from the vault, a random post selected purely at random...
bizarre!
of all the posts to select, 'twas this one that I clicked on.... hmmm.... interesting... very very interesting....
ah well, bags are packed and I'm out the door again..
only a little hop this time to New Zealand.
I hope to purify myself with sage at Lake Taupo.
Friday, January 25, 2008
sad times, my fav print journal is ceasing publication
ACP announces closure of The BulletinACP Magazines Chief Executive Officer, Scott Lorson, today announced that weekly news and current affairs title The Bulletin with Newsweek would cease publication from the current issue of the magazine which went on sale on 23 January 2008.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Mr Cheng: "The Chinese save today’s spending for tomorrow, and the American’s spend tomorrow’s saving today."
Vertigo Open Thread The Agonist#comment
hattip the queen of the news :)
as C posits @ the originating site: Damn those perfidious commies. Don't they know that those who are fiscally conservative and actually save money hate our freedoms?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Gentle readers, life has dealt me another blow, I do not know if it is major or just a transient hiccup, but health woes surfaced suddenly and unexpectedly on Dec 30th.
Fortunately a wonderful guardian angel took me into her home, and assisted me with the things that needed to be done. And then, bang, zap ka-boom I developed a huge allergic reaction to the medication and my body literally 'overheated.' Almost no part of me was untouched :eek: a most unpleasant experience, that just added to the stress of my illness.
However, I have bounced back and now await the results of a medical procedure next week. If all is well another overseas dash awaits!
for LS:
___________________________________________________
from the transient to the eternal:
Over 10 years ago I was privileged to introduce many Australian readers to John O'Donohue. In his latest book Benedictus, he writes of how in any given day, some of
us humans will experience the shock of being told of the sudden death of a friend.
A dear friend of mine returned from France late last week and told me John had suddenly died in his sleep.
As Gareth Higgins writes John wanted us to be tender to the fact that the faces of strangers we meet every day all hide secrets that are both divine and tragic. We do not always know who among us is suffering some unnameable torment, nor who is rejoicing at the blessing of a lifetime.
vale John! Thanks for all the words you wrote!
A BLESSING FOR EQUILIBRIUM.BY JOHN O’DONOHUE, from ‘Benedictus – A Book of Blessings’
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the music of laughter break through your soul.
As the wind wants to make everything dance,
May your gravity be lightened by grace.
Like the freedom of the monastery bell,
May clarity of mind make your eyes smile.
As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.
As silence smiles on the other side of what’s said,
May a sense of irony give you perspective.
As time remains free of all that it frames,
May fear or worry never put you in chains.
May your prayer of listening deepen enough
To hear in the distance the laughter of God.
Fortunately a wonderful guardian angel took me into her home, and assisted me with the things that needed to be done. And then, bang, zap ka-boom I developed a huge allergic reaction to the medication and my body literally 'overheated.' Almost no part of me was untouched :eek: a most unpleasant experience, that just added to the stress of my illness.
However, I have bounced back and now await the results of a medical procedure next week. If all is well another overseas dash awaits!
for LS:
___________________________________________________
from the transient to the eternal:
Over 10 years ago I was privileged to introduce many Australian readers to John O'Donohue. In his latest book Benedictus, he writes of how in any given day, some of
us humans will experience the shock of being told of the sudden death of a friend.
A dear friend of mine returned from France late last week and told me John had suddenly died in his sleep.
As Gareth Higgins writes John wanted us to be tender to the fact that the faces of strangers we meet every day all hide secrets that are both divine and tragic. We do not always know who among us is suffering some unnameable torment, nor who is rejoicing at the blessing of a lifetime.
vale John! Thanks for all the words you wrote!
A BLESSING FOR EQUILIBRIUM.BY JOHN O’DONOHUE, from ‘Benedictus – A Book of Blessings’
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the music of laughter break through your soul.
As the wind wants to make everything dance,
May your gravity be lightened by grace.
Like the freedom of the monastery bell,
May clarity of mind make your eyes smile.
As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.
As silence smiles on the other side of what’s said,
May a sense of irony give you perspective.
As time remains free of all that it frames,
May fear or worry never put you in chains.
