Did you say: "Religion?"

I "shared" this on FB, and, as you can see, was even brave enough to add a status update with it.

Possibly people will  have a couple of reactions:

1. What? She "likes" the Dalai Lama on Facebook?
2. What? She "shared" that status update?
3. I thought she was a Christian.

I call myself a follower of Christ. For me, being called a Christian has too much baggage. Arrogance, hyprocrisy and judgemental attitudes are attached to it. None of which reflect the person of Christ.

Friends who truly know me. Know me. That's all I will say about that.  :)

I am not sure exactly what I find interesting:

• perhaps it's that he says all these faiths "promote inner values" - yet, he lists fruit of the spirit as a "tool" to further this. 
• perhaps it's that he has realised that "grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate." Was it ever adequate?
• The most interesting thing to me is his last sentence: "...I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether."

I have found myself mulling over this sentence all day. When I think of "religion" - immediately I think of rules of trying to do all the right things to be a good Christian. It's conjures up pictures of duty and obligation.


If we are to consider that religion (as he sees it) is no longer able to make people behave ethically or morally - I wonder when (or if) he will recognise that the Holy Spirit is the source of the qualities such as love, peace, compassion, forgiveness....  and when we are in Christ, there is no more "trying to be a good Christian" and trying to keep all the rules, because our position and relationship with God in Christ is certain through grace. As we journey in this walk of spirituality, we become more like him, reflecting these qualities so needed in the world today. 

It's a journey not of ethics through religion, but of love through grace.



I just love this picture.
It shows that people of different journeys can be friends without having to defend their faith.
Instead they enjoy one another's company and share their lives and spiritual walk together.



I realise that this sounds pretty jumbled and I reserve the right to alter my thinking at any time. I do however have immense respect for this man, his desire for peace and his search for truth.   



Well Done London!

Just like that, it's all over.  I think my couch has b-hind imprints on it, and I seriously considered moving the fridge into the lounge so I wouldn't have to move....(just kidding, but you get the idea!?)

I wonder how long it took them to rehearse those opening and closing ceremonies, how to schedule the people and the times - what an incredible job London, and the UK, you can be so proud of yourselves!

Some of my favourite memories.... I know I am leaving tons out...

• Chad le Clos, of course - who wouldn't just melt at that finish, and when he was on the podium, seeing that chin giving way to all that emotion. I bet every mom in the world would have wanted to throw their arms around him and tell him how proud they are... (actually, judging from school, I think a lot of girls would have wanted to just throw their arms around him. Period!)  His father just crept into our hearts and conversations overnight.

• The Ugandan Kiprotech who won the Mens marathon - who ever would have thought I would sit and watch an entire marathon, but I did.  Same with the X-Country Cycle watching our guy, Burrie Stander, who I have nicknamed the "Comeback Kid" - just never gave up! Our lightweight Fours and Bridgette Hartley all at home on water and did so well!

• Oh my goodness -Jamaica... what can I say. Yohan Blake, my Jamaican hero, (who incidentally rang the bell for our opening cricket match against England!) but those guys are athletes AND showmen!

• Loved watching Mo Farrah run and win! What a favourite he was!
• Watching Oscar run in the Olympics and making history and our golden girl Caster who did us proud too!

All of our SA athletes were awesome and there were just so many magical moments!

One of the funniest things I heard on a USA broadcast was this:

 The News  Announcer said: "Spoiler Alert. If you don't want to know the results of this event, 

mute your TV now". Then proceeded to put up the picture of the winner and all the details.

I loved, loved, loved the Freddy Mercury bit at the closing ceremony - wished I was there for that!

The paralympics though, just finished me off. I think I have cried more in the last few weeks with this than I have in years! Its incredibly humbling and doubly inspiring watching people who are living their lives not feeling sorry for themselves but are literally taking life by the horns and giving it "what for". 

