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…
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!
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.
❤
It’s been great to see the regeneration of plant life after the rains lately – most of us will have seen the photos of splashes of green in the burnt out areas, if not seen it for ourselves.
Our garden has not been doing well – even with watering, the sudden dry heat from time to time has killed off some plants, and severely weakened others. Nevertheless, there is still life!
This should be watercress, so I’m expecting it to grow into bigger watercress… we shall see.
This geranium has been struggling, but I saw it had sprouted a flower unexpectedly.
😀
The aloe vera is having lots of little babies at the moment – even popping up in the roots of our old rosemary.
“Perseverance” is defined as to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite difficulties. My poor little plants are trying their best to follow this!
I wonder what will grow next?
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!
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 😉
As I write, the rain is starting again.
The fresh scent of growth and newness rises from the already drenched soil.
It’s hard to believe that, not so long ago, we were burning – beautiful rainfall like this can make it hard to remember the heat and drought of just a few weeks ago.
This is the sort of weather I associate with February, even though I know it can also be among the hottest months of the year. I remember streets running with water, trying to navigate to work in near floods, and that musty wet smell that never seemed to quite dissipate.
I love rain! I love the grey skies, and the thundering of a downpour on the roof, followed by a cacophony of birds shouting their glee, and often the littlies across the road chattering excitedly as they splash about! 😀 The pot plants still alive are breathing a sigh of relief as well…
This was the sky yesterday.
Looks like it’s gearing up for that again – seems to be the forecast for a while.
I can catch the scent of fresh rain – time to come awake!
After such a big day yesterday I decided on a much quieter schedule today.
That included a morning at the library, where we all found our separate corners and got on with what we had to do.
I know I’ve said this before, but libraries are amazing! Obviously there’s books, and that would be enough to endear them to me forever 😉 There’s also DVDs, CDs, and various online resources you can access with your library card – your personal passport to imagination, knowledge and just plain fun!
Do you want to read a book, but can’t afford to buy it? Check your local library – often they’ll have it, or they can buy it for the shelves or order it from another library. As we have homeschooled for many years, it’s been an invaluable asset for us – just down the road and easily accessible. Libraries do seem to be downsizing, or even dying out, in a lot of places, though. To prevent that, we need to support our local libraries. Get your card, and get some books – you know you want to! 😀
The other reason we love to go to the library was the reason we went today. Sometimes being at home has its distractions when you want to study, or do any sort of intellectual or contemplative work. The library is generally quiet, and ours has free internet and lots of powerpoints to plug in wherever you need to. There are lots of carrels along the wall where you can set up and ignore everything around you. There are comfy chairs and sofas to laze around on and read, and there are big swivel chairs with wall-like sides facing the windows, where I whiled away the morning, blocking out the world behind me and concentrating on my List Of Things To Do. I found it soothing to be able to stare out at the rain whenever I wanted to…
This was my view – right in the corner, comfortable and secluded. I don’t know what that bird was. Some sort of corvid (crow or raven?) but it sat out there staring at me for quite a while.
I didn’t particularly need human companionship at the time, but I enjoyed sharing my contemplative space with a corvid friend…
We’ll be back.
Perhaps we’ll see you there!
…and still my heart felt light!
Another birthday today – it’s becoming a tradition for me to take a trip to the city, and round to New Farm, to revisit my younger days. The skies looked like this.
Rain threatened all day, but didn’t actually fall. The wind was strong (my hair still hasn’t recovered) and it was a bit chilly, especially since it’s been sweltering lately.
I loved it.
I went in on the train with my Babe this morning; he got off at Roma Street for his first day of classes, I stayed on till the Valley. Took a bus from there to New Farm, where I wandered for a bit before having some coffee and cake (Baci Torte) at the New Farm Deli.
Apparently I’m reserved.
Who knew?
They had a fire last year, so there’s been a lot of rebuilding. It’s all done and open for business, whether you want the cafe experience, or fine foods to take home. Fancy some cheese?
Or cured meats?
Or a variety of other foods…
From there I went to a green space in Brisbane that a couple of people have told me about – it’s free to visit and to sit and have your lunch, and there’s great views as well. I had a bit of trouble with the escalator going up – it’s a two floor journey, and the angle felt too steep and unending… there’s also a lift to get there. I didn’t have as much trouble coming down…
There were views of the river on one side
and St John’s Cathedral on the other side.
As it was so close I went to have a wander round. I couldn’t get photos that showed the windows, but I love the vaulted ceilings and arched stonework.
And here’s my God heart for today, on the steps as I was going in!
I pottered about after that until it was time to meet my Babe at Roma Street to take the train home again.
We stopped to get dinner and cake on the way home.
Yum!
It’s been a quiet night since then 🙂
I got myself some little bits and pieces as I roamed…
The two at the top are glass Christmas ornaments, and the little pink angel is fair trade, hand carved stone from the cathedral shop. The other is a hanging ornament called “Song of Joy” (the bit to the right is where she’s kicking her leg up as she dances).
Here she is hanging up next to my chair.
It’s been a good, but long, day.
Sleep, now…
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
