Learning: Less-on the topic of “topics” (parts A&B)

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Oh wow! I'm not a good companion for

the sharing of a controvershal stor-

-ry, like the movie we tonight just saw*.

I let myself "just" try to share some more

of what I felt, or thought, or saw a bit

of, so I missed the point of all that’s good

about sharing some stories which might fit

with circumstances and friends as they could.

The shorthand way to talk about the right

way forward for a son of you, my God,

is to “be quick to listen, slow to bite,

or even speak at all. And slow to (what

we know of as) anger”* [infringement of 

some list of rights (or wrongs) discretely done

(or not done, as “the case” may call for). Hov-

er-ing about the scene, is how it’s won!

- “the case” that “calls for” things is what’s “in charge”.

The bigger context, which sets all in place.

It’s not the “rights”, but “seen rightly”, “at large” -

relating to the world before your face -

from what’s behind it, “right side of your brain”

yourself to why you’re here at all, to start,

and then to why you’re in this spot again,

with anyone around, and in your heart.

And this recursive loop goes upward too,

there is a sense where I am the whole Left -

Left Hemisphere that’s here on Earth to do

as Right approves, relates, & not bereft.

And as I watched another* the next night

(or two), I felt roiled up inside - no less.

But as I thought to ask comrads for light

and questions that were raised, I stepped my best

foot forward, and we want to see more too.

Oh God, you’re helping me to really grow

up more to be like James-es brother - You!

Well your son, Jesus; who helps me “friend-k

now”*.

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Notes

Greatly influenced by (especially the first, "scientific" part, of) psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist's insightful book about the Right & Left Hemisphere's of the human brain: "The Master & His Emissary - the Divided Brain ....... ".

Interesting that both the Right and the Left Hemispheres of the human brain have views and approaches to the world that are different. Sometimes consistent, sometimes inconsistent. Three strangenesses exist though:

1. They are locked together by reality, - not by logic, and can normally relate as quick as thought!

2. There is a hierarchy. The Right’s view is easily open to all other views, and “gladly” includes the use of and insights of what’s Left. The Left’s view is not so easily open to other views, since it's work of making an accessible model specific to this time and place does not allow it to have a  larger focus (at the same time, - that must be done by the hemisphere enabled and equipped to do that kind of “overall” work). The Left cannot be in-charge, or work well independently of a Right Hemisphere. The Right can easily, but will also easily share meaningful tasks with the Left hemisphere (this is what gives the Left Hemisphere its bigger meaning and purpose).

3. Both very oftenly work on the other by curtailing, or slowed down, the response from the other side of the midline. The Right Hemisphere is glad to get the input of the Left Hemisphere. The Left Hemisphere may not solicit the curtailing, slowing down effect which the right often brings by force of nature, but could (presumably?) learn to. [AS such a Hemisphere that’s Left here (on purpose, by the overall Right Hemisphere), this is what I want, and need training in. So, help me God!]

Footnotes

w* "A Few Good Men" in black and white.

r”* a quote of a proverbial saying possibly originated from mixing the Jewish Proverbs with life as the underlings in an occupied country under Rome’s Empire in its Hay-Day, from Jesus Christ's little brother. Maybe it was advice given him by his big brother? At any rate he is, years later, passing it on to his “little brothers” (James 1:19-27))

r* Schindler's List, (also basically black & white).

w”* the kind of “knowing” which the Right Hemisphere of the human brain is involved in… the knowing of a friend, not of a fact/law [which appears to be the way of knowing specialised in by the Left Hemisphere, often leading to boastful comparisons rather than empathetic relating]. Sometimes Jesus’ Apostle (Ambassador) Paul (meaning Small) uses the word “love” to stand for this kind of “friendship knowing” and means the “knowing facts and definitions etc” when he says simply “knowing” (e.g. 1 Corinthians 8:1(b)-3)

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two thousand & twenty six years since...

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Once we said our year, and then  “A. D.”

acknowledging the point where Hist’ry turned.
I liked it for myself for I can see
it in my world, and my small life has learned

it by experience, I needs recall

who’s Lord, and owner of “my” time & place -

the big was metaphore for this life’s small..

small scale of something big, which human’s trace.

And now we're trying hard to overlook

all meaning - that might mean we’re not the boss.

We don’t like stories where there is a hook.

We cancel ticks, for they imply a cross.

And on the back of cultures disciplined,

who trained their young quite hard for excellence,

we’ve seen results of not thinking “We’ve sinned!”

by wasting, & for tasting what “made sense”

to little kids with reference-points all skewed.

We didn’t have a chance without “A.D.” -

(don’t think “in words” alone), life is renewed

when humans train - under a coach “in deed*”.

And this two thousand & twenty-sixth year

’s gone yesterday. We now start on the next.

We want the prince of life to rule down herethrough these small lives at least. We won’t be vexed.