Our paralympians did fantastically, too many too mention, but one close to home is Achmat Hassiem who got bronze in swimming after he had his leg taken off by a shark at one of our local beaches some years back. At the time he was a life saver at that beach and after the incident he didn't give up on anything, but just went ahead and did even greater things!

Watching sprints done by blind people with a guide - who even thought that was possible! Watching backstroke by some who have almost no arms, and then win!?  It's amazing, inspiring and changes the way one sees one's own challenges.

I will bore you if I go on about this now - but suffice it to say - again, LONDON: You rocked it. Thanks to all the volunteers from those upfront and those behind the scenes who officiated, organised and councelled.

You did a great job,you really, really did!

I'd rather be sleeping....

I used to have a keyring that said that..."I'd rather be sleeping"

Sleep and I are generally the best of friends and I have often joked that I could fall asleep on a park bench on the main road.

 

Over the last month or three, I have found that occassionally Mr Sandman refuses to take me hostage and instead lets me stay up and play. I am not awake worrying about anything. I am just ... awake.

Last night was one of those nights. The TV powered off. I was awake. I could switch it on again, but My Man battles to go back to sleep if he is woken up, so I don't.

I begin to think....( These thoughts are headlines, there are sub-heads, text & occassional mental footnotes.)

It starts with my day. What I did at school, what projects am I busy with, could I make them better, would something work more effectively if I did it differently next time, rerun through all the great Web2.0 tools I have found and wonder how I can incorporate them into classes. I must remember to Tweet them to my PLN to spread the joy.

Turn over. Look at the clock. Midnight. *yawn*

Inevitably thinking about Tweeting will lead me to thinking about Facebook. I wonder if any of my friends are online? Maybe I can pop in and see quickly. I don't want to disturb My Man so I don't. Facebook leads to thinking about Blogging, and I run through the blogs that I have read recently and then feel pangs of guilt that I don't Blog as often as I would like. So right there and then, I mentally write, edit and rewrite the best blog I have EVER written. It's a beaut!

Turn over. Look at the clock. 01:15 *Damn*

At this point I may consider giving My Man an accidentally on purpose nudge. But the kind of nudge you can't ignore. When he responds I will say innocently: "Oh, are you also awake... do you want tea?" (I won't drink tea, but he would if he was awake and at this point it would be in my best interest to please him.) However, I don't kick him, or nudge him and instead I congratulate myself quietly for being such a considerate and caring wife. ;-)

Then I think that if I was that good a wife I would definitely be a better cook! I determine that from tomorrow I will cook double every night and freeze it, then I will always have nice food at hand, and will even get away with not cooking every now and again. What a brilliant idea. I will be so organised from tomorrow. I run through recipes that this will work well with. I have some. Awesome. Can't wait!

Turn over. Look at the clock 2:10. *yawn so hard I am in danger of swallowing my face.*

As I turn over I remember that I must book that venue for where we want to renew our vows. I really also need to make a list of what to do and invites. *Take time to make mental guest list and keep realising I am adding the same people more than once* so I give up.

Turn over. 02:45: Ugh, I am so uncomfortable.

... I give myself a mental lecture about why I am uncomfortable.   I really should go back to gym. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will definitely go back. I will feel better when I am back.

 * * *

Nickleback forces back my eyelids open at 07:00ish and all I can think is "Dear God, seriously????"

I manage to get to school without everyone pointing and staring, so I guess my bra isn't on the outside of my blouse.

I go to the kitchen and make coffee.  (Thank you God.)

I go about my day with my lovely kids. I forget to book the venue. I go home and cook enough for only one meal. I sit down to write the brilliant blog and can't for the life of me remember what the HECK it was about!???

I have at least 3 very admirable reasons why I can't possibly go to gym today.

Maybe tomorrow.

94 Today!

HaPpY BirThDay DeaReSt MaDiBA!

 

What an amazing life you've led. You have truly "put up your hand" for the beliefs you felt strongly about and you paid the price for them. In spite of this, you have demonstrated integrity, humility, grace and mercy to anyone who comes into contact with you .... and those who don't.