May your prayer of listening deepen enough
To hear in the distance the laughter of God.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
It's that time of the year when friends are away, and life is still, allowing pause for thought.
I re-read my journal for 2007, and realise how far I have travelled, and how I have not travelled at all. I remain me, a complex mix of humanity.
One thing I had failed to follow through with was researching this poem by Thomas Merton:
Song: If You Seek
If you seek a heavenly light
I, Solitude, am your professor!
I go before you into emptiness,
Raise strange suns for your new mornings,
Opening the windows
Of your innermost apartment.
When I, loneliness, give my special signal
Follow my silence, follow where I beckon!
Fear not, little beast, little spirit
(Thou word and animal)
I, Solitude, am angel
And have prayed in your name.
Look at the empty, wealthy night
The pilgrim moon!
I am the appointed hour,
The “now” that cuts
Time like a blade.
I am the unexpected flash
Beyond “yes,” beyond “no,”
The forerunner of the Word of God.
Follow my ways and I will lead you
To golden-haired suns,
Logos and music, blameless joys,
Innocent of questions
And beyond answers:
For I, Solitude, am thine own self:
I, Nothingness, am thy All.
I, Silence, am thy Amen!
It's good to realise it is OK to be alone, but aware that others are so close in a myriad of ways.
Next thing I read tonight is this:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes "One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self infatuation and despair... Let him who cannot be alone beware of community"
______________________________________________________________
update: I have been reflecting on Ron Rolheiser who points out that no matter how in love we are with another, how close we get to another human being, in the end we are called to experience loneliness.
Merton, who Ron also quotes, makes the point that our love cannot be enough for another, and it is in noting that, that we rise above our own selfishness and can be there for others.
Ron goes on to say that; when we accept the absurdity that we remain alone even when united with others, we will provide a centre of peace within ourselves where things make sense; and both marriage and celibacy become both possible and beautiful. (c.f. Seeking Spirituality / Holy Longing final paragraphs, Chapter 9)
UPDATE II:
I have since found this study guide which teases out thoughts even more
I re-read my journal for 2007, and realise how far I have travelled, and how I have not travelled at all. I remain me, a complex mix of humanity.
One thing I had failed to follow through with was researching this poem by Thomas Merton:
Song: If You Seek
If you seek a heavenly light
I, Solitude, am your professor!
I go before you into emptiness,
Raise strange suns for your new mornings,
Opening the windows
Of your innermost apartment.
When I, loneliness, give my special signal
Follow my silence, follow where I beckon!
Fear not, little beast, little spirit
(Thou word and animal)
I, Solitude, am angel
And have prayed in your name.
Look at the empty, wealthy night
The pilgrim moon!
I am the appointed hour,
The “now” that cuts
Time like a blade.
I am the unexpected flash
Beyond “yes,” beyond “no,”
The forerunner of the Word of God.
Follow my ways and I will lead you
To golden-haired suns,
Logos and music, blameless joys,
Innocent of questions
And beyond answers:
For I, Solitude, am thine own self:
I, Nothingness, am thy All.
I, Silence, am thy Amen!
It's good to realise it is OK to be alone, but aware that others are so close in a myriad of ways.
Next thing I read tonight is this:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes "One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self infatuation and despair... Let him who cannot be alone beware of community"
______________________________________________________________
update: I have been reflecting on Ron Rolheiser who points out that no matter how in love we are with another, how close we get to another human being, in the end we are called to experience loneliness.
Merton, who Ron also quotes, makes the point that our love cannot be enough for another, and it is in noting that, that we rise above our own selfishness and can be there for others.
Ron goes on to say that; when we accept the absurdity that we remain alone even when united with others, we will provide a centre of peace within ourselves where things make sense; and both marriage and celibacy become both possible and beautiful. (c.f. Seeking Spirituality / Holy Longing final paragraphs, Chapter 9)
UPDATE II:
I have since found this study guide which teases out thoughts even more
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
quickly read this:
JESUS
IS
NOWHERE now read it again.
A friend sent me this:
THE 5 FINGERS OF PRAYER
1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, priests and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. This is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself much more effectively.
hattip LS
JESUS
IS
NOWHERE now read it again.
