May 2022 – by heart and hand

May 31, 2022June 30, 2022

“TIMES 12 PROVERBS” READING CLUB

INVITATION

The stench of bat droppings and the heaviness of dark encroaches on the senses where the only louder sound is the terror of the killer silently approaching and the desperation to get beyond his deadly intent.

The need to move outstrips the fear of the crawling black backs that glint in the approaching torchlight as you search and grope for the hidden lock.

Something indents under your hand – Whirring and clicking and movement in stone, light beyond, a way opens, relief washes, need propels and movement happens.

May 31, 2022September 17, 2022

TIMES 12 CLUB – JUNE 2022 FOCUS

Read every day looking for Head, Heart and Huh? moments.

Head – look for the Proverbs you have seen play out in life as true.

Heart – look for the Proverbs that have deeply worked something in your heart beyond a head kind of observation. Words that have specifically come ALIVE in your spirit!

Huh??? Look for segments that make you scratch your head and think “Huh?! What’s that mean? I’ve never noticed that! That makes no sense to me!”

May 6, 2022May 3, 2022

Blue & Gouda – a parable that’s not about cheese

These two boys are the best of friends. The little one shadows the bigger one. The bigger one looks after the little one. When a ball is thrown Blue always gets there first but when he’s told “Gouda’s turn” he sits and waits for the little one to have a go and sometimes instead of returning the ball for the next throw, he drops it near Gouda for him to pick up and bring back.

I spent two weeks watching them in New Zealand at the home of my second son and his wife who moved there just over two years ago.

They made me smile a lot… and one day they spoke to me. Clear as a bell – they spoke to me.

I was watching them from my sunny morning spot on the couch by the window and they were rumbling together on the deck. Gouda’s entire front leg was in Blue’s mouth when there was a single solitary yelp from Gouda. Quick as a flash the leg was released, the little leg licked better and the game slowed pace – but they didn’t growl or separate or sulk or cower. It was a game. It wasn’t about power and because Gouda trusts Blue the game could go on.

May 4, 2022May 3, 2022

Nudged

There’s a very long string of reasons why I found myself in this exact location, under this giant leaf canopy at 7.30 this morning in Whangerai New Zealand…. The last three of them being – the allure of coffee at a local cafe, the cafe being closed for Anzac Day and then the onset of rain sending me for the cover of this tree to see how serious the rain was planning to be. It wasn’t very serious at all but I was so glad the uncertainty sent me hurrying to this incredible spot.

This photo cannot convey how glorious it was to be in the filtered light under this sprawling umbrella. The photo is as an onlooker instead of as an immersion.

Nudged.

Covered.

Enveloped.

Shadowed.

Sheltered.

Lit.

Immersed in beauty.

Loved.