BREATHTAKING

 This world is full of wonder when you have a beautiful warm day like Sunday and eyes to see all the little wonders around about.  Even put my shorts on.  Did not go to church which always makes me feel a little sad but I know I have to keep resting and try and get rid of this nasty bug.

I was sitting on the chesterfield half asleep when Sandra walked in.  So thoughtful of her to come for a visit when she has so much to do.  She helped dad fix his Skype but it took her awhile.  I  think she wins the prize for patience.

I was amazed as I went to sit in the back yard to see one little goldfish hiding under a leaf., actually looking fat and healthy  Dad and I were sure they had all disappeared.  Went to get some fish food and then couldn't see him again.  Just got home in time for Carol and Panteli arriving back from Chilliwack.  They had a fantastic time with the children.  Carol  said they had seen snow geese on the way home and here am I in shorts.

They brought me my hamper basket that I won at the church were Ben was singing Cherokee.  Full of lots of goodies from home made jam to gluten free crackers, cups and nExpectingapkins, cheese and olives, chocolates etc.  They sure did a wonderful job.

Dad had gone for a walk in the forest which was excellent and he sat on the bench and watch dogs and people come and go so he missed Carol and Panteli.

I think it is time to put beauty and wonder into our church services. We do have beautiful flowers, and banners and music .  Are we expecting    to be surprised  with joy!  Expecting to breath in the sacred mystery of all of life that surrounds us and joins us together in community!

God always has a word for me whether it is in the message or the prayers or the hymns.

We need to breath new life into old traditions!  A holy joy that flows out of thankfulness!



I need to see the light glowing before me and upon me.

Wonder can still be there for those with eyes to see.

UNRAVLING

To be healthy is to be in a state of well-being and wholeness and is helpful in coping with the stress of life, and I know that I can take it for granted.  Sickness casts a shadow of discontent with life awith ourselves.  I know that right now I feel that nothing I do is right is right.  My cough is nearly gone and it has just left me worn our.  I am thankful that I can now recover that energy.

 

Dad is doing a good job of caring for me but it is hard for me to not be able to keep busy.

His shoulders are very painful right now with bursitis.  I think maybe a massage or therapy would help.  Yes we have a wonderful family but most of the time they are very busy with their own activities. 

'''a beautiful day just to sit on our front porch.  I did a short walk to the vegetable store and was able to put some money in a little boys money box.  He beam at me he had not been getting any busy that I was  aware of

I picked up an old book that I have had for ages by Andrew Weil. M.D.

He unravels some of the brain's function for me.  The main thing for me is to calm my restless mind and not to think negatively .  Yes prayer and meditation do help but I have not succeeded in this endeavor.  Meditation has the potential to alter your brain function.

"What are the main sources of strength?

If you had a life threatening illness, where would you turn for support?

What gives your life meaning and purpose?"

"Eastern and Western people have identifies breath with spirit.
Breath is the essence of life.
We can become more aware of the spiritual self by paying attention to, observing and meditating on the breath.
  We sing breath on me Breath of God!

We may go for a drive today it is a shame to waste the sunny days.  So when all is said and done I am enjoying my reading and dad his sports.  Still coughing too much for church.

FRUSTRATION

Dad was mad!  very mad when he got up and couldn’t find me sitting in my usual corner.  He was sure I had gone out walking but I had moved to the other bedroom because I was coughing.

Very early in the morning seems like the worse time for me.  I cannot do it right now even if I wanted to.  So dad and I stayed home and had our tea together.  We had a choice of RASPBERRY THRILLER or HONEY LEMON GINSENG.!

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled.  The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."
--  Ray Bradbury.

We have so much to be thankful for and to look forward to but everything seems like an effort now and I am easily frustrated.

It has seemed like a long week for me.  A long time to be shut indoors.

I was disappointed that we did not make it out for lunch; and disappointed the Skype did not work.

I thought we maybe could drive over to Carol and Panteli's to-morrow to say good-bye to Panteli but they are going out to Chilliwack.  So I will say good-bye on here.  Have a safe trip and a productive working time.

I know that looking back I will find blessings in our time together,  I believe that God is refilling me with a deeper strong faith.  My cough is much better but \I am extremely tired.  Coming up the sairs is like doing the Grouse Grind.  Q A little exageration

"A faith is a necessity to man, Woe to him who believes in nothing"   Victor Hugo

NEW UNDERSTANDINGS

                                               Always looking for new light on all beliefs.