A friend sent me this:
THE 5 FINGERS OF PRAYER
1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, priests and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. This is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself much more effectively.
hattip LS
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
a few emails and chats complaining about lack of posts!!!
Sorry all, life is good and busy, and computer time just isn't there! I mean who needs to blog when one can play scrabble. ;)
Tonight I went to the launch of a new book.
Not just any book but a book full of speeches delivered to THE ST. THOMAS MORE’S FORUM since its' inception in 2005. The book The St Thomas More's Forum Papers 2005 - 2007 can be purchased from Abebooks.
The book includes the talks given over twenty Forums with thirty-one speakers including:
The Hon Murray Gleeson, Chief Justice of the High Court, launched the book with reflections on the decline of Catholic Protestant animosity over the last 50 years especially in regard to the Irish community in Australia. Of particular interest was the increasing interest in virtue in the public square, also alluded to by Archbishop Coleridge who also spoke at the launch. An interesting tidbit was to learn of Hon Murray Gleeson relationship to Les Murray Australias' pre-eminent poet.
Both the Chief Justice and the Archbishop reflected on Thomas Mores multi-faceted role model status. The Romanian playwright Eugene Ionesco was cited by both speakers and Erasmus and Saint Ivo of Kermartin were also discussed. Thomas More was noted as the last of the medieval men, whilst Martin Luther was seen as the first 'modern' dude!
St Ivo, the patron saint of lawyers in France, is noted for his tombstone: Sanctus Ivo erat Brito/ Advocatus et non latro/ Res miranda populo. Roughly translated, this means: "St Ives was Breton/ A lawyer and not a thief/ Marvelous thing to the people." Literally translated, it is a quip that refers to the fact that lawyers have a reputation for thievery.
Anyway yours truly got two mentions by two speakers for advice and assistance rendered ;)
and also features in the books' acknowledgments!
Sadly I could not stay for the fine Margaret River wines, and cheesy combestibles as I had to dash off to the Archdiocesan Christmas Party.
And so to sleep, to sleep perchance to dream, I grow old, I grow old, but life is fun!!!
Advent blessings and best wishes for Christmas joy and peace to all my gentle readers.
Thanks for all your support in 2007, a better year than 2006 by far. You are all remembered in my prayers, and I appreciate the wide and diverse ways I have been encouraged and supported by so many, all over the world in the past 23 months!
God bless you one and all.
Sorry all, life is good and busy, and computer time just isn't there! I mean who needs to blog when one can play scrabble. ;)
Tonight I went to the launch of a new book.
Not just any book but a book full of speeches delivered to THE ST. THOMAS MORE’S FORUM since its' inception in 2005. The book The St Thomas More's Forum Papers 2005 - 2007 can be purchased from Abebooks.
The book includes the talks given over twenty Forums with thirty-one speakers including:
- The Hon Tony Abbott, former Federal Minister of Health and Leader of the House of Representatives
- His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
- Kevin Rudd MP, Then Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Security now Prime Minister of Australia.
- Mick Keelty, APM, Australian Federal Police Commissioner
- Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
The Hon Murray Gleeson, Chief Justice of the High Court, launched the book with reflections on the decline of Catholic Protestant animosity over the last 50 years especially in regard to the Irish community in Australia. Of particular interest was the increasing interest in virtue in the public square, also alluded to by Archbishop Coleridge who also spoke at the launch. An interesting tidbit was to learn of Hon Murray Gleeson relationship to Les Murray Australias' pre-eminent poet.
Both the Chief Justice and the Archbishop reflected on Thomas Mores multi-faceted role model status. The Romanian playwright Eugene Ionesco was cited by both speakers and Erasmus and Saint Ivo of Kermartin were also discussed. Thomas More was noted as the last of the medieval men, whilst Martin Luther was seen as the first 'modern' dude!
St Ivo, the patron saint of lawyers in France, is noted for his tombstone: Sanctus Ivo erat Brito/ Advocatus et non latro/ Res miranda populo. Roughly translated, this means: "St Ives was Breton/ A lawyer and not a thief/ Marvelous thing to the people." Literally translated, it is a quip that refers to the fact that lawyers have a reputation for thievery.
