Too good not to share

I just watched this six times in a row. Love it!

The Black Keys – Lonely Boy from Joe Foley on Vimeo.

Just ‘published’

Just in time for bubs #2′s arrival (June-ish), another stitchin’ project finally finished. These take me way too long to get around to finishing but I’m no less pleased when they are.

(I got the pattern for this rag book from Lazy May.)

A brilliant response

Another gem discovered on Ian Cron’s blog recently. A father sends his six-year-old daughter’s school assignment (which required her to write a letter beginning “To God, How did you get invented?”) to several churches in England. Click the link to read the Archbishop of Canterbury’s brilliant, kind, perfectly-pitched reply (along with more of the backstory):

http://www.iancron.com/2011/04/22/archbishop-of-canterbury-makes-me-proud/

More great prayers…

Must be the day for finding great prayers. Was just catching up on Ian Cron’s great blog (www.iancron.com) and it seems Cron is an old hand at something I’ve only recently started doing: writing down beautiful, thoughtful, well-composed prayers whenever I come across them. You know, the ones that really just seem to stab you in the heart (in a good way!). As Cron puts it, prayers that “say clearly what you always felt vaguely”.

The first is listed as The Prayer of Thomas Merton:

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 I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will 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.

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We would like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet, it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability -
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually – let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time,
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming in you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

Prayer of surrender

Here’s a wonderful prayer of surrender I found on Mindy Caliguire’s website, www.soulcare.com

Jesus,
i am a humble, lowly servant woman.
take me … all of me.
add anything, take anything away.
at any cost, at any price.
make me yours completely, wholly.
may i not be remembered for the
way i wear my hair, or the shape of
my face, or the people i know,
or the crowds I’ve addressed. may i
be known for loving You … for carrying
a dream … for building bridges to
the hurt and broken and lost in the
world. make me what You would be if
you lived in person where i do. may
everything accomplished through my
simple life bring honour and glory to
You. take my human flaws and
failures and use them to remind
those who know me that only
You are God and i will
always just be _______.
amen
&
amen

Man on Wire

Philippe Petit walks between NYC's World Trade Center towers on August 7, 1974. (Photo: (c) 2008 Jean-Louis Blondeau / Polaris Images)

Catching up on some recorded telly recently, I sat absolutely enthralled watching the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary, Man on Wire.

Man on Wire documents French juggler and tightrope walker Philippe Petit’s stunning (and highly illegal) wire walk between New York City’s World Trade Center towers in 1974.

I was familiar with the iconic images of Petit (see above) poised between the iconic towers (at the time still under construction) but had never given a moment’s thought to the story behind the audacious act. And what a story it is.

Director James Marsh’s film unfolds like a thriller, from the dreaming, plotting and scheming to the execution and fallout.

Petit and his motley crew of co-conspirators are depicted (through a series of re-enactments and footage shot at the time) with all the energy, optimism and brazenness of youth.

Many of Petit’s support team were interviewed for the documentary and, as they recount their roles in the amazing adventure, their eyes still light up in excitement and amazement some 30 years later.

As his dream gets closer and closer to becoming a reality, it becomes clear that Petit was either oblivious or plain unappreciative of the great efforts made and risks taken by his crew.

Like all genius, Petit’s is accompanied by tendencies towards obsession and impulsiveness. While his childlike wonder and enthusiasm inspires, it’s a childish selfishness that drives him. All big dreams come at a price and Petit’s relationships with his closest friend, photographer Jean-Louis Blondeau, and girlfriend at the time, Annie Allix, were casualties.

Blondeau’s tears and obvious pain as he recounts his falling out with Petit is the most poignant example of the enormous effect the walk had on the lives of all involved, not just Petit.

If you haven’t seen Man on Wire, go see it.

Don’t quote me: Writers on writing

Nothing beats stumbling across a quote that expresses something you’ve not been able to put words to, or at least not in such a perfect way. Or, words of wisdom from someone far more talented, accomplished or sage than yourself.

This William Zinsser quote is an example of the first: “Writers love to have written.”

And this kick up the pants from Stephen King is an example of the second: “Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.”

Itch to stitch

I’ve never been a crafty person. Well sure, like everyone, I have the odd moments of cunning and skill but that’s not what I mean.

I’m talking potpourri sachets, folk art, doilies and the like…just never been my bag.

My mum is a great sewer and while I’ve inherited her love for beautiful fabric and appreciation of a well-made garment, I never enjoyed any attempts at sewing. Same with knitting.

Anyhoo, last year I felt like trying to turn my hand to something and remembered a little embroidery kit  someone gave me as a birthday present when I was little, can’t remember what it was. What I could remember is that I really liked doing it so thought I’d give it a try.

I bought a kit to see if I did like it and was shocked by how much I did. So, onwards and upwards, I recently completed my first ‘project’, a cot blanket for my son. Can’t tell you how satisfying it was the first night I tucked him in with it.

It’s so relaxing. Who’d have thunk it? I love to stitch. Now I just need to convert my similarly non-crafty friends so we can sit around together for some ‘stitch and bitch’ sessions.

Homegrown

On my “There’s nothing more satisfying than…” list is having flowers from your own garden in your home. Spring may have sprung in the garden, but Melbourne’s weather is lagging behind.

Spring jonquils...can't beat that smell

Empty San Pellegrino mineral water bottles make great vases

The year ahead

A couple of exciting things on the horizon this year. 

About 10 years ago I first started thinking a lot about the issue of adult literacy. I wondered at the time if there would be any scope to get something to help people off the ground at my local church but I never pursued it. It’s popped into my mind on and off ever since but for whatever reason I’ve lacked the time or opportunity.

Last year I finally made some phone calls and contacted some local organisations with the thought that I might be able to get involved once I stopped full-time work. It looks like I will probably start a 10-week training course with the Waverley Adult Literacy Program in April. It could lead to volunteer tutoring one-on-one, in small groups or classes. I’m excited.

The other horizon-dweller is just a maybe at this point. Again, been on my mind for about 10 years but having enough time has always been an obstacle. I’d really love to enrol in a subject via correspondence at Moore Theological College. Not for any qualification per se (Certificate of Theology in this case) but purely for the knowledge (and hopefully wisdom!) I’d get from the study. 

I just need to spend a lot more time thinking about whether I can actually do it with enough time to enjoy it and it not become drag. Otherwise there’s no point. We’ll see.