You are an inspiration to me and so many others, may you celebrate this year and many more with much love, laughter and the friendship of our rainbow nation, even of the world.

Have a wonderful day, dear Madiba.

Horatio Spafford

Do you know who Horatio Spafford was?
             I didn't. I know his words, but not his name.

There is always a life story behind words we read, even if we don't consider it at the time of reading.

"When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea-billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul."

Familiar?
              Horatio Spafford wrote that.

Do you know when he wrote it?
              I didn't. I know his words, but not his event.

There is always a story behind what we read.

Considering that he wrote this on a ship, sailing across the ocean at the precise spot where the ship that was carrying his wife and four young daughters sank and  all four daughters drowned.....

......Suddenly the hymn means a little more, don't you think?

                                                        There is always something we don't know.

* * * * *

I have been reading this book which summarises the lives of a couple of great hymn writers. Horatio has particularly grabbed me for two reasons - which I can summarise in one verse:

"There is nothing new under the sun"

So the 2 reasons it grabbed me:

1.  The similarity to Job's experience

2.  Questioning and debating one's faith is not new and the results are often the same.

1. A remarkable similarity to Job.

He was born in 1828. Long ago hey? :)

• He lost his son to scarlet fever.
• His four daughters drowned when their ship collided with another.
• People thought that their children had died because of sin they must have in their lives.
• He also then lost his nephew who had moved with them to Jerusalem, and was like a son to them. 
• Yet, in none of this did he doubt the goodness and kindness of God.

"When Horatio's life had flowed like a smooth, tranquil river, he refused to let others

shape his course. Now, amidst an ocean of suffering, neither did he bow to their expectations

or their theology. Horatio asked questions of God, not people. He reviewed Scriptures,

wrestled, analyzed and deduced.... "God is kind," said Horatio. "I do not know why

my children drowned. But our sin or lack of it had nothing to do with their deaths.

My girls are in heaven. I shall see them again."

What friends said of them after their son died:

"If the Spaffords were true Christians, God would not allow such a thing a second time."

What miserable comforters their friends turned out to be.

* * * * *

2.  Questioning and debating one's faith is not new and the results are often the same:

The book describes the event where he realises that he is short sighted. A bunch of friends are admiring the stars in the sky and Horatio said:

"Now Charlie, be candid. Be honest.

Do you really see enough beauty up there to warrant your outburst?"

Charlie lent him his glasses and suddenly "he stood transfixed by the

hundreds of diamonds that sparkled above him in clean, crystalline beauty."

The book goes on to say:

"Once his physical vision was corrected, Horatio wasted no time in scrutinizing his intellectual vision. He no longer swallowed traditional viewpoints, those of others or himself, without inquiry. He examined issues, loosening and peeling away layer of conventionality with sharp questions. How do we know this? Why? ... 

He says to God:

"All my life I had no inkling of the beauty or complexity of Your creation, God.

What else have I overlooked because I never questioned my own limited view?"

He became close friends with Dwight Moody and sometimes diasgreed with him:

"he felt the evangelist placed too much emphasis on God's judgement and not enough on his love.

As usual,he made his position clear to his friend and spiritual mentor (Moody).

But Horatio believed God had used Moody to change his own life and viewed

him as the means to help others change, too."

At some point he was asked to resign from his position in the Church due to his desire to question convention and tradition, though he never doubted the atoning sacrifice of Christ and the love of God.

The book goes on to talk about how newspapers "publicized and often distorted his views."

They, together with a group of friends, moved to Jerusalem after the death of his son and formed what came to be known as "The American Colony". Their lives embraced friendships with Jews, Muslims, Spanish priests and Sheiks (amongst others) as they embraced their culture. Their love and friendship had infiltrated a community of people whose lives were affected because of the their love for Jesus.

He died from malaria in Jerusalem in 1888.

