Bless Me

I don't think in bullet points. When someone asks me to please send a couple of prayer points my first thought is- "ahhh! too hard!" ....But maybe next time I'll just send this prayer and say, "No worries. Bless me! Bless me! Bless me! "

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deeply from the heart.
May God bless you with a holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may find strength to work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to help comfort them.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God be with you and remain with you. Amen

(based on a four-fold Fransciscan Blessing.)

fix it?

I’m not good at fixing things. Leaking taps, broken car engines, dodgy household appliances... all these things are beyond me.

When I think about Cambodia, I see many things that need fixing. There is substandard housing and lack of access to clean water. Fractured infrastructure, health, education and justice systems.... or the brokenness that comes from grinding poverty, leaving families torn apart by economic hardship, violence, addiction, slavery and corruption.

I’m not good at fixing things. Sometimes I wish I could have studied medicine and learned to fix people’s bodies. Teachers, lawyers, engineers and economists all have opportunities to bring positive change in their fields. I often think I should have pursued some kinds of “practical” career in the face of such needs. But I’m starting to wonder if I have a different vocation. Maybe I’m not meant to be looking for things that need to be repaired. I think I am meant to be finding positive assets that already exist in a community already and helping people to build on these. In the words of my friend Lisa, finding the “flowers in the rubbish”.... and helping other people to see them too.

I can’t change people but people can be changed.

How? ... Effective, sustainable community development must emerge from within a community, through building on local resources and capacities. Some external stimulus is usually involved, but often the best work is done little.

I want to be an effective catalyst for a community to build on the strengths that are there already. I want to find beauty and joy where some see only hopelessness..... so that others can begin to feel it too. I seek to point a spotlight on goodness and grace- challenging people to build caring relationships, share common pathways in their journey towards growth and live full lives. I'm still working this out but right now it is a lot easier than trying to fix stuff!

Thinking of Dad

Five years ago today
we had to say goodbye.
The hospital called at 3am
and the skies poured rain.

I waited for dawn to run,
needing the cleansing ocean spray.
But I choked instead of breathing
and my chest hurt for days.

My memories of your life
are twenty five years happy full-
and vivid now, I realise,
as I think of you from home.

My list of praise is long
(maybe strangers won't believe?)
But four words, with thanks, I leave-
Gentleness, Faithfulness, Wisdom, Love.

Running in Sydney

Last Saturday I ran from Collaroy Plateau to Manly Wharf via Narrabeen. It was a fantastic local run... I had time for a coffee and a large bottle of water when I finished as I waited for the 156 bus to take me back home. A shorter circuit route that I also did last week takes me:

· past the War Vets Retirement Village (reminding me to run while I can!)
· down to Narrabeen lakes
· around the lakes to the bridge (no time for coffee...)
· across to the beach
· up along Pittwater Road (this is the boring bit!)
· up Long Reef headland
· down to Dee Why Beach Surf Club (a killer on the sand at high tide..)
· through the parks and back home

I'd planned to take a photo of all these parts of the trip, but my camera battery died on Dee Why Headland. Here's the story so far...

It's raining

... but I'd be OK with one of these.

When I don't know what to do...

When I don't know what to do I clean. I organise. I re-organise. I've been doing quite a lot of these "homemaker" activities this past week.

I've done menu plans, grocery shopping, cooking and packed the leftovers for lunch the next day. I've reorganised half of the kitchen cupboards, taking unused items to the local Vinnies. I've gone through the fridge and thrown out anything that has sneaked past the best-before date. Rubbish has been sorted according to local council recycling bin colours.

I've cleaned, vacuumed, washed, dusted and scrubbed several areas of the house. When "the one who works" is out my friendly voice takes phone messages.

Outside the home, I have picked up my soccermom car, joined a gym and caught up with neighbours at the local shops. I'm still figuring out what I'm supposed to do with these weekdays but hey- there's always housework!