Reflections of Ruthie

What do you see here? No right or wrong. 

We are officially in the week of the year when all the numbers fall off the calendar and no-one knows what is going on. It's a privilege to be needed or 'in demand' during this potentially nebulous time. But what if we're really feeling stretched or pulled in multiple directions? Here are a few ideas that I try to embrace: 1. Listening to nature. I had a radical inclination to open the window in my bedroom today. I'd been lying down, not feeling the best following a summer cold. I was amazed by the way that bird sounds flooded into my room and my being, bringing hope and wonder. 2. Noticing movement. When we do seemingly basic things such as standing up, there is a complex set of movements that goes on, involving a wide range of body parts. It's worth paying attention. I also find it rejuvenating to notice movement in nature, such as birds flying, trees swaying in the breeze, clouds floating across the sky.  3. Appreciating fun and craziness. I'm fortunate t...

  Here are some of the sounds that I noticed over Christmas time: 1. Congregational singing of traditional Christmas carols and a kindly minister speaking. 2. Birds conversing beautifully with each other. 3. Television programs from news to the Vatican to well-oiled drama. 4. Happy, excited voices, earnest voices, struggling voices. 5. The thud of tennis balls. 6. Dogs barking. 7. My own inner voice, freelancing, as well as reading from books and psalms. I discovered this from Psalm 139 - For you created my inmost being. That resonated. 8. Quietness, accompanied by the tapping of keys and the hum of a refrigerator. 9. A clock ticking (and it's a bird clock!). 10. Coughing. 11. The house settling 12. Let me hearken back briefly to that exploding coke can that was thought to be 'something shifting in the night'. 13. A creaking armchair. 14. Water gushing from a tap. 15. My own breath and a bit of asthmatic wheezing! 16. Cars purring along the highway. 17. Feet and paws tappin...

We can all struggle at Christmas in different ways and to varying degrees. Sometimes things just get too much, despite good times and people. When feeling a bit more purple or blue than golden, there are a few things that I do: 1. Place both my hands on my heart and let my mind rest there for I while. I feel connection to something or someone bigger when I do this. 2. Close my eyes and listen to sounds, especially birds and sometimes voices on tv. 3. Listen to a favourite piece of instrumental music - in my case, the 2nd movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E flat. 4. Think of times when it was pouring with rain. Imagine standing in the rain. In this way, I can acknowledge sadness at the same time as entering into a calm experience. Rain can also bring a sense of happiness on occasion.  5. Remember that other people are experiencing a range of emotions at this time. It's not just me.  6. Phone or text a friend. 7. Walk around the house and feel the floor or carpet under ...

  School finished up about a week ago, along with most of my regular social commitments. This morning, I was struck by a resounding, almost echoing silence, in the absence of some of the voices that have been quite loud throughout the year. It occurred to me that, at the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph had also been transported to a completely different space, with new sounds and voices, and the absence of familiar ones.  I thought about the light that illuminated and guided the people in the story and was reminded of how I tracked Venus across the western sky for several months during 2016. Today, and other days, I perceived the light inside me. I know it as eternity, and it is very peaceful.  Then I pondered Jesus, in such a vulnerable state, and I felt enormously grateful for those who took care of me when I was a baby.  At that point, almost overwhelmed, I stopped and listened. Thoughts intruded. A car revved in the neighbourhood. Then I thought about returning t...

Dear all, I've launched a new blog. It's at whatdoyouperceive.blogspot.com I'll be working on a Christmas Reflection for here. The other blog is a bit of fun where you can look at fairly abstract doodles/ drawings and figure out if you see anything in them. I've had some wide-ranging responses to this in another forum! Warm regards, Ruth

  Following a barrage of Christmas-related functions and parties (I think I'm done apart from the actual day), I've been struck by the idea that light breaks through in different ways. Here are some examples: 1. A shaft of light, strong and steady, shines through some crack or gap in the curtains 2. Clouds separate or move on their way, creating heat and brilliance 3. Candles flicker in a room that would otherwise be dark 4. A rainbow adorns the sky 5. Bright planets beam with silver 6. A torch guides the way along a footpath 7. Floodlights blare out across a sporting arena attracting all manner of insects 8. Lightning illuminates a row of trees or houses So too, emotional and spiritual illumination may come in unexpected ways and from unanticipated sources. I spent the day in a secular space where I saw glimmers and flashes. One was a young person who didn't always speak in kindness but then was adamant about the importance of protecting nature (in this case, an insect). A...

When a toy has surgery in our family, that toy receives pastoral care from other toys. Obviously.  After many years of not swimming in the surf, I bravely entered the waters at Woorim Beach, Bribie Island. A reasonably bad move as I got knocked over. Then I couldn't get up because my knees weren't playing the game, and those visually quite small waves packed a punch. Some strangers helped, kindly introducing themselves and asking my name. Timely as I was having issues with exertional asthma as well. On another occasion, our car was experiencing issues following an incident with a curb at a 1-year old's birthday party. The vehicle didn't sound good, nor did it look the go. A man who I hadn't met before waved me down, investigated the problem and put in place a temporary fix. Beyond helpful.   Then, going to work the other day, I was anticipating that no-one would know it was my birthday. Words came into my head as clear as day, "get some food to share." A w...

  What do you see in this picture? I decided to use this minimalistic drawing because part of what I see is waves, which generally I find peaceful (unless they are knocking me over, precipitating panic and asthma, heralding a massive storm, that kind of thing). Waves can be peaceful to look at, sometimes, at least.  For years in church, I sang songs about peace - "He is my peace", "When peace like a river" (learned that one in Samoan before I knew it in English!) - and felt no calm, mainly worry, effort, inadequacy or depression.  This morning I attended a church service and left feeling happy. I didn't agree with everything that was said but it was interesting and I spent quite a lot of time, even during the carols, in a sort of heart/ mind contemplation. There's a hint of this in Proverbs with the words, "For as she thinks in her heart, so is she." I believe we have a space inside us where we can think as well as feel and in this space congruence...