For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 4:15-16 (Amplified Bible)

My thanks to biblegateway.com for the above copy and paste. Been feeling pretty depressed, unmotivated, draggin' around, overwhelmed, discouraged, and what have you lately, and so with a few minutes to spare went straight for the hard stuff, scripture-wise. A bit like applying the paddles to the heart in an emergency.

Shortly, we're going to park at a lot, cross a bridge, and walk along the sparkling Bow River for a ways. The color of rivers here is different, it seems to me--a particular kind of green and blue, like you're looking at footage from the old Bonanza TV series.

Today is pleasant, dry, and cool (high 70F?) while yesterday was, by Calgary standards, hot. It hit, maybe, 87F with just a touch of humidity. Such days happen perhaps five times a year, say locals. Anyhow, yesterday it struck me why Calgarians complain so about the "heat" on days that seem to old Easterners to be gorgeous and bearable. It's because about 90 per cent of houses don't have air conditioning! I'm living in one of them, and yesterday it caused me to feel drained and out of sorts. Nothing horrible, mind you, but I did find myself looking forward to today, when the temp was supposed to drop again.