Anyway yours truly got two mentions by two speakers for advice and assistance rendered ;)
and also features in the books' acknowledgments!
Sadly I could not stay for the fine Margaret River wines, and cheesy combestibles as I had to dash off to the Archdiocesan Christmas Party.
And so to sleep, to sleep perchance to dream, I grow old, I grow old, but life is fun!!!
Advent blessings and best wishes for Christmas joy and peace to all my gentle readers.
Thanks for all your support in 2007, a better year than 2006 by far. You are all remembered in my prayers, and I appreciate the wide and diverse ways I have been encouraged and supported by so many, all over the world in the past 23 months!
God bless you one and all.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
AS HARD AS I TRY I CANNOT GET THIS TO SPIN ANTI-CLOCKWISE :(
listening to nature, traffic and bells in central park whilst my ukele gently weeps.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Spirituality of relationships
International author and psychiatrist Fr Jack Dominian has provided the preface to a book written by Canberra priest and counsellor Fr John Ryan. "A Spirituality of Relationships. The Power of Both/ And" which was launched at a dinner at Ainslie Village on Wednesday, 26 September.
The launch by executive director of the Australia Institute Dr Clive Hamilton benefitted the Home in Queanbeyan project, with over $4,000.00 being donated. 120 people from literally all walks of life gathered at the Ainslie Village to enjoy a wonderful meal, great wine and the guest speakers: Clive, Fr John Ryan and Fr Peter Day. The evening was MC'd by veteran political journalist Paul Bongiorno.
The book may be obtained from the Catholic Bookshop Braddon, telephone 6201 9888, or e-mail bookshop@cg.catholic.org.au Please click _HERE_ to order online.
Whereas Bishop Geoffrey Robinsons book Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church seeks to polarise and is almost heretical in places; Fr Ryans' book attempts to allow a dialogue that can accomodate the past and present into a secure future.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Some have expressed concern about lack of posts, I've been busy!!! The skyes are blue, and sand is golden.
Spring has sprung in Canberra, and the flowers and trees are blooming and blossoming. Some serious rain in late winter has produced wonderful displays of colour.
Last weekend it was time to head off to floriade. Of particualar interest was the beanie marquee, featuring over 90 beanies made from wool, cloth, barbed wire, twistie packet foil and other fibres and yarns.
Life is busy with organising a book launch that is raising money for the home in queanbeyan project. The former Governor General of Australia comments that: "the provision of long-term, supported accommodation for the chronically mentally ill who are presently unable to live with the basic dignity to which every human being is entitled is not simply a 'good idea'. It is an absolute must…."
Currently I am also proof-reading the third book manuscript authors have entrusted me with this year. I must have reached a certain age where what I know and what I don't know does not matter anymore. It is a privilege to be involved with finetuning a book before it is published. :D
Also keeping me occupied is a new blog promoting a book being released next year. See if you can find me posting as "cgo" ;)
Meanwhile, matters outside Australia give me pause. The last few days I have spent time fasting, praying and meditating for the situation in Burma. Today the Catholic News in Australia featured an article: Burma bishops call for prayer.
It seems like only yesterday I was boarding a plane for Cairns for the last school holidays; next week is another week off work, relaxing and having fun...
Spring has sprung in Canberra, and the flowers and trees are blooming and blossoming. Some serious rain in late winter has produced wonderful displays of colour.
Last weekend it was time to head off to floriade. Of particualar interest was the beanie marquee, featuring over 90 beanies made from wool, cloth, barbed wire, twistie packet foil and other fibres and yarns.
Life is busy with organising a book launch that is raising money for the home in queanbeyan project. The former Governor General of Australia comments that: "the provision of long-term, supported accommodation for the chronically mentally ill who are presently unable to live with the basic dignity to which every human being is entitled is not simply a 'good idea'. It is an absolute must…."
Currently I am also proof-reading the third book manuscript authors have entrusted me with this year. I must have reached a certain age where what I know and what I don't know does not matter anymore. It is a privilege to be involved with finetuning a book before it is published. :D
Also keeping me occupied is a new blog promoting a book being released next year. See if you can find me posting as "cgo" ;)
Meanwhile, matters outside Australia give me pause. The last few days I have spent time fasting, praying and meditating for the situation in Burma. Today the Catholic News in Australia featured an article: Burma bishops call for prayer.
