Castle Tunnels and Other Places to Hide

Posted on July 5, 2012 by lyonsroarforgod

Sometimes we all feel like we need a place to hide, to feel safe, to get away for a little while. In my house, that tends to be my piano, or a walk outside with my sweet dog, or the bathroom. In castle days, that place to hide took the form of an underground set of tunnels. We got to explore Blarney Castle’s underground tunnels.

Queen Elizabeth I wanted Blarney Castle for her own and sent her emissary, Earl of Leicester, to the castle for discussions with Cormac McCarthy, who had possession of the castle. McCarthy kept putting the Earl off with banquets and delays; Queen Elizabeth I declared the reports to be “Blarney”. One of Cromwell’s generals gutted the tower walls, but the castle inhabitants and defenders escaped through the underground tunnels, called Badgers Caves.

David said in the Psalms, “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) The best hiding place, safe place, security that exists is God. He can tunnel us safely away from the attackers in this life, and lead us to green pastures beside the still waters. Slainte, Lisa

Castlelyons

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lyonsroarforgod

Castlelyons, Ireland. Great name, but then, I’m biased as Lyons is my last name and it would be pretty amazing to have a castle or just hang out in a castle. We found this town in County Cork, and it was the ancient hometown of the Barrymores in the 13th century. Fun to imagine what life was like back then, probably very hard, and not much like my daydreams of knights, maidens, minstrels, etc. But hey, a girl can dream, right? 🙂 Slainte, Lisa

My two knights

Castle Lyons Ruins, http://www.geograph.ie

God’s Playground

Posted on May 24, 2012 by lyonsroarforgod

Some people refer to Ireland as God’s country. I know that God loves all the countries and peoples He made, but I also think He was smiling and laughing a bit more when Ireland was made. 🙂 And it certainly is tailor-made for kids…rocks to climb on, castles to explore, walking and hiking and more walking, sheep scattered in random places along the way, great but normal food they will actually eat, and on and on and on….

Slainte, Lisa

Reencaheragh Beach

Truth Vs. Beauty, or are they the same?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by lyonsroarforgod

The truth can sometimes be hard to face, and some would say, ugly. Yet the truth sets you free. There is nothing to hide behind, no deception, no unreality. Truth is truth, and it’s real, and it never changes. Our world is obsessed with beauty, with beautiful people, with trying to stay beautiful. Yet the truth of who and what we are, of living life, is beautiful too. Because we’re all flawed people who are trying to love the best we can. Here are some “truthful” pictures of old, broken down homes in Ireland, that some would call ugly and an eyesore. Yet, to me they are beautiful, they have stories to tell, and they live as a testimony to the lives of those who passed before us.

Worn-out tower staircase

Abandoned Home or Inn, Gap of Dunloe

An old room with a view

I am challenging myself to look for beauty in the unexpected and the truthful places. I want to be the kind of person who can see some good, even in the worst of situations. Because I definitely would like people to do that for me.

Slainte, Lisa