Taking in the view

Sally offers this week's Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals and says:

This week I took some time out to stop and walk and take in the view; my son Chris is studying in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, too often we simply drive up there, turn around and come home! This time Tim and I took time out to take in the view. It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life....

Here's my play

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person?

A crazy mixture really. I do need the big picture and thrive in dreaming and brainstorming and visioning situations. Yet much of my work involves the detail. I can hardly believe that I recently cited matching cryptosporidiosis (a gastro bug) disease notification data with drinking water supply quality data as an example of innovative work I have done. For many years I have been passionate about the needless loss of lives in house fires, where poverty is a key determinant. I have always admired Ian Roberts and his brilliant work in this area. I attended to the detail to statistically demonstrate what was patently obvious - that poor living standards are associated with a six-fold increase in risk of dying in a fire. At last Fire Safety campaigns were empowered to move from an individual responsibility focus only, to a community development approach.

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life?

Oh yes. This is an important question. With difficulty is the short answer. I am getting better at recognising the signs that I'm not holding on to it and making space. A couple of weeks ago I stayed at home and went for a walk along the river. I'm creating a few cards at the moment. Tonight I attended a meeting of the Tongan Congress within the Uniting Church and was blown away by the amazing LOUD praise of their young people. Solitude, creativity, and collective worship are some of the ways I hold on to the big picture.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension ( one....what am I thinking....)

There is a balm in Gilead ... (PCUSA Hymnal)

Psalm 121 - probably a genetic link there as it was a favourite Psalm of my great-grandfather and has been part of most family occasions in the succeeding generations. I like any version but the Scottish Psalter sends special tingles down my spine.

Chris Mason-Battley's Karanga and Karakia

AND I do love old books. From the Family stash I have my Great-Uncle's dictionary, several special Bibles (see previous post) and some devotional books that belonged to my Great-grandfather.

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily?

In this immediate time and place I love coming down Marsden Rd and looking out over the city of Sydney, then taking a back route so that I drive briefly along beside the Parramatta River. I do breathe in deeply and have a sense of being where I'm meant to be when I see that view from the top of the hill, especially at night with lights bright into the distance.

5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!)
The hot air balloon ride which began my second half-century ...