* * * *

Things I can take from his story:

• My faith will hopefully be as strong as theirs if tragedy befalls me.
• I am thankful for my family and friends who love me unconditionally. 
• That you can question tradition and convention
• You can see things differently from other believers (Like he and Moody) 
• Give one another room for their conviction and respect them.
• There will always be those who are "willing to be companions" on your spritual journey
• There will always be those who choose to "camp" and frown upon your spiritual journey
• God is kind and is fully invested in making our journey as adventurous as you allow him
• That all people from all faiths are to be respected and shown the love of Christ
• A committed community of Christ followers can make a difference
• One person started this. So never think that I, being one person, can't make a difference where I am.

We really do 'stand on the shoulders' of these amazing people who went before.

A very edited version of a wonderfully inspiring story.

* * *

The Big Clean (or big scream?)

I am not, by nature, a hoarder.

My Man on the other hand, has a garage full of planks, random brackets and other paraphanalia that he says he will keep "in case he needs them" - he doesn't need them  ;-).  However, I don't feel I can go and ditch things from the garage!

It's school holidays and I thought that this would be a perfect time to rearrange cupboards, get rid of things I have not used recently, and store the "Random-Sentimal-Stuff-That-I-Love-But-Don't-Want-To-Ditch".

Day 1:  I was a machine. I rocked! Enough said.

Day 2: Gave my mom a call to say Hi, and in chatting, told her I had lost touch with yesterday's mojo to which she said:

"It's like being a child and deciding to clean your toy cupboard and then playing with all the toys and not wanting to put them away." 

I had to laugh - it is exactly like that.  Except that when I was little, at least SOME of the time, my mom would end up tidying up the scattered toys.

Ain't no mama gonna clean up this mess!

Day 3:  (Today) My mojo is further away than ever, and I am doing everything I can think of to avoid any and every room in my home (I'm even blogging about avoiding it!). Eish.

You need to understand that I don't work in one room at a time like I suspect organised people do. I work in one room, take something from there to another room where I think it's better suited, get side-tracked in that room, and so the process unmercifully repeats itself until every room shows evidence of my skill in being perfectly present in that room.

Now, I suppose, I should go and get on. No fairy is coming to wave their magic wand - and like many things in life, the sooner you face up to them and deal with them, the sooner you can move forward. 

Since I do want to go out and play these school holidays,

let me be a good kid and pick up my toys.

* * *

Eating my Words

The first blog I ever wrote, other than my "introductory one" was to complain bitterly about the puppy my daughter brought home one day.

As time has gone on and the puppy has been growing up, she has become more and more adorable, watching her learn commands, and getting her used to walking on a lead has been such a treat!

Tigger

Jack, our other dog, has been going to run on the beach for a few weeks now, but more and more I have been feeling I need to be brave and take Tigger. I wasn't sure if she would take off at the smell of freedom, or if she would want to eat any other dog that passed by - but because she is just the most loving and soppy pup ever, I could not believe that she would do that.

I had popped into the vet for her to have her annual shots and asked his advice and he was very sweet and even offered to meet me down there if I wanted help. He suggested a long lead and to take Tigger without Jack initially.

I went down the next day with Tigs on the long lead and she was so good. She just ran along around me and was very friendly. Just one little dashund decided to be bigger than it was and Tigs looked more bewildered by her aggression than showing any herself.

Today, my sister and I had planned to meet down there with the aim of trying her with no lead. At the last moment plans changed, but I decided I would go anyway and went with her on the lead deciding to judge it as I went. Walking along, I bumped into our vet with his dogs and Tigs began playing with them, so I did it. I took the lead off and she was awesome. She played with them and just ran along with me and never was more than 10 ft from me.  I wish I had a camera with me, but I didn't even think about it - next time!

It's such a nice feeling to know that we can take the dogs down now and know that they will be fine and have a ball. (Probably not literally - but figuratively!) 

I can't believe that if I had really decided to pass this puppy on, that I would have missed out on a loyal and beautiful friend who brings me so much joy.



I can't think of our home without her and Jack in it now.... funny thing that.

(Cannot believe I wrote that much about a dog - my family better not laugh and point at me!)