Forgiveness

Creating life-giving Godde
We catch a glimpse of you
in the gradual warming of the day
enticing the blue-tongue out of hibernation
to live and move in the freedom of the garden

Abundant life-giving Godde-with-us
You accept and hold nothing against us
We feel the touch of your hand
Reaching out with an invitation
to bask in the light of your love

Challenging life-giving Spirit
You warm us gently
As we venture forth
from cold or dark or lonely places
asking for and being open to
the possibility of restored relationships

We are in awe
of your goodness and love toward us Godde
Help us to loosen our grip
on the things we need to let go of
And to begin to know deep in our being
The depth of compassion
The height of mercy
and the wideness of your loving arms
surrounding us
and those on our hearts

We pray through Jesus
who lives with us
and knows us so well

Amen

Pre-Advent

This end of winter beginning of spring always sets off the beginning of anticipation of the journey toward Advent and Christmas. Here's the first outworking of that inner stirring - a mini-Christmas stocking ornament.

I have seen with my own eyes ...

Out watering the new veges and along the fence line I saw it ... the blue-tongued lizard. Only one other member of our family has seen this shy inhabitant of our garden, But there she was, out in the open enjoying the sun. And surely her appearance from hibernation must mean that winter is over and spring has come. As the Hebrew poet said (even I can't move away from the King James Version sometimes):

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come,

and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Song of Solomon 2:11-17

I think the Blue Tongue may be the Australian equivalent of the turtle(dove) - the definitive sign of the coming of new life in the springtime.

Dating games

Great to wake up on a sunny Saturday and find this Friday Five from Songbird waiting. That it's all about dates reminded me of the scene I so enjoy in Miss Congeniality where the contestant is asked about her ideal date - and she replies along the lines of "April 24th. Not too hot and not too cold, you only need a light sweater".

It's Friday afternoon, Eastern Time, and this is your faithful Songbird with a calendar-related Friday Five. Due to some confusion with our dates, I'm stepping in today, although I am usually here only on the 5th Friday, when there is such a thing.

Here are five things to ponder about dates. I hope you'll play!

1) Datebooks--how do you keep track of your appointments? Electronically? On paper? Month at a glance? Week at a glance?
Unfortunately often in my head! Which is not that effective. But I do keep an electronic diary and prefer month-at-a-glance view. I love the little reminders popping up on screen. The challenge is to remember to enter events into it (see #2).

2) When was the last time you forgot an important date?
Wednesday this past week! The previous Saturday was the girls' last netball game for the season and the 'Mums' (for there were no Dad's watching) set about organising a little treat for them. Pizza at Mario's Wednesday @ six. I was to collect my lass and two others (sisters) from school after band practice and deliver them to the pizza restaurant on my way to Church Council. The other Mum would do the home trip. But when my child was sick on Wednesday and stayed home from school, and a 10.30 meeting in town didn't finish until after 3, and I had a chance to visit a wool shop on the way home, I traveled home in a relaxed fashion and completely forgot the dinner. Got a call at 10.30p.m. (still at Church Council) when daughter discovered our lapse. Trouble was I used routine rather than diary on this one - but when no pick-up from band it all fell apart.

3) When was the last time you went OUT on a date?
Our trip to the top end was like a wonderful extended date, with walks, dinners out and so much opportunity just to be together plus a large comfortable bed to come back to, and that was only last month. PLUS a family date, Sunday breakfast, to celebrate a birthday this month. And though it is a while ago now the balloon trip was the most amazing date.

4) Name one accessory or item of clothing you love even though it is dated.
I was just looking in my wardrobe this morning at things I can't throw out - and I was ruthless before we left NZ. The pick is a brown and orange (large orange flowers and some mauve ones) strappy dress from the 70's that I long to fit into again!

5) Dates--the fruit--can't live with 'em? Or can't live without 'em?
Definitely not without! My grandmother, and then my mother, generally took date and ginger sandwiches on family picnics. And nothing better than a fresh date scone. I have never lost my affection for this fruit.

Where's your wonder

Driving home this afternoon with the radio on left two lines running through my mind:

Wicked wise men where's your wonder?
From Loudon Wainwright III School Days on the album Recovery.

