…join with the family across the world.
Church And Chocolate
Closures have meant our church services are not meeting at the moment, but we joined in with the online service. This morning was a chance to sit together and sing, and listen to God’s word. This afternoon I logged in to the service at a church we go to in the evenings… more worship – yay!
Because we were in our own lounge room we could have come in pyjamas, if we’d wanted 🙂 We had a cuppa, and I dipped in to a cup of chocolates my Sweet Bean got for me when he went to a service station down the road yesterday – he wanted a walk, and to get his own chocolate stash, so I thought I’d indulge!
I forgot to put it back in the fridge last night, so one of my freckles had eyes…
I enjoyed being comfortable in my own home… but most of all, I enjoyed meeting up with my Christian family – even if it’s just virtual!
Live Long And Prosper
In this time of coronavirus fear and “social distancing“, we are renegotiating contact with others… the basic handshake is avoided, and other greetings put in its place. For our church, as for other places of worship, that means using the Vulcan salute.
A good choice, I think!
Quite apart from the geek factor, the hand gesture is derived from a Jewish symbol, used during a priestly blessing. Leonard Nimoy (Spock in the original Star Trek) remembered seeing it as part of a service in the synagogue in his childhood, and when faced with coming up with a Vulcan greeting, modified what he had seen.
The original blessing is done with two hands, arms held out and hands touching to form the Hebrew letter “shin”, which stands for “Shaddai”, or “Almighty God”. In this form there are restrictions on who can perform the gesture and the accompanying blessing, but as the Vulcan salute is modified, it is available for anyone to use.
Tomorrow we’ll be telling each other to “Live long, and prosper”, to which the proper response is “Peace and long life”.
And we’ll be extending a blessing to each other as we do it!
Snippets
I’ve been reading again!
Over the holidays I binged on cozy mysteries, so now it’s time for more educational and inspiring books (not that I’ll give up on my mysteries!). I have lots of books in my bookcases that I haven’t read, and I’m working my way through those.
Our library also has new books coming all the time – I can usually go in each week and find something I haven’t seen before.
I’ve just finished a book called “Bare”, by Susan Hyatt. It’s got a lot about weight loss, but coming from the perspective of loving yourself where you’re at, and finding out what you’re actually feeding when you binge eat (or over work, over exercise… add your particular excess here…) One section is about what to do with the hectoring voices in your head. There are a few different options; this is one of my favourites.
Another that I quite liked has to do with reacting to the rogue thought as a bouncer would –
(Scenario)
Thought – “You’re useless/ugly/horrible” etc…
Mental “bouncer” – “What!! You again! Trying to sneak past me – get out of here!”
What else have I been reading?
My devotional reading this morning lead me to John Donne’s Holy Sonnet XIV –
“Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend,
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee,’and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new
I, like an usurpt towne, to’another due,
Labour to’admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv’d, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely’I love you,’and would be loved faine,
But am bethroth’d unto your enemie:
Divorce mee,’untie or breake that knot againe,
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you’enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.”
I haven’t read much of Donne. There are nineteen Holy Sonnets in all – take a look!
Here’s two songs to finish the day.
😀
Ah, The Serenity!
Just the peace of a big cup of coffee, after assisting (again!) at a science experiment for Sweet Bean – the first time didn’t yield enough data. Both times triggered panic (so much else to do!), but we knuckled down and Got It Done.
Just been admiring my random succulent type plant outside… still growing away in the heat, retaining what water it can, and peacefully enduring.
Perhaps there’s a lesson in there somewhere…
A Red Letter Day
Tomorrow is the first meeting of a group at my place, doing the Red Letter Challenge – we’re doing it as a church, with small groups meeting each week.
Remember those Bibles with the words of Jesus printed in red? That’s the concept – 40 days of finding, contemplating, and doing the words of Jesus. It’s an opportunity to get back to basics, remember what’s important, and put the important stuff into practice…
Looking forward to it!
Turn Around
I’ve been reading again!
A quote from the book caught my eye and made me think…
Turning the story around –
“Government/corporations/the wealthy/the political parties are too strong weak. There is nothing anyone they can do to change them themselves, and if there is going to be change, they have to initiate it we have to help them, so all of our individual efforts are irrelevant crucial.”
What do I think about this?
In a week that has brought about injustices and tragedies, seen and unseen, it’s easy to feel like giving up on everything as hopeless and unchangeable, and seeing ourselves as powerless. And, truly, sometimes we are in situations where the outcome bulldozes us down… a failure of society to engage and protect the individual? A long timeline of little adjustments and concessions leading to a tunnel we didn’t know we were heading for? A bit of both? I don’t know.