We’ll trust his choices, though they were not ours.

We think he knows a bit more than we do.

But trust his love as well, to use his pow’rs

where he thinks best, to hear our voices too.

Our year ended in A.D., now C.E.  -

the Era where we turned a corner in

the hist’ry of our world -we look and see

the Common people changed by glory in

the Common place, since he took on our flesh

and blood & bones as well, it’s changed the world.

But it could change back, we could be enmeshed

in fishing nets that also have been hurled

out to catch us for food, to bolster that

insatiable desire - of evil (one)

Not ev’rything that meows is a cat.

Have you learned how to do it, just for fun?

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*   

“ As he walked along the shore of the Lake of Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, casting their nets into the water. “Come and follow me, and I will teach you to catch men!” he cried. At once they dropped their nets, and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)

“to those who by keeping on doing good deeds, seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life,” (Romans 2:7)

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Keeper *

keeping on*

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Well, Marty, yesterday I stopped a few

times thinking of your birth (some "years" back now)

I heard you had a family time, a "Do"

recalling what God did before you bowed

your head, before his grace and love at work

in his creation of a life which might

be trained by constant choices not to shirk,

but still to bask in strength and love, like light.

And FIRST the gracious love enacts itself,

and THEN we have the chance to model it,

and also "see" what life is like in health,

and "want to" be that way, not just live shit.

And I have seen your choices over time

well some of them at least, by their results

within your life's relationships (& mine -

as they have meshed with friendship) - and with "faults".

For how could we seek glory, honour, or  

the immortality we long for with

the longing of a deep ache (even more)

unless we make each ACT* (with kin and kith°),

a training ground, to learn, stand up again.

And I have seen you choose a very BOSS

to be your trainer. So, we don't know "when",

but "if" is not a question while HIS cross

of love (that's demonstrated sure and true)

is each day at your head (as well as heel).

And I am glad to share his life, with you,

another year starting  becoming REAL^.

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Celebrating another year laid down, now to be built on..

*   “to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life,” (Romans 2:7)

°  thinking of the pericope at the end of Mark 3 

^ thinking of the children's picture book, The Velveteen Rabbit, and the verses quoted above.

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wise woman

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My Katie dear, I love you near - to me.

You are my home, where’air I roam. You be

the one who learned .. & somehow turned (I see)

to home, a place; your smile on face when free-

ly shared around turns Earth (I’ve found) to the..

..the edge of heaven, seven days a week.

You’re strong to build - though many willed, you act.

And for my part, I bless your art’s impact.

             ---xxxooo---

And you use hid abilities to squeeze

a “Welcome in” to rich parts of our life. 

You’re learning from Dame Folly and her tease-

-ing ways, to build instead*, of a “fish-wife”. 

             ---xxxooo---

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Notes at foot of page

“Every wise woman encourages and builds up her family, but a foolish woman over time will tear it down by her own actions.” (Proverbs 14:1 The Passion Translation & others - see esp. foot notes of NET)

  *(Proverbs 7:10-27)

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And God saw that it was good…

(seven times in Genesis 1)

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Lord help me please to see, how I can use

my time of life on Earth as best I can -

fulfilling purposes (by what I choose)

which were in your mind, when you thought or planned

a world like this - with creatures who might love,

(or learn to love) as they grow up, are raised

as children of the one who is above

all others (& it's right your name be praised -

that’s just because you’re source of all that’s good,

that’s beautiful, and lovely, true, and right)*.

You teach us to see, as our own eyes should -

(because that’s what they’re for) - unless it's night.

And so you’ve done in me, and in these eyes,

and mind as well, as it models to keep,

imagining with pictures, no  surprise,

what good things might be done - even in sleep..

when dreams occur, and help us image in

our minds some possibilities that might

allow us to encounter - not just “sin”

or “miss the mark” in practice. Learn to fight

against just being animals who are

ruled & impelled just by desi-res which

remind us of our “needs” or don’t go far

beyond the level of that “No love!” pitch.

Please help me see the next level above:

a life that starts in love, and grows up more

as it goes on - encounter, not just shove,

or shoot its own demands out. Help us for…

…we are so self absorbed at first. It’s true

we start as animals, but not as strong 

as most of them. We’re hardly much like you…

unless you mean potential as we long

to be, and copy you as children do

their father or their mother through their days

as they look, listen, following each cue,

or tone, or body language, turn of phrase…

This is my biggest job, my major task,

my reason d'etre, purpose in this world -

is what I set myself again to bask

in - your love to extend where I've been hurled.

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p.s. I love you too.

*  Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. …

Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord. (Psalms 103:1-22 NLT)

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links or kinks

links or kinks

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Some things relate (and help) as metaphor. 

They help us understand the world around.

Their gift to us as rulers may be more

than we could think of - until they are found!