I was struck by this line. It set me thinking about the dangers we expose ourselves and others to when we lose our sense of wonder. No matter how wise, or evidence-based, or ideologically sound we are. How can our leadership be wonder-filled and not wicked?

Happy memories bloom in my heart
Translation of traditional Tibetan folk tune.

This was part of a documentary on Tibetan folk music recorded by students in their home villages. The researcher Gerald Roche said:

We found this in our discussion early on, that the reasons for songs disappearing fall into a few very simply categories. The first one is that life is changing really quickly in Tibetan places. It's mostly economic development, positive economic development which is improving people's living conditions, such as the mechanisation of work. For instance, in some nomadic areas there used to be felt-making songs, but people now sell their wool off and the felt is made by machine. You no longer need that song. People are using machines to harvest, so you no longer need a harvesting song. People are building their houses of bricks, you don't need a song to synchronise all the workers to ram adobe anymore.

The music was engaging (you can hear it on the link above). I liked this line. It fits where I am at the moment as I reflect back on our family experiences over the years. The happy memories do bloom. In a deep place. They can be overcome by not-so-happy memories. But good gardening technique can value each and keep them in healthy perspective.

May it be so

Assisting natural process

Dying well. Something we all probably want to happen. And to witness or know with our loved ones. In thinking about a possible career move into palliative care, I began to think of this professional role as being like that of a midwife. Assisting with a natural process, using knowledge, skill and experience to work together with all those affected to manage a transition. From one stage of being to another. A role of privilege and of responsibility.

In my previous role in child rights advocacy I read a national review which found that there was inconsistent access to palliative care services for children and their families. On a population level this is not a 'common' health need, but it is one of those areas of health and wellbeing where the impact of the situation means that it is a priority.

So I was pleased to see this month that the editors and editorial board of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine have decided to have a rolling theme issue on palliative care, dying and bereavement. Dr Rivara says:

Our intent is to bring these issues to the forefront of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, just as they are in the minds of those children and families who are confronted with such loss. We hope the attention of the Archives will advance science and provide help to physicians dealing with these issues on behalf of their patients and families.

On a global scale of course there are many many more children who die needlessly. Their need is not for palliative care. But for the basics of clean water, food, or protection from preventable communicable disease. And for far too many the prerequisites of the basics - life free from conflict, war and environmental degradation. Despite recent improvements, over 26,000 children aged under five still die every day. I cannot rejoice that the annual toll has 'fallen' to 9.7 million.

Yet these are not mutually exclusive issues that we face. Our children have the right to be fully considered as nations make decisions about their health expenditure. AND our children have the right to be fully considered as all nations make decisions about expenditure. On weapons. Or water.

Seasonal Friday Five

When I had a quick look at the Friday Five this morning and saw it was about Fall I thought it was all just too hard to juxtapose the seasons. Funny that it seemed too hard to look forward (through Spring and Summer) to Autumn when I had no trouble looking forward to Summer in May! But thanks to Mary Beth this has been on my mind all day and I have experienced a true transformation! This morning we picked up a great little outdoor table and chairs set (bought on EBay) and then on up to Hargraves where we bought our spring/summer garden plants including some berry canes and a peach tree. Now with dirt under my fingernails and nice rows of broccoli, tomatoes. zucchini, sweet corn, peas, rhubarb, strawberries and lettuce planted out I am really looking forward to some seasonal transformations as invited by Mary Beth:
For this Friday's Five, share with us five transformations that the coming fall will bring your way.

1. A top pantry shelf with jars of blackberry and loganberry jam
2. 'New' (garage sale bargain) freezer filled with tasty veges and rhubarb pies
   
3. A daughter settled (or settling) into her Rotary exchange year in the USA - for me the transformation will be into a long-distance Mum
4. The whole Lent Event experience is always transforming
   
5. And a little basket of completely healthy Easter Eggs by the front door to give away to anyone who calls - that's if I get my knitting needles out in time!
   

Bonus: Give us your favorite activity that is made possible by the arrival of fall.

Putting on a scarf and woolly hat and boots and kicking through the leaves on the footpath. I can hear the crunch already! Mind you - our first Autumn in Australia we visited the Sunshine Coast where the weather was like this: