…because some days are wearying.
Reflections
Finally, it’s raining, and there’s even a bit of a breeze!
Today was a busyish day… went to a group class (Auslan) with the boys this morning, and general studying the rest of the day…
I’ve not been at the peak of health lately – nothing major, but enough to make the days wearying. The last couple of days haven’t been too bad, though.
By tomorrow I’ll have completed 47 years on this earth. I’ve been reminded a bit too often lately that I’m “at that age” where things fall apart a bit. Doesn’t mean I have to just let it happen…
I went down to the pool today to do some exercise (lots easier in water) and spend some quiet meditative time on my own – reminding myself of the benefits of prayer and stillness. It was relaxing, and a nice end to the day. Looking forward to a good next year! 🙂
Where Feet May Fail
We sang this at church today…
Good to remember –
Some days my feet fail more than others.
Trust without borders!
Hear The Bells
Here’s a carol I don’t really know well – I came across it recently in a reading. It’s based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in a time of war and loss.
This world, right now, is not a peaceful world – even though some of us live in relative peace. There’s always turmoil if you look.
Isaiah wrote about a hope of peace, in a time of turmoil…
The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
    light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
    you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
    Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
    sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
    all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
    as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
    along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
    a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
    over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
    and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
    beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    will do all this.
(Isaiah 9:2-7)
That’s the Hope we celebrate at Christmas.
We may still be waiting to see the final outcome of that Hope…
but we can still remember –
The Prince of Peace has come!
R.A.O.K.
Today was an interesting day…
My Littlest Bean is getting taller. This means we need to get new clothes (including shoes) for him… if we can get things at Lifeline etc, it’s better. We watched a couple of shows this week about globalisation, especially the problems with cheap fashion – we can’t really afford fair trade clothing, but prefer to recycle rather than buy cheap.
Today we found some good shoes for him at Lifeline. A bit lived in, need a bit of a clean, but good treads and comfortable. There was a man looking around the shop while we were there, apparently… we didn’t notice him, but Littlest Bean remembered seeing him.
We did the rest of our shopping, went to Aldi for the last bit, leaving Little Bean sitting on a bench outside, watching the bags. As we went through the checkout, we saw him chatting to a young woman, who was showing him a pair of shoes… when we got outside, she said that a man had bought them for him at the sports shop next door (I gather she worked there) and asked her to give them to him. He didn’t get to say thanks to the man, but he had had a chat while we were in Aldi. He recognised him as the same man he’d seen at Lifeline, and said they’d had a chat about his “new” shoes and what size his feet were…
So now he has a brand new pair of shoes! (They’re very comfortable, apparently 😉 )
We would have liked to say thank you face to face… but we are thankful – and pleased, and flabbergasted…
Here’s the new shoes.
Sweet Bean said “Do you think God had anything to do with it?”
Yes, my darling. Yes, I think that’s quite likely… 🙂
Going For Goal!
Whatever your level.
Whatever the distance.
Keep moving forward –
Go for your goal! 🙂
