Do not pursue the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. The past no longer is. The future has not yet come. Looking deeply at life as it is. In the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom. We must be diligent today. To wait until tomorrow is too late. Death comes unexpectedly. How can we bargain with it? The sage calls a person who knows how to dwell in mindfulness night and day, 'one who knows the better way to live alone.' Bhaddekaratta Sutta
I love Adrian Plass. I love his humour, and I love how he sees God. I hear he's coming out to Australia at the end of the year!
Off The Boil
By Adrian Plass
I've been reading the book of Job lately. Poor old Job. There were only really three phases in Job's life. Pre-boil, boil and post-boil. At one point he looks back nostalgically to the good old pre-boil days, and remembers addressing the people. He says, "When I smiled at them they could scarcely believe it." One of the things that struck me as I talked to people after a series of meetings one weekend was that lots of them seemed to think that - far from smiling at them - God is somehow out to get them. We used to know a lad whose mum was ferociously house-proud. She made the family get deckchairs out and sit on them in the living-room so they wouldn't crease the three piece suite. The sort of person who runs around the garden in the autumn trying to catch the leaves before they mess the lawn up. She was a fanatic. Steve liked our house - probably because we - well - tended towards the other end of the spectrum.
One day we bought four very old chairs - all our stuff was third or fourth hand in those days. Local people used to come in and say, "Oh, there's my wardrobe!" or “You’ve got my table!”
Anyway, these four chairs were only about five pence each, and old Steve sat on one. It collapsed beyond repair, and I can still see that lad lying among the wreckage, waiting for Armageddon. In his house you got half-killed for sitting on a chair. He'd destroyed one. We watched his face move from pallid terror through amazement as he realised that we were falling about laughing, to profound relief. He could scarcely believe we were smiling at him. Please - if you're lying amid the wreckage of your life (note the smooth transition to a serious point) sorry to mess about - it is a serious point - don't assume that God's going to put the boot in. You may be amazed to discover that he's smiling at you.
This song seems so appropriate at the moment, earthquakes, cyclones, ongoing wars around the world, desperation..and its all only a moment away at anytime. Lord, Gimme Shelter!
GIMME SHELTER - ROLLING STONES
Oh, a storm is threatning My very life today If I dont get some shelter Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away Its just a shot away War, children, its just a shot away Its just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin Our very street today Burns like a red coal carpet Mad bull lost its way
War, children, its just a shot away Its just a shot away War, children, its just a shot away Its just a shot away
Rape, murder! Its just a shot away Its just a shot away
Rape, murder! Its just a shot away Its just a shot away
Rape, murder! Its just a shot away Its just a shot away
The floods is threatning My very life today Gimme, gimme shelter Or Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away Its just a shot away Its just a shot away Its just a shot away Its just a shot away I tell you love, sister, its just a kiss away Its just a kiss away Its just a kiss away Its just a kiss away Its just a kiss away Kiss away, kiss away
I took my three children (well one is not technically my child, but she could almost be!) for a drive to the Dandenongs on Sunday, and it was glorious. We drove down dirt roads and country lanes and the kids were really excited about the beautiful bright reds and yellows of the Autumn trees. We even stopped at the side of the road to look closely at a Japanese Maple that was a beautiful scorching red! One of the kids said "I just want to get out of the car and run free" and I felt the same...it was one of those spur of the moment days that just feel so right! We mooed at cows while running along slippery planks of wood that covered a little stream. We said "soooo cool" at the house made out of two trams stuck together, and marvelled at the huge tudor style mansion near Sassafras. We ended the day by having a twlight play in the Emerald train park before snacking on a yummy roast potato with all the trimmings at a nearby cafe. As I used to write in my diary when I was 12, I give today an A+!
I was talking to a friend about my crisis of faith at the moment. Mentioning the problems I have with God letting us suffer and wanting us to come to him, meanwhile being able to stop the pain, but not doing so. She mentioned this story and it really helped me to see things differently. I like to think of myself as silver being refined, and that one day God will see his reflection in me.
Malachi 3:3 says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered,
"Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Saturday night I went to worship the coolest dude in rock! Dave Grohl. He and the other Foo Fighters put on a brilliant show, lots of grinding, crunching guitars, loud drums, Dave's screams and pounding choruses! Rock on Dave! I'd have your babies :)
I dont know what's going on in the subconsious of mine, but it's really screwed up judging by my dreams :) Last night I dreamt that I worked in a caryard/garden centre and had noticed a guy drive up in a sandman panelvan, he was quite cute so I sprinted out of the door of the glass fronted office building to serve him. Seems he was after a new pet, one that ate meat. So I, in my infinite wisdom, recommended a Komodo Dragon! Just as soon as I mentioned it, it appeared! scrambling along grey concrete stones looking fierce. hmmmmmm
Id heard a song from The Futureheads a little while ago and really loved it..then upon further investigation realised that they cite new wave postpunk bands and Kate Bush as one of their influences! They have a new cd out soon and I may just buy me a copy! They definitely have an 80's feel about them, I can hear and XTCish/The Jam sound too
I'm pretty fussy about Kate Bush covers, but I love this one!!!! probably as much as Kate's original version.
apparently it's become a bit of a cult favourite at music fesitvals! I can imagine everyone shouting oh oh oh!
gorgeous song, written by Mikc d'Abo who was the frontman with Manfred Mann. My Favourite versions are Rod Stewart and Stereophonics. They both have that raspy character to their voices and it adds to the song. I think it also got noticed when they used it in the credits for "The Office" (the original British one, not the crap US one)
mmmm Kelly
Handbags and Gladrags
Ever seen a blind man cross the road? trying to make the other side Ever seen a young girl growing old? trying to make herself a bride
So what becomes of you my love When they have finally stripped you off The handbags and the gladrags That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you
Once I was a young man And all I thought I had to do was smile well You are still a young girl And you've bourne everything in style
So once you think you're in you're out 'Cause you don't mean a single thing without The handbags and the gladrags That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you
Sing a song of six-pence for your sake And drink a bottle full of rye Four and twenty blackbirds in a cake And bake 'em all in a pie
They told me you missed school today So what I suggest you just throw them all away The handbags and the gladrags That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy
so you missed school today So what I suggest you just throw them all away The handbags and the gladrags That your poor old Grandad had to sweat to buy you
Hello I'm Andrea, married with 2 boys and living in Melbourne town.
I love a good book, some great music, things vintage and am a bit obsessed with all things British! I have recently dealt with breast cancer, and now 6 months post treatment Im looking to live my life free of the doubts and fears I struggled with before. Life is just so good
Thanks for visiting..x
