Darby's Castle

I had a lovely drive home from the airport on Sunday, having found an old CD I forgot I had.
I have always enjoyed Kris Kristofferson's songs.

As I was singing my heart out with Mr K,  I was struck with the spiritual parallel I found in this song.

Have a listen.
(Let it load fully first so you can appreciate and hear the words)

It's the story of a man who is very much in love with his wife,
and he decides to build her the most beautiful house of wood and stone.
He didn't want her to lack anything.

Soon, however, building the house became his obsession
and his relationship with his wife deteriorated.

It's a hauntingly beautiful song.

I wondered how often, out of our deep love for God
we find ourselves doing so much for him
 that we forget that intimacy comes by spending time with Him.

Let's never become so obsessed with doing for,
that we lose out on being with.

Merton Thoughts #1

I shared this as a note on Facebook a week or two ago, and it's still sitting with me:

I am busy reading "Contemplative Critic", a book on the life of Thomas Merton and came across this paragraph in which the writer is outlining the various people, books and events that influenced Merton's journey toward God. He writes this:

"It is perhaps always a bit disappointing when we look for answers to the question of God in our lives. We are left only with titles of books, names of people and a few old facts. It seems all a bit lean and superficial. God doesn't let Himself get caught in titles, names and facts. But he lets Himself be suspected. And therefore it is only the one who prays to God, quite possibly the one who searches for silence himself, who can recognise Him in the many little ideas, meetings and happenings along the way."

I love this. That God doesn't get caught up in stuff, but that he lets Himself be suspected.

I do believe.

But help me to recognise you in those little ideas everyday, in meetings and in happenings along the way. Let me find you not only in my busyness, but in my quiet too.

Entertaining and Accepting

Just because of who I am, I filter everything through a spiritual lens.

Years ago, "the church" (with good intention) sought to isolate "their people" from "everyone else", the result of this being that "their people" made the (incorrect) assumption that anyone who didn't think like them was unacceptable. Christians didn't entertain friendships outside of "the church" and refused to entertain any thoughts or views, other than their own.

The result of this is what we have now, where "everyone else" feels judged by "the church".

It was wrong. There, I said it. 

I really value my friendships (some in their infancy) with people from other faiths, backgrounds and lifestyles, and have found our conversations sometimes more rewarding than others in terms of honesty and vulnerability. 

We don't have to think the same, or accept another's view as our own for us to be friends and to share our lives. I think we just have to be honest. 

What do you think?

Weeding in "Our Space"

We've been doing some minor alterations at home. It's funny how when you make one part of the house look nice, it shows up all the minor imperfections that you have learnt to overlook, and suddenly you are unable to live with them anymore! Does this happen with you too, or is it just us? Anyway, this is where the story of our garden comes in.

About 16 years ago we lived in a place where gardening was easy. Here, we have challenges with sandy soil, wind, snails, cutworm and caterpillars. When we first moved here, we did try to create a nice garden, but everything we planted disappeared almost overnight. We just gave up and maintained what was there.  BUT NOW... we have decided to give it another try and have been back and forth to the nursery and madly planting. Of course, now that the plants are in, my lawn is an irritation, because after all these years, I have not weeded it ever, with the result that there is possibly more weed than lawn.

As I was sitting on the grass, with my weeding fork, feeling very satisfied at being able to pull up the weeds with the roots intact, (ensuring that this would be the end of them), I remembered how often God used to speak to me when I gardened before. It was like "our space". As I pulled up another weed, I wished I had paid more attention to my lawn, because then the weeds would not have spread so far. If I could just pull it out as soon as it showed its face, I would not be overcome with them.

As if on queue, I was reminded of a discussion at Bible School recently while studying Corinthians, of how Paul used the example of yeast for how sin spreads when not dealt with. For me, who avoids baking and the kitchen like the plague, yeast would not be an example I would use. However, sitting in the middle of a patch of lawn, and seeing how one weed had been allowed to run free, it had not only affected my lawn, but had run riot and woven in among the grass to a point where it was difficult to separate the two. 

I don't believe in "sin management" in terms of being so inward focused in that that is all we do, but I think it's good to take a look at our lives every so often, especially if convicted by something, to make sure there is nothing left untended that will root, run riot and stop us being able to discern what is good and pure, and that which may need to be rooted out.

Having said all that - I am so thankful for my man, the sun, the garden, for new plants, our dogs who take turns to dig up our new plants / or eat them, for water to water them, and eyes to see them with.

I guess God picked up "our space" again too.

Life is beautiful.

The Contemplative Critic

I watched a short, thought-provoking film at our local Museum about Thomas Merton last week. Interesting quote by one of the guys speaking about their relationship: 

"Some people may have thought we were on the edge, but actually, we were creating a new centre." 

I have to read his book "Contemplative Critic" about his life now. If the film is anything to go by, I think I am going to enjoy it. It was written by Henri Nouwen, another person whose life I would like to read more about. 

Merton was a spiritual risk-taker, restless in his pursuit of God and determined to find God in unexpected places and with unexpected people. Not that I in any way can compare myself to him, but something about what I heard about in his story, resonates with me.

More when I am finished the book!

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!