They therefore aid by modeling, as does

our own left hemisphere help us a heap.

It makes a model of the world, to buzz

around as bigger “god”, to start to keep

it, as a gard’ner keeps a garden neat 

yet might adjust it as it grows/ matures.

A model can help imaging, as sleep-

-ing dreams can fertilize - as do manures.

But other things relate in causal ways:

the caterpillar to the butterfly. 

They mightn’t look or sound alike. It pays 

to not confuse relationships. To try

to understand these diff’rent links between

the things we see and feel around this place.

There’s other links as well, that may be seen:

Some programmed in, and some hold just a trace

of sev’ral kinds of other links in them.

They are unique because their recipees

will bring together diff’rent flavours when

in ratios that work with cocktail ease.

The links we make (and why we do, as well)

affect us more than we could understand

by curs’ry glimpses. Sometimes we must dwell

for time - enough to follow,  see what’s planned.

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Links:

turn and turn about

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Somehow I start to see, but like a babe

it seems too much for me to handle well.

I have to take a break, enjoy the shade,

and have a play within your house, and dwell.

Not just to dwell on it, but in it too.

I now recall that ancient psalm* (prayer/ song),

of king who tried to understand, but knew

“relating, as a child” made him belong.

I needs go “back to basics” now & then,

as breathing has that flow of in, and out.

The outward part is “try to understand”,

the inward is to “see what’s good about..”

and then relate, as small child would to Mum, 

or Dad, when fed and sheltered - just enjoy 

their company, and rest ourself, in some

small way, to let me trust (as a small boy)

my parents to know more than me, to look..

look after me, to know more, and still be

aware of what is needed, they will book

me in to train my immaturity..

And I can take some time to try to gain

an understanding, strengthen my insight.

Though this must be acknowledging the plain

fact that I am contingent, and each night

the world goes on when I must fall asleep,

become unconscious, can’t be in control,

entrust my very self to you to keep

me as a self, within yourself or soul.

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*  “..Lord, I have given up my pride

    and turned away from my arrogance.

I am not concerned with great matters

    or with subjects too difficult for me.

Instead, I am content and at peace.

As a weaned child lies quietly in its mother's arms,

    so my heart is quiet within me.

God’s people, trust in the Lord

    now and forever!.” (Psalm 131:1-2)

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2025th Christmas

Anniversary celebrations

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We sat, the five of us, at table, on

the night before, and played the Five Crowns game.

Reminded me of Magi who did more, 

though Anne had travelled something like the same.

And I recalled Paul Kelly’s songs which tell:

“From little things, Big things grow”, & then recalled

nine months before the baby, there’s one cell.

When life & growing’s nurtured, we don’t “fall”..

fall down, but can grow up (though I feel flat, 

and immature, & babyish, to boot.

I’ve seen so many children grow like that -

when in a world where love has taken root,

and then’s acknowledged, though we mightn't feel

too able to conveigh it through just words,

it’s sometimes just a nod, a sign, a meal,

a showing up, a lead in Way  Forwards*).

A fam’ly in a distant place contacts,

by video and says “Hello” & greets,

& shows some tables set, and too relax-

es while they wait for others in their streets.

Then there’s the baby girl whose birthday is..

(first anni-ver-sar-y is).. on today;

we rang and sang and said Hello to this 

whole fam’ly. Then both “Merry Christmas!” say.

Since celebrating great things often will

involve our lowly animal nature,

we celebrate with food (and swim) & swill;

So “wise and harmless” source, we celebrate ya!

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*  Thinking of many things: 

• The Shepherd, by Fredrick Forsythe as told by Al "Fireside" Maitland; 

• the claim for the babe whose birth is celebrated at Christmas, and whose claimed identity gives rise to its name.

• ..

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(prieve and)

re-prieve

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Oh God! These bodies have done very well.

They scare us though, with your attention to

the details of how we can bring on Hell

into this Middle Earth, and how we do

have power to, by our responses, lift

or lower our whole Universe, in views

that we would hold tenaciously as gift

to care for, or as just resource to use.

But thanks for bringing options (into space

& time of our existence) here on Earth.

So thanks for ways to partner & to place

our trust (of friendship) in you since our birth...

foretold, which seems like coming very soon,

as soon as this womb world has done its trick

conduiting our connections (as the moon

can transfer light from Sun, so very quick,

round corners, into shadow we call night)

and brought us to enough maturity 

to make the journey which may seem quite fright-

-ful (through the birth canal) till we can see

our fam’ly: Dad & siblings, even Mum.

though we could only see her body since

our eyes began to work, our sight to come.

But seeing more can sometimes make us wince.

We're taking on our duties in the way 

a small child does, who follows whimsy where

it leads, curtailed by what their parents say.

That friendship, list’ning, babbling, is our “prayer”.

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Meaning?

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It's funny how at times I feel empty,

like purpose & life’s meaning’s drained away.

