…and peace has come!
A Complex Party
Last week we had a Christmas party for the complex we live in. We got platters of food (and a huge chocolate mud cake!), soft drinks, chips… there were sparklers and glow sticks in there somewhere as well.
It was originally organised for the week before, but had to be postponed because of the storms. What had been planned became just sort of put together. We had good food, but the decorations were forgotten…
I took some of our decorations from home down to the pool area, where the party was, and some of the other neighbours brought theirs as well.
It wasn’t the most spectacular of light shows, but we all pitched in and had a great time!
It’s nearly Christmas Day. Our family party will be on Christmas Eve, and we’ve been cleaning, shopping, mentally organising… I have to ration my energy output these days so I can get stuff done, but we’re on schedule. I’ve done pretty much everything I wanted to.
And again – it won’t be spectacular.
But it will be enough to have a good party.
It won’t matter, in the end, if I don’t get everything cooked, cleaned or decorated to the standards I’ve held myself to in previous years. We’ll have the parties and eat Christmas food. We’ll also take time to remember Whose birthday we’re celebrating.
And it will be enough.
Drained
…and refilled.
I went to my first carol service of the season on Saturday night.
It started just before the sun set, and was a surprisingly cool evening.
There were carols, testimonies…kookaburras laughing raucously in the trees. Ice cream halfway through. Got the chance to chat to some people I haven’t seen in months.
It’s been so hot lately, hasn’t it?
I have my good days and bad days – according to the last doctor, that’s because of fibromyalgia. I know that’s a real thing, but the way it was presented to me, it felt like “don’t know what’s wrong with you go away”…
At this time of the year a bad day is not helped at all by the heat of the day, which makes it feel like your body is slowly boiling from the inside. Drains energy and motivation, and there’s not much respite at night! I’ve spent a few afternoons lately under the fan, draped in wet cloths, hoping to cool down. Yes, we do have air conditioning, and have been using it when absolutely necessary, but not all the time.
When the weather is not co-operating, it’s good to have other ways of being refreshed. This time of year, a good carol service is one way for me! 🙂
I’ve been watering the garden as much as I can, and it’s holding up well The sunflowers are blooming all over the place! The biggest bush looks a bit like I feel, though – sometimes fresh and bright, but other times wilting or shriveled 😆
There’s apparently a cool change coming this week.
Until then, here’s a verse from my reading today –
“The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
– Isaiah 40:8
Sky Confetti
The other day we were driving somewhere, and suddenly there were hundreds of butterflies drifting across the sky, like confetti… not all at once, but they just kept on coming.
Of course, once I stopped to film it, there weren’t so many. You can still see some fluttering past. Otherwise, enjoy the music – it’s one of the free background clips YouTube provide for use in your uploads. It’s called “Wandering Soul”, which seemed appropriate!
It’s spring, although today feels a bit more like summer. Everything’s greening up, and I’ve been adding to the succulents in my pots and gardens. Things are springing from the soil that I’d forgotten about, or didn’t even know were there.
The earth always renews, whatever the preceding blessing or disaster…
I tend to forget that.
When things go wrong, I sometimes forget that there’s capacity for renewal. I see the barrenness, and feel like that’s all there is or will be…
When my plants die (because I’m not a natural gardener!) I think there’s no point trying again. When I feel ill, and everything drags on, I feel like I’ll never be well again.
There is room for renewal – even if not for perfection.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
– Lamentations 3:22-23
Even when lamenting there is room for hope!
I have great hope that my new plants will survive. I’ve kept some of them alive for a while now, and they seem quite hardy. Here’s my new garden…
…and my new pots are now filled.
😀
Communing In An Age Of Corona
We went to our church service on Sunday – the second time we’ve been since in-person meetings started up again. On other weekends either I’ve not been well, or we’ve missed out on tickets (there’s a number limit because of distancing). That’s OK – we enjoy the online service, and I’m happy to go less if it means somebody else gets to go instead.
I did want to be there this weekend, though, because it was Communion Sunday. Previously, we’ve participated at home with our bread and juice (or piece of muesli bar and apple juice with a bit of beetroot juice, on the week we forgot what day it was…). This time I just felt like actually being with other people.
I must confess, I hadn’t really thought how it would work in a time when too much handling is discouraged. Corona restrictions have caused problems, with activities we take for granted no longer being available. It’s also brought about innovation!
As we entered the sanctuary we all took our “bread and wine” in one package.
Sorry it’s blurry – it was a bit dark! That’s a sealed cup with grape juice, with a separate sealed wafer on top.
I’m not crazy about all the packaging re:wastage – hopefully it’s recyclable – but I’m impressed that someone saw the need and created a solution 🙂
I’m glad we went. We’ll probably stay home for a week or two and leave room for someone else. I know that some people have been having difficulties with not being able to meet in person for church services. It is a strange year, and everybody has different circumstances and needs in their lives. I do know that we are one body in Christ, wherever we are – important to each other and to the whole, whether we think we are or not! Having Zoom and Messenger Chat capability has been wonderful this year, but even if that has been difficult, you are included, and you are essential 🙂
I’ve always had a mental image of the global church as a series of lights, connecting across the world, shining out for the world to see…
If you’re feeling drab and light-less, look around and see where someone else is shining. If you’re shining at the moment, see who needs a bit of light!
We’re meant to go through the seasons together…
❤
Peter, Paul Or Mary?
Sunday’s sermon asked which Biblical character we most relate to. It was also asking us not to “do a Peter” – becoming overconfident in our understanding of God and our relationship with Him, then eventually trusting in our own ability to withstand fear and temptation without His help.
Peter was given great insights (You are the Son of the Living God!) and walked on water, but he also denied Christ when it came to the crisis…
In this crisis year it’s a good reminder to stay close to God, especially when it all seems too hard!
I’ve met many people over the years who have identified with Peter. It’s the “ordinary person” part of his personality – the foot often in his mouth, and the big feet galumphing in to situations before thought catches up.
I don’t, particularly, but I’m not sure I identify with any other character in the Bible…
Paul – a bit cranky, loves writing 🙂
or Mary – sitting at the feet of Jesus?
Of course, the Biblical figure we are meant to identify with most is Jesus…
In this season when all sorts of things have changed and schedules have disintegrated, it’s good to remember who (and Whose) we are!
As Christmas is galloping closer, and because of the title of this post, here’s a song 🙂
1000 Fields of Roses 