Friday 23 April 2010

Desiderata


'Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.'

Max Ehrmann c.1920

The Beauty Of Potential

Here are some pictures of an abandoned and falling apart cottage I came across on a walk in the village recently..









I thought these little signs of past life were amazing!!



Call me crazy but I see a lot of potential for this place - all it really needs is a bit of loving care (and a roof!)



curse of the optimist?! Maybe so but I still hope I have an abandoned cottage to call my very own one day.....!

Thursday 15 April 2010

Community

'Community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common interests and goals'

So, community is something which has always been extremely precious to me. I've been blessed exponentially with some truly amazing groups of people around me at every phase in my life. I recently found something I wrote back in 2008 centered around my most faithful and enduring community of all and thought I would share it.

My Family

We strip down and jump in random rivers, splashing and dam building even when its freezing; it's all about the adventure.



We go on wildly long and exhausting walks and then collapse into a vat of tea. In the evenings we play games and sing until we're too tired to continue.



We eat together, well and often.



We share bathwater, each others children and anything in-between.




But most importantly, my family is expansive, open to anyone who needs to be in it,
everyone is welcome as our joy is deepened by that of others.



(pictures from a recent week spent in lovely Wales!)



I have come to the conclusion that for a community to be truly successful it must be genuinely open to not only accepting, but loving new people. Only in this complete openness can we remain refreshed and challenged, and live glorifying our saviour.



I hope that I will always be inspired to always live my life like this.