Thoughtful Ramblings

On a day when the world commemorates disaster, we look for peace. On a day that commemorates when the world changed forever, I want to create a day, a new remembrance, a new commemoration of how the world changed. A commemoration of how true followers of Jesus became like him, looked like him in their world and forever changed the world for better. I want to commemorate a day where the good news of Jesus is good news to the poor, the oppressed and the needy. Not just the words we speak but the actions we take. Not platitudes of grace, but real grace, that is prepared to speak out against injustice wherever it is found. A grace that is prepared not just to speak against systems that create injustice, but to change those systems, to break them down, to create fairness and equity where once was injustice. I want to commemorate a day where women and children can live in safety, where refugees are welcomed and valued, where all lives matter. Where all lives matter and followers of Jesus ...

Over the last number of years I have struggled much more with anxiety. In my younger years, very little phased me. Sure, speaking in front of others was a bit nerve wracking at times, especially at first, and there was the occasional worry about whether I had done as well as I would have liked in exams. All this is pretty normal. When the kids arrived, I tried not to be the anxious mum or at least not to show my kids I was anxious. But time and some postnatal depression took its toll and I became unwell. I recovered through the support of people around me, medication and of course my faith which sustained me through a very dark period. And then for many years I was fine. There were ups and downs, but I was ok. In fact I accomplished a lot. Then menopause hit with it's particular brand of issues. For the most part it's been ok but the increase in anxiety has not. It's almost brought me to a standstill so that at times I am barely coping, barely managing to get o ut of bed...

Life can be complicated. There are so many things to consider, relationships to nurture, education, work, maintaining physical and emotional health, and personal growth. Within each of these there are many and varied nuances that we navigate on a daily basis. Sometimes, at least for me, it's a huge win just to get out of bed and get going with the day. On other days I seem to be able to take on the world. On top of all these things are the expectations we carry, that are placed on us, knowingly or unknowingly by others or even by ourselves. The weight of these can feel very heavy at times like a yoke that binds us to the grindstone of what can feel like an interminable daily toil. How can we get to a place of real productivity ( defined by me as 'the things that really matter') when we seem bound to something that is never ending. I don't have all the answers. Maybe you  have experienced times when you've felt like the expectations of others, their call on your ti...

The following is a small excerpt on belonging.  Having a place to belong is so important. When communities create a place to belong people thrive. 'We are not only defined but actually sustained by our social networks. We thrive on being part of a community – whether that’s familial, social, residential, intellectual, cultural, political, religious, professional or vocational. In the end, it makes no real sense – no biological sense, no psychological sense – for us to dwell on our identity as individuals. That’s not who we are. We’re tribal. We’re social. We’re communal. We need to belong' 'Belonging is one of the deepest sources of human fulfilment. Welcoming someone into a group is therefore one of the most warmly appreciated of the gifts we can offer each other. Knowing I belong implies that I am taken seriously; I am connected; I am supported.' The Art of Belonging Hugh Mackay

I've been reading a book titled Dollars and No Sense: A shocking guide to your spending habits by Simeon Lindstrom. I'm reading it because I would like to have a better understanding of why, even though I know all the theory on finance and saving, I sometimes have so much trouble doing it. Now compared to many others who struggle financially I'm doing ok, but I  know that I could be doing way better than I am and many don't understand the struggle I personally face with it. I also know there are psychological barriers I need to break to ensure I'm a good steward of our finances. This book starts out by addressing many of the money myths we tend to believe and then it tackles the psychology behind the myth and the ways we can start to gain control over our habits. We do this when we understand the why behind our spending. For example, much of our spending in our materialistic world revolves around buying solutions to our problems, rather than dealing with the und...

Perspective - how we see things. At the moment the media is in a frenzy over the behaviour of the Australian Cricket Team. What they did was wrong and there should be repurcussions. But I'm over the constant coverage and the keyboard warriors who think they can throw stones from behind a newspaper article or computer screens.  However what really irks me is that this controversy pales into insignificance compared to the many injustices we see around the would that seem to be forgotten and are actually affecting the lives of so many people not just a privileged few. There are millions of people whose lives are at risk from war, famine and natural disaster. There are women and children suffering because of our inaction. There are people kept in appalling situations by governments, including our own, in immigration detention, and people living in poverty and homelessness. These get scant coverage by the media and are often dismissed by the community in general. I like my sport. Thos...

Psalm 118:24 NET This is the day the LORD has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it. Happiness is a choice we make, a decision that stems from our will and not from our emotions. Last Saturday we heard from Jodie Cooper a local positive psychology coach about what constitutes happiness. Here's a snippet of what we learnt about happiness. 10% of happiness comes from our circumstances, but the happiness that is wrought by a change in our circumstances wears off after 3 months. Interesting given how often we think a change in circumstance will change how happy we are. 50% of happiness is genetically predisposed (inherited) but, because of epigenetics and the role of 'switches' to turn genetic expression on we now know that even if there is a genetic predisposition towards unhappiness that does not mean the 'switch' will automatically turn on. (We could talk about this for a long time but suffice to say that it's how we choose to react to things tha...

What does it mean to live with integrity? Here's a brief thought from my time with G od this morning. I was reading Psalm 84 which speaks of the good things God gives to those who live with integrity. It made me ask the question of myself that led to these thoughts. What does living with integrity actually look like. Here is what the Psalm says: Psalm 84:11 NET For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity. Here is a promise of God's favour, his promise for good things for his people. We love having good things bestowed on us. But our was the living with integrity that caught my attention. Am I personally living with integrity? We expect those around us to behave with integrity but what about us. Are we leading the way with integrity and what does it actually look like in everyday life? Here's some thoughts.  At the very basic level, living with integrity means that our actions ...

I'm still in the decluttering phase. Yes, I know I've been rabbiting on about this over the last little while to anyone who will listen, and yes, I know my home still looks like there are lots of collections of stuff. But I am decluttering. It's a slower process than expected and there are reasons for this. Sometimes I'm just too tired, sometimes I'm overwhelmed by all that is still to be done and yes, sometimes I just couldn't be bothered. BUT, and here's the thing: I am making progress. It may be slow and it may not be spectacular but it's progress. It is one drawer, one cupboard or one box, but it's progress and I will get there. I know that others also struggle with overwhelm which is why I find this article (link below) so helpful. I know I have lots of things that I don't ever use but bought because I thought I needed them or they would make life easier or would give me a new hobby. In fact all they have done is fill my cupboards and was...

Australia Day is a time for reflection on our life as it is now and our history. I always think our history is so complex. I learnt about the atrocities to our first people the aborigines and was mortified that such things could happen. However many of my ancestors came to Australia against their will as convicts and were treated pathetically as well. So on Australia Day I like to celebrate the good things about this country, and how so many have made a great life given a terrible start. But I also want to reflect on the truly terrible parts of history, understand the loss and grief and anger of our aboriginal people and try to move forward together for a better future for all.

Every opportunity is once in a lifetime stuff because we never get the time back.  Make the most of the opportunities but only take hold of the opportunities God gives. Be wise. Take care. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15‭-‬17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.15-17.NLT