I am putting on old pictures  since I am not allowed to stick my toe out the door much less go for a walk.  But it is worth it if I get better faster.  I am thankful that I am getting better each day,  I am thankful for all the caring things dad does. 

Yesterday had  a good visit with Shawna on the phone.  Lincoln has been keeping her up at night but thankfully she has had help from Shandel and her sister and maybe others and of course she is missing Stephan as he has gone back to work out of town.
 Later Carol dropped by and she too is still fighting this bug and is feeling very tired.

I have gotten to the place in Spong's book where suddenly the gospel of John begins to unfold as the work of Jewish mysticism.  I have always liked the gospel of John.  This helps the modern mind to see that God is indeed homeless and unemployed.  This opens the door to an understanding of God not as a being but  as the theologian Paul Tillich says as "the ground of all being",

Going out for lunch with Jane and Geof if dad is agreeable.  Dad will go if I am not up to it.


The book by John Shelby Spong is called "The Fourth Gospel:   Tales of a Jewish Mystic. I am finding it interesting but I too have been angry with him, but I believe he is very through in his studying for this book.  I am reading very slowly right now.

Ken I would like to Skype today maybe after 3.  This is me praying for patience!

RUMBLINGS

I hear a lot of rumblings against God and church.
Why are less people going to church?  Many reasons I expect.  It may have been a habit and they have just got out of the habit or are busy with other things,  They may find church boring and dull or just too busy with other activities.  Or irrelevant?

Do they feel they have any spiritual needs?

Do they find that there questions are not being answered and that it is not practical help for their every day lives.  We are the ones who are being asked the questions.

I do not believe in the God that fills our souls with fear.

'The creedal system seemed to me to have locked Jesus into a pre-modern world, to have defined God as an invasive, miracle-working deity from outer space, and to have made the work of engaging the world in dialogue not only more difficult, but almost impossible, falsifying the Jesus experience into time-bound and time-warped human words"  Bishop Spong

I go to hear good news, to be touched by the healing power of music, to learn from the mistakes of the past. from scripture and from our own failures, to be with friends I care about.

I believe in all our lives we carry sadness and grief and somehow there is an opening into a loving grace through prayer and worship;   and by the power of the Spirit there is healing and redemption and restoration.

Well I find being sick very tiring and yes dad is a little bossy.  I wonder why?   But other than that he is an excellent care-giver!

I cough when I talk, when I laugh, when I eat and even when I read so consequently I have to reread things over again.  So far I am understanding Bishop Spong a little better.
Had a better sleep last night.

DISTURBING THE PEACE

It is always amazing when a rainbow appears.  I know it is suppose to be a sign of hope and it is.

Yes I have been disturbing the peace with my coughing fits so dad and I went off to the clinic.  After listening to my chest he decided the old girl need some antibiotics.

Started them yesterday and had the worst sleep ever last night.  I think some times one gets worse before you get better.  I was just going to stay up but dad made me a hot drink and a heating pad for my chest and told me to return to bed.  I hate making such a racket and waking him up.  May I will sleep in the other bed to-night but hopefully I will be much better.

At the doctor's office I had to wear a mask which was the first for me.

Two quotes I found helpful.
"The older I get the more deeply I believe, but the less beliefs I have."  From John Shellby Spong's book which I know will be a challenge for me to read.

"Serenity can be a gift of aging if you are open to it,  Many older people (and I am getting there) tell me they have much greater emotional equilibrium than they did when they were young, and better able to adjust to life's ups and downs.  --Andrew Weil, M.D.

I am very disappointed I will miss a special celebration for my friend's 90 birthday at the church today but I can remember being absolutely crushed as a young person having to miss out on something.

Hopefully I am learning to accept things better.

QUESTIONS

I cannot remember if I put this pictures on before?


This is what dad says to me every day “What is she up to now?"  Yes I do have a habit of moving things around.  I am trying to make our book cases more modern with family treasures as well as books. Dad is still old fashioned and thinks book cases are for books.

It seems like all the readings I am doing lately raise more questions than answers.

There seem to be no easy answers when we question life, our first beliefs, our first tragedy, all the suffering in our world. 

How can  one read the scriptures and capture the meaning for us today?

Can you be religious without being spiritual? or spiritual and not religious?

How have our childhood experiences affected us?

How can the church find relevance in this scientific age?

Deep down how do we know what is really good?

Why with all these questions do I choose to believe that God is good and that good can come out of suffering?