It seems like only yesterday I was boarding a plane for Cairns for the last school holidays; next week is another week off work, relaxing and having fun...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Trying to grasp the other.
Following the holocaust (world war 2) the Blake prize was established in Australia to encourage Synagogues and Churches to obtain Australian artwork, rather than European works.
Portraits of Osama bin Laden, a madonna wearing a veil a la islam, a toilet bowel representation of an Indian god are some of the recent entries.
The acclaimed winner this year however is a sand / ochre portrait of the stations of the cross by an indigenous artist, Shirley Purdie. This work is confronting, it speaks of a God that belongs to the outback, to the desert. The sand is not the paint of western artists, and has some commonality with buddhist mandalas. It reflects thus the fact that religion is universal. The sand also represents the land that is out there, past western civilizations attempt to conquer Australia.
The Jesus suffering in this art work is abrasive and represents the personal Jesus and the God of the indigenous people of the desert. It is the other, but still is a human endeavour to portray the mystery of a God who becomes personal. It is not the safe European or American art that city dwelling white Australians may have some identification with. The artist has managed to speak of her relationship with her God in this work of art. It also personalises her own history of holocaust as it reflects the massacres of her tribal ancestors 70 - 80 years ago. The 2000 year old western story of the passion of Jesus thus is incorporated into the more recent personal trauma of the last century.
The philanthropist and widow of millionaire businessman Kerry Packer yesterday declared her admiration for the Kushan dynasty second century Seated Buddha, her new $1 million-plus gift to the National Gallery of Australia's Asian art collection.
I recently viewed this statue sans fat belly ;) that has recently been purchased by the NGA. It also speaks of the other to me.
Both works of art challenge my perspective and relationship with spirituality and my attempt to reconcile myself with the created world and the world of eternity.
Both works are mysterious, created by people who are not culturally identifiable to me. Thus I share in the wider humanity and gain some idea that the world is populated by many who do not share my western consumerist ideals, that are shaped also by an attempt to identify with a global christianity. A christianity that can be interpreted in the context of an indigenous community far from mainstream Australian society far from my comfort zone.
Following the holocaust (world war 2) the Blake prize was established in Australia to encourage Synagogues and Churches to obtain Australian artwork, rather than European works.
Portraits of Osama bin Laden, a madonna wearing a veil a la islam, a toilet bowel representation of an Indian god are some of the recent entries.
The acclaimed winner this year however is a sand / ochre portrait of the stations of the cross by an indigenous artist, Shirley Purdie. This work is confronting, it speaks of a God that belongs to the outback, to the desert. The sand is not the paint of western artists, and has some commonality with buddhist mandalas. It reflects thus the fact that religion is universal. The sand also represents the land that is out there, past western civilizations attempt to conquer Australia.
The Jesus suffering in this art work is abrasive and represents the personal Jesus and the God of the indigenous people of the desert. It is the other, but still is a human endeavour to portray the mystery of a God who becomes personal. It is not the safe European or American art that city dwelling white Australians may have some identification with. The artist has managed to speak of her relationship with her God in this work of art. It also personalises her own history of holocaust as it reflects the massacres of her tribal ancestors 70 - 80 years ago. The 2000 year old western story of the passion of Jesus thus is incorporated into the more recent personal trauma of the last century.
The philanthropist and widow of millionaire businessman Kerry Packer yesterday declared her admiration for the Kushan dynasty second century Seated Buddha, her new $1 million-plus gift to the National Gallery of Australia's Asian art collection. I recently viewed this statue sans fat belly ;) that has recently been purchased by the NGA. It also speaks of the other to me.
Both works of art challenge my perspective and relationship with spirituality and my attempt to reconcile myself with the created world and the world of eternity.
Both works are mysterious, created by people who are not culturally identifiable to me. Thus I share in the wider humanity and gain some idea that the world is populated by many who do not share my western consumerist ideals, that are shaped also by an attempt to identify with a global christianity. A christianity that can be interpreted in the context of an indigenous community far from mainstream Australian society far from my comfort zone.
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