9. Day 25: The Joy Of Christmas Presence
This holiday to England has been all about presence. Presence with our own hearts, presence with each one we were privileged to spend time with and presence with what gifts life brought to us each and every day. Christmas Presence is that time when we all join together in that beautiful presence of love that is always within us. We have met numerous people who celebrate Christmas and the deeper meaning of “God-With-Us” in Emmanuel’s birth without knowing very much about the original Christmas story. The Bible tells us “You will know them by their love.”...
Read More9. Day 22: My Flat In London
We have arrived in our flat in London for Christmas. It is wonderful, sumptuous and feels like a real home. I do not know the owners but they take the magazines I would if I lived here. They love art, family and good furniture and have great lighting. I am sending them all kinds of love and joy for Christmas just for the warm welcoming flat (including tea in the cupboard). It was an arduous journey made with mostly cheerful faces though by the end of the day we were exhausted. Our day started in Carnforth with a sassy female Cabbie who could have been a character in a novel. She had a...
Read More9. Day 21: Joy Is God-speed
The siege in a cafe in the CBD in Sydney last week by a Muslim radical has led to a flurry of Muslim/anti-Muslim interviews, news stories here in the UK and overheard casual commentary on trains and in coffee houses. The act of violence and spectacle again raises the issue of conflict, distrust and even hatred between “us” and “them”. This fear and distrust is uncomfortable especially when it is in your face. I noticed while traveling by train from Lancaster to London on surely one of the busiest train travel days of the year (the weekend before Christmas) a large...
Read More9. Day 13: Joy On Ice
So there we were, hand brake fully ON yet sliding and slipping down the narrow lane, ever closer to the police car blocking the path to the previous car who spun out of control on the suddenly appearing ice at the bottom of the lane. “STOP!!” I cried in futility. There was nothing to be done. No words. No actions. Just trust and waiting. And sliding. The car did stop and we then had to figure out what to do next. The police had closed the road (sadly, after we started down it) and told us to turn around and take another road. Turning around on a hill in a one lane road in...
Read More9. Day 12: Joy Is Not An Afterthought
I am feeling joy in so very many areas yet feeling joy within my body lags behind. I try to listen, notice and be aware of what my body needs but the thrill, excitement and wonder of the moment leaves me ordering a second glass of mulled cider and another mince pie. We are doing plenty of walking yet my lumbering pace rugged up against the weather makes for very slow going which is not quite as beneficial. However, I am doing lots of stairs (at the moment we are staying with friends in a glorious four story turn of the century house), hills and hoisting plenty of bags....
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