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My thoughts exactly…

I think one of the reasons I stopped writing for those several weeks is because me – a writer! – couldn’t put into words what I thought and how I felt. Sigh.

But my aunt wrote a poem, and reading it just this morning made me realise that *this* is exactly what I’ve been thinking. So I wanted to share it with you, dear Reader. My aunt, a retiree in New Zealand who spent many years of her life as a missionary in Egypt, wrote this on her own response to the COVID-19 lockdown:

***

eThoughts  during the Coronavirus Lockdown:     (Jeanette  Grimmer,   10  May, 2020)

A computer interview I lately came upon

Intrigued me as I learned that  John Lennox, Oxford don,

Has in his timely  book  a certain stance unfurled:

Asking  “Where is God in a coronavirus world?”

 

As  all nations  face the coronavirus running rife

With  no cure yet to keep it from destroying life

We fear, we see our weakness, our mortality,

And think anew on life, its end,  and how it’s meant to be.

 

Some surely  will react to this disaster of our day

As the suffering of millions cannot be explained away,

By saying that  if a mighty,  caring God did this allow;

Then faith that God exists is utmost  foolishness,  and how!

 

Some religious folk see our crisis as a judgment from God’s hand

And seek out  evidence to prove these events are as he planned;

Say  our rebellious deeds have angered God to such extent

That  our coronavirus chaos is on sin his punishment.

 

Yet  while Lennox understands why some men hold these views

He makes it plain that as a Christian he chooses to refuse

To  react in either way,  for as he understands  the Holy Book,

The words  and  life of Jesus Christ  afford  a whole new look.

 

For when Jesus Christ was told of the Galileans Pilate killed

He asked if people thought  their death a judgment that God willed

Because compared with others their sinful deeds were worse,

Then  stated  clearly that in fact the truth was the converse.

 

And Luke records that Jesus chose to question them as well

About  the eighteen  folk who died when  Siloam Tower fell:

“Do you think they were more  guilty than others in Jerusalem?

I tell you, no!  But now repent, or else you’ll die like them.”

 

To Jesus tragic life events  were not a punishment God  sent

On  certain wicked men, but  these may  urge us to repent

Since each of us will one day God’s  judgment have to face

And we who have repented will  receive abundant grace.

 

If indeed God loves us, how do we suffering explain?

It is a mystery, and yet we trust He’s  with us in our pain,

Jesus suffered on the Cross,  He died for me to  live forgiven

Therefore I trust my Father God  whose love draws me to heaven.

 

***

Isn’t it beautiful! I love it. And I love her – and am so glad she allowed me to share it on here with you 🙂

Have a trust-filled week yourself, dear Reader.

  • KRidwyn
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On wanting what you can’t have

This is my girl; hatched last July. Her name’s “Shell”, after the delicate darker colour edging her wing feathers.

She’s getting near breeding age, so at the markets recently I purchased a yellow male, around the same age. A gorgeous boy, he promptly received the name “Topaz” and all the way home, I envisaged how beautiful their babies would look.

 

Talk about counting chickens before they hatched! No sooner did Shell see Topaz but she formed an instant dislike. Bordering on hatred. Evidenced by her snapping at him, screeching at him and generally bullying him around their shared cage.

Sigh.

Topaz is now caged with another yellow hen (girl budgie), owned by Miss12. He’s happier with her – Havilah – and Havilah’s also quite pleased to be not out with the other budgies, getting bullied by them!

So. Today’s post is dedicated to Shell; not giving me what I want. [Yet…]

Have a great week, dear Reader 🙂

– KRidwyn

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on Latin…

My Mum loaned me this book a while ago; I finally got the chance to pick it up over the weekend. And boy, I’m glad I did! It’s so funny! And I’m learning a lot too 🙂

Here’s hoping you also get a pleasant surprise this week too, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn

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on laughing

Yesterday I indulged. Took the kidlets to see Sonic the hedgehog.

And laughed – far, far more than I had thought I would!

It was a good afternoon.

Here’s wishing you one of those this week, dear Reader 🙂

– KRidwyn

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On changes

Once upon a time, I moved a cubby house.

I’ve spent the lasts two days demolishing it, and re-building the aviary roof to secure it from our Houdini-imitators.

These photos (as always) don’t do it justice…

Have a great week yourself, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn

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Almost, but not quite…

The new school year starts tomorrow. Meaning that today is still holidays! Woot!

I feel very blessed that we start the new school year with a short week, because of the Australia Day celebrations. As in, the public holiday we’re having today. It makes for a lovely start to the year 🙂

Here’s wishing you a lovely week too, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn

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35/52

Check out what Miss14 did to Miss11 at last week’s school fete. And Miss11 paid for the privilege!

In other news, does anyone know how to get blue hair dye out of blonde hair?

Have a learning-full week yourself, dear Reader 🙂

– KRidwyn

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34/52

I’m loving my job. The learning curve is the perfect gradient, and not only is my mind constantly active, but every Friday afternoon is spent out in the sun with a dozen or so girls, learning to play golf.

It’s fun; such a change from the rest of the week.

And I get paid to do it!

Here’s wishing you a variety-filled week yourself, dear Reader 🙂

KRidwyn

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27/52

Something I wrote recently:

When you’re alone and the noise from ‘society’ stops, that’s when Creation is able to slip in. Almost unnoticed. And that’s when you’re able to notice the bird calls. Recognise the sound of leaves rustling. Become aware of the the peace.

The breathing slows. Vision clears. You notice the cool air on the skin, refreshing it.

Suddenly it all seems so easy. Switching off. Tuning out from the incessant ‘go-go-go’ of the world.

Just stopping. Looking up, looking out. Looking around. Noticing – instead of how far there is to go – of how far you’ve come. Of reflecting. And yes, also, of celebrating.

Deep breath. Clear the mind. Notice the pace of life around you. Really notice. And decide when to rejoin – and rejoin the insanity on your own terms.

And then I took this photo to go with it 🙂

Here’s wishing you a refreshing week too, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn

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5/52

Last week, a falling gum tree branch took out the power to my house. I wasn’t there at the time, but others were, so it was all made safe, and fixed, by the time I arrived home.

Meaning that I never got to see the live power wire sparking its danger on my front lawn; I could only imagine the culprit branch lying beside it which had aimed for the power line in its efforts to cause maximum hassle and annoyance.

Imagine my surprise then, to find this:

That tree branch, at its base? Easily 30 centimetres diameter. That’s not a ‘branch’, it was a whole ‘tree’! No wonder it took out the line – it came precariously close to goring my writing studio (okay, gardening shed) there too!

And it was a whole lot of fun to clear up, too. Just sayin’…

Have a wonderful week, dear Reader!