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Tuesday 25 March 2008

Email

Great quote in "Wing and a Prayer" the Greenbelt mag that has just popped through our letterbox. This line appeared in an obituary to John O'Donohue:

"Why would I want email?" he used to ask. "Why would I want to return from a walk to find 70 people waiting for me in the kitchen?"

The Earth is my Church

Now, there is an interesting phrase. I came across it today whilst surfing the web and I am not gong to try and explain the context - a song title I think, but it sounded an interesting phrase! To me it could form an interesting discussion starter, t-shirt design, or meditation point. Is the Earth a place for Christian worship? Is there a community of 'persons' (human/non-human) who worship the Divine together? Is the Earth a place where I feel in touch with the Christian sacrements?
[Sacrement (as I can never remember the definition - thanks Wikipedia: In Western Christian belief and practice, a sacrament is a rite, instituted by Christ, that mediates grace, constituting a sacred mystery. .... The most conventional functional definition of a sacrament is that it is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, that conveys an inward, spiritual grace through Christ. The two most widely accepted sacraments are Baptism and the Eucharist...]


It could probbaly be read at many different levels - the whole earth community of Christians (arrghh - how is it that even that phrase seems to alienate vast swathes of people and cause me iritation?) to a very animistic and pagan thought that the earth in my garden that I care for is part of my being and has a reciprocating spiritual appreciation.

Wah! I can't cope, and yet it seems an exhillerating thought!

Monday 17 March 2008

Slow Down!

Even though we have had cold winds, rain and seemingly little sunshine recently, Spring has awoken and there are celandines, violets, primroses and violets everywhere. The season wakes and gives birth to new life so quickly, and each year I almost feel as though I miss it. We long for it so much during the dark winter months and yet now I almost want to say "Wait, slow down, let me see you for a while and spend time in your presence!".

I have almost come to the conclusion that trying to Slow down and live a Slow lifestyle is impossible, though I haven't read around the subject to see what other downsizers or slow thinkers advocate what one should do. Having spent most of my working life up until now not really having to commute any distance that I couldn't walk in half an hour, I now find having to sit in a car for two 40 minute journeys (more or less) not conducive to an easy going, balanced, chilled out frame of mind. Nor is having a lively, bright, excitable, whingey, moody 4.5 year old in a small house. Nor is shopping in our local Asda. Nor is deciding to build a wendy house in the garden out of recycled wood with no financial outlay. Nor is being so enthusiastic to be outside that I get depressed sitting at my desk all day. Nor is having to pay a mortgage, insurance, car tax and heating bills. Nor is the huge long list of things, many of them creative, that I want to do. Nor is trying to find time to lead a 'spiritual' life!

More some other time.

Blessed Be.