Everything's amazing, nobody's happy

I found this great video at journey something. The blog author Ben says: "This is a pretty funny clip, and I think CK touches on some truth here… in many ways, a lot of us have lost our sense of wonder in our day to day lives. Enjoy." I agree - and found it a useful prompt to reflection now that we are in Lent - on where and with whom I stand, What I complain about is one indicator of the answer.

What are we capable of and where do I truly stand?

Began this Lenten season well with reading the prayer and study for Lent Event on the train, and attending Mass at lunchtime. The imagery is remarkably stark as the fires in Victoria continue to smoulder and erupt, and Queensland recovers from flood. The ash on my forehead connects and yet emphasises the disconnect between the experience of so many and my unscathedness. The generous reproduction permissions granted by the Lent Event team mean I can share the commencement reflection from Peter Pereira:

Down from the Mountain.
A transfigured Jesus stands on a mountain bathed in light.
He turns and beckons us to him.
No words are spoken but the message is clear.
‘Do you dare follow?’
The light fades and the journey begins.
We plunge into the depths of the Easter journey,
to be baptised by the death of Friday,
to gasp for breath in the grief of Saturday
and to burst into the light of Sunday.
God of new life, nourish us as we travel.
May new wine burst the old wineskins.
May laughter and joy burst from our lips.

And in the study I was struck by the thought that "A tempter seeks to make a person fail and fall, whereas a tester seeks to find out what a person is capable of and where they truly stand." The challenge for me this week is to consider how my lifestyle aligns with God's promise to Noah not to destroy the earth. Am I standing with God in this, or with the principalities and powers that spew out carbon and swamp nation states into oblivion? I am enjoying the challenge of developing Lenten disciplines as a way of standing for creation. It will be amazing to see what Lent Event participants are collectively capable of.

Dust

Christine at Abbey of the Arts writes: Lent begins this week. During the imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service some of us will hear the words “from dust you came and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are a tangible reminder of our temporal bodies. I love this beginning to the season of conversion and re-ordering of priorities. The reminder of our mortality is meant to confront us with the preciousness of our days and demands that we ask how we want to spend our time. “Return to me with your whole heart,” says the prophet Joel in the opening scripture for this service. Return, renew your commitment, begin again. This week’s Poetry Party is an invitation to explore through poetic imagery the reality of our shared limits and what stirs in us in response. How does the awareness of Ash Wednesday shape your commitment for the Lenten season ahead?

Ash, on my forehead

Ash:Forests reduced to

Homes devastated

Bodies burnt

Ash Wednesday

Dust

Hope?

Silent in the ashes

Cheryl has posted some beautiful worship space ideas as those of us further away contemplate the devastation of the bush fires and also note the moments of miracle. This Melbourne team include space to confront the issue of deliberately lit fires. Hard stuff. And real.

Nation ablaze

Sobering news coverage from Victoria this evening just begins to reckon the damage caused by the blazing bush fires. Whole communities destroyed in a matter of minutes. Over 700 homes burnt to the ground. Seventy-six known deaths and many people unaccounted for. Cheryl posted this morning from near this hell zone. It's one of those times I sit transfixed by the television monitor almost numb trying to even begin to imagine how deeply people have been affected. The fire crews so professional and so methodical and clear in their instructions. Spared communities opening their doors to their neighbours. Prime Minister and Premier responding rapidly. Fire crews and trucks despatched interstate, forensic teams flying in to assist with identification, Australians responding to a national appeal. A mother sitting and playing with her children, providing a sense of normality and routine in the midst of devastation.

Singing 'The North wind is tossing the leaves" will never be the same after this day (should be a link on Oremus but I can't get it to work. A famous Australian Christmas song).

Here in NSW we have several fires as well, but so far no lives lost or serious injuries sustained. Further north Queensland communities are experiencing repeated flooding. A small boy out walking with his brother was apparently taken by a crocodile.

As our nation experiences the full force
of the uncontrolled brutality of nature
May we know in some small part
The full force of human compassion
and a measure of grace

The rebuild will be long and slow and arduous. It's a time I am glad to belong to a church that is known for being with people through such long hauls. That doesn't lighten the heart. But it does sustain the spirit even when hope seems ethereal and distant.

A few of my favourite things

Inspired by Singing Owl's contribution, I'm putting in a late play in the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five posted yesterday by Songbird who wrote:

In a week of wondering how various things in our family life will unfold, I found myself thinking of the way Maria comforted the Von Trapp children in one of my favorite movies. Frightened by a thunder storm, the children descend upon her, and she sings to them about her favorite things, taking their minds off the storm.

So, let's encourage ourselves. Share with us five of your favorite things. Use words or pictures, whatever expresses it best.

1. Water. I love water. Streams, rivers, sea. Font, pool, fountain. This could take up my whole five favourite things. I like to be beside water, be in water, see water, hear water, drink water, feel water. I guess water is one of my favourite things. I like the catholic tradition of having the full font at the entrance to the worship space. For me a visible font (or other sign of baptism) is important in every Christian worship event. And water is such a precious commodity in our world. I hope I treasure and respect water in all its forms.
   
2. The feel of getting into bed made with freshly washed and sun-dried sheets. I remember the childhood combination of being rubbed down with a fresh towel, into clean pyjamas and then into fresh sheets. I guess it must have been on 'wash day'. Now the days I change the bed linen I look forward to bedtime!
3. Flowers. I'm not too good at growing them, but I do enjoy receiving and displaying them. Joining the flower roster at church has been fun (I notice I'm only on twice a year though and freely admit my efforts are not of a professional standard). But heading early to the flower market, finding the colours I'm after, having access to the empty church building and spending time preparing the space for worship: it all lightens my heart! And I did love this Advent wreath.
4. Ice cold lemonade. The traditional way. Place 2 cups sugar in a bowl. Add one cup of boiling water and stir until dissolved (even better if thinly peeled rind of lemon is steeped in the boiling water first) . Add juice of 2-3 lemons, 1 teaspoon tartaric acid and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts and a second cup of boiling water. Pour into bottles (strain if you wish) and serve diluted with water to taste (about 1:5 or 1:6 seems good). For special treat serve with soda water, squeeze of lime and dash of angostura bitters.
5. Earrings. Those who know me would insist this is on the list. I have so many favourites. A new pair is always high on my retail therapy wish list. Most holidays I come back with some. My loved ones know that I will always appreciate a new pair as a gift. Most have some significance. Several are just randomly fun. But beware the person who ever jokes about my earrings! It may just be the wrong day to do so :-)

And there is more - movies, music, al fresco dining, camping (nothing like a tent in summertime), cool places on hot days, warm places on cool days, sensible shoes, linen jackets. I have lots and lots of favourite things but my top five are pretty indicative of my being.

Small world

Reminder on reminder this week of all the theory - six degrees of separation and all that:

• Youngest member of our family just arrived in Oklahoma goes out for dinner and meets the family doctor from her father's home town (population 1000) who recognised the family name
• In a new university in a new country (admittedly only 3-4 hours from my homeland), I meet with my clinical debriefing group for the first time, and a student says "You know my mother." Indeed I do, and the student attended the same secondary school as my daughters
  
• At the 'Blessing of the Hands' ceremony last night a man comes up and asks if we did anaesthetics together. No (I have never ever been involved in that specialty). But we were at Medical School together 30 years ago! And his daughter is starting her medical training

And not quite a small world but I Google myself and discover that, despite two unusual names, I have a namesake with the same combination. Well had a namesake really as it was her obituary that showed up. An amazing woman. Loved wife and mother. Rest in Peace Mavis.

Lent Event 2009