that because I had opened and read it, then perhaps maybe just one person would be inspired to do so.
Thanks for your comment!
Blessings to you!
Love,
Kay