Governments and the societies that elect them need to change in a lot of ways, but that starts with an individual. It starts with each of us.
I’m feeling like I’m getting preachy – I don’t want that 🙂
Getting back to the quote!
How do I change myself, and influence the world around me? I haven’t finished the book yet, so not sure what that answer will be! One obvious thing is to look squarely at who I am…
What do I believe? Why? Am I willing to question things, in order to more clearly understand?
I come from a Christian understanding of the world. In a lot of ways (globally) that can be seen to be unyielding, rigid, unwilling to look at other points of view… I don’t agree that that’s the way to see things. An unchallenged faith is a weak faith – if God is real (as I believe He is) then He is big enough and strong enough to walk with us through the questions and disappointments. Also, deep enough to encompass differences of opinion!
So – am I willing to confront myself when I am triggered or made uncomfortable by events/circumstances/points of view? Am I willing to Change My Mind?! On that note, I find it interesting to read books by people who have completely different understandings of the world to me. It can be amazing to see where we agree!
I have not a lot to offer, in the big scheme of things. I have some influence in some spheres… but nothing major. I am quiet, not very energetic, often not well. I often feel useless. But I am still not lacking in responsibility to know who I should be and my place in this community…
One thing I can do?
I can welcome whoever needs or wants friendship. I can hold out hope where it’s needed – there are endless cups of tea here, and spare beds/sofas are available! I can brighten someone’s day, even if it’s only in a small way.
And I can guarantee that, whoever you are reading this, YOU are important. You are significant. You are meant to be here, and you have a part to play in this world. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right this second.
❤
Love
It’s Valentine’s Day!
Hearts, flowers, chocolate…
I enjoy all that – I know some people think it’s an over-priced excuse to indulge, and that it undervalues everyday, long-lasting, persevering love. There is that element, of course. I think we have to make that choice to mark the day, while remembering the sentiment for the rest of the year.
But do we celebrate only a narrow definition of love?
Romantic love is pretty well covered. What about families – parent/child, siblings? Love between friends – that uplifted feeling you get when a beloved friend drops by unexpectedly, or you’re sitting down over a cuppa just nattering away. Love for the furry members of the family, who tend to adore unconditionally, and help to calm and lower blood pressure…
And above that, love for God, and His for you.
Today can commemorate sad memories and loneliness for many people. I don’t want to minimise the pain of that, but I do wonder if we, as a society, elevate romance too much at the expense of the rich diversity and fulfillment of other relationships…
Happy Valentine’s Day!
❤
May you be able to look around you and see (and be) the love!
Here’s a snippet of a training manual 🙂
“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Passion Translation)
…and of course – there’s always Twoo Wuv!
On The Move
Another rainy day, which I love.
It also has the element of gloom, though – perhaps things seem closer and darker.
There’s injustice and pain going on in the world, as well as just bouts of petty sniping, and sometimes it can feel a bit hopeless… I tell my boys to keep on moving forward, and do what you can do.
There are times to just stop, take care of yourself, and breathe. There are times to take a stand and put yourself out there.
And there are times to put your head back and SING!
“Fill our hearts with a holy danger
Lead us beyond our fear of failure…”
…and sing from the shackles!
I’ll just leave you with an upbeat song 😉
Come On – Join The Band!
We were watching yesterday’s Spicks and Specks at lunch today, and one of the answers was a song I haven’t heard in years! It was under the heading “Concept Albums” and, as Myf said, it used to be on children’s television All The Time… if I’m remembering correctly, there was Sesame Street, Play School, then “Butterfly Ball”. I saw it so many times as a child – I remember enjoying it, and I’m pretty sure I wandered around the house singing it 🙂
I had to look it up after (and share with Sweet Bean). I felt like the years just fell away… not sure I quite realised back then just how weird it was, though 😉
I wasn’t planning to post today. We don’t really celebrate Australia Day in our house, partly because the years spent living overseas made it seem less important to me, and partly because of the “Change The Date” views. For the record, I have no issue with changing the date. If the day is just about celebrating the whole of the nation, and all the good things in it, then there can be no reason not to change it, and the hope of healing and reconciliation if we do.
Nevertheless, I thought that something along the lines of “Love is all” would be OK to post today.
Just to finish – here’s a thought on changing the date…
Ring the bell and let the people know!
1000 Fields of Roses 