Tonight I get to sleep with an Aurora Borealis machine! Crazy huh? I just had a quick chat with a person in my living area, and 'how was your day' turned into 'check out this space-toy I have!' Amazing what things turn into.
I returned to my room to continue working on my scrapbook - which is turning into quite a big project. I don't even know where to begin - how to organize - what audience to tell the story to... There are so many parts to the story. Young people and retreats, community, travel, personal growth, English culture, Catholicism, fun times... It's really making me wonder what this year has really been about, though I have somewhat come to the decision that it was about living with people and sharing all that comes with that in a Jesus kind of way. It's so different from my expectations.. affecting big change, having the time of my life, working really hard... I'm still having a tough time navigating a mental change. I am trying to convince myself that, though my expectations were different than the reality, that it's still OK- Good - Worthwhile...
I guess I just feel guilty about all the personal growth... but I suppose that sharing growing pains was just as much a part of this year as the young people that came to the centre. Hard to believe sometimes... was it that easy? Just... simply... live? Was that the task of this year? I suppose it was. "Accompany people on their journey". When a pianist is accompanying a soloist, both are playing music. Both are feeling and interacting with one another.
I suppose that's God's message though... we don't have to try. He's created us to function just right, and he's guiding us just where we need to be. There's nothing we can do to deserve this, we just gotta go with the flow... Sweet! Cheers God!
Well, it's nearly midnight, and the Aurora Borealis machine is waiting patiently by my bed - an experience has cropped up by doing exactly what this year is about - appreciating other's lives, going with the flow, and simply... living.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
When I'm Lost on the Road
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
Thomas Merton
Risk
This is a poem that was used in our training and we also used in the retreat last week. I feel it is very fitting for this adventure.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams,before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing,have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams,before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing,have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
Crisp Flavours.
England has an amazing amount and variety of Crisp (chip) Flavours! Here are a few of my favourites (like the English spelling :) )
Ready Salted
Cheese and Onion
Roast Chicken
Prawn Cocktail
Steak and Onion
Worcester Sauce
These are the normal ones that you'd find in a gas station. Crazy, isn't it?!
Ready Salted
Cheese and Onion
Roast Chicken
Prawn Cocktail
Steak and Onion
Worcester Sauce
These are the normal ones that you'd find in a gas station. Crazy, isn't it?!
English Lingo
- Lorry (Semi-Truck)
- Rubber (eraser)
- Ta (Thank You)
- Cheers (Thank you)
- Skip (dumpster)
- Bin (trash can)
- Drink (Tea)
- Brew (Tea)
- Cupper (Tea)
- Chips (Fries)
- Crisps (Chips)
- Biscuit (cookie)
- Chuft (Proud)
- Lie in (sleep in)
- Rubbish (trash)
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