I’m left a shell, an empty garden. Me.

With no life growing in me on display.

No register of passions,  feelings “dead” -

though ‘tsnot as though my feelings on this thing 

are very tuned, or accurate or shed 

much light as basis for a sound judging.

But still it should be said, so when researched

it can be found that this has  now occurred

within this world, in this body now perched

on side of bed. At times things do get blurred.

But also, that there are two good things which

appear to help me not to fall apart:

First is a slight distrust of feelings. Glitch-

-es seem to still occur. It’s still an art -

the feedback loop from body back to “me”.

It might depend on which side of my brain,

is handling the data then, to see

and understand my purpose. Then again

sometimes just one response must do for ā 

few diff’rent kinds of feedback; like there’s tears -

of pain, of joy, of sadness, or  eye strain.

If I mistake the context, then my fears

will all be “proved right”, as my eyes and sight

have testified to me at forty five.

I thought some bad infection came at night.

But teary eyes were just “years been alive”.

The second, is a story, not some “fact”.

And story is what lets right hemispheres,

see context for interpretting each act

and “seeing” what significance appears…

So I recall my story in this world,

to get involved in my self-authoring.

Identify the purpose I've been hurled

here for, get straight my  reason for being!

Then doing it (in chunks), is my next step

to bring me to experience, not just

"in theory". ’Times I need to have just wept

with someone-else, else I  grow full - ‘n bust.

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with Emmanuel, God is "with" us! (not against us)

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With Kev, right now, said Martin in a text,

what comes to my mind is “signif’cant life’, 

and ‘loved’. And also the words “cheerfulness”

and “genuine courtesy” & “warmth”. Alright,

I tried to pass these on to him today 

while Annabelle & Milly joined me at

the hospital where we hoped things to say

or read a Psalm, and sing a song. We sat

or stood by his still body (open mouthed, 

not breathing any more while we were there, 

before the doctor came to check what housed

his very self, we thought he was somewhere

within the care of his shepherd, a sheep,

and read Psalm 23, and something else,

and sang of Peace Boat as he slipped to “sleep” 

(as Jesus spoke of death). God’s several* selves.

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*   Annabelle Rose Elvita Heer Walls, Millicent Jayne Tullia Heer McLean, Harriet Jayne Elowyn McLean, & Paul Lindsay Walker, saying “good night” to Kevin Angus McIntyre.

The Big Question: What DO we need?

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Communities of Practice, where we learn

to “practice what we preach” and that’s the Christ

of God - as one who died in his good turn

at ripe old age in nursing home, enticed

to focus on a life of luxury,

provided with his servants round to care 

for ev’ry need, until he died in sleep,

surrounded by his fam’ly who were there,

and loved him, as he’d loved them through the years

denying their own selves gladly to serve, 

to hang out with him when he faced his fears..

Communities which practice keep their nerve,

Embodying their words spoken to bless,

& showing how to make this practical,

once taken in, to live it out in  stress-

full situations when they lacked a full

experience, or ways to speak of it,

both to yourself and others you affect,

within the group, & outsiders who sit

around who see, & gain a great respect.

Our biggest need, it’s said, is words to speak

about these good lives, we’ve all had till now,

about good choices, things we’ve done which tweak

& maximize investments, Take a bow.

An audience who’ll clap, and pat my back,

and tell me I am better than I thought.

And then we sell our merch off, don’t be slack,

and roll into our coffins - which we've bought.

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new-world way!

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My old habits of barging in and then

just trying to smooth off the ruffles made,

has worked at times, and espesh-ly when

my immaturity was clear & bade

folk overlook it, from a gracious heart.

I helped to “multiply grace in the world”!

But as God’s Reign’s Ambassador* has start-

-ed to call us, by questions, where we’re hurled:

“Shall we keep sinning, so grace will abound?”

The answer that then clearly must erupt

into the world volcanic’ly, I've found

to be what causes mountains to grow up:

“ .. a ghastly thought! We, who have died to sin—

how could we live in sin a moment long-

-grr?”° That’s the grrunt, the grrit, that helps us win,

that might come out in strong determined song.

And I recall that Jesus is a gent-

a gentlleman, who’ll knock and stand around

till he’s invited in (to where he’s sent)

And little brother James said that he’d found:

The way to be was just like his big bro:

that’s very quick to listen, look, and think,

(took thirty years, and that seems), very slow

to speak out public’ly, and then he’d wink…

and tell a story, ask a question and

do an act of kindness, that would show

the truth of Herald's message^ (which he planned)

and clearly spoke, so ev’ryone would know.

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Footnotes:

*° Jesus’ Apostle Paul, in his Letter to the Roman Christians 6:1-4

^ his "gospel", the timely message of who reigned now, those 15 words (in Greek): as in Mark 1:14-15 “Time’s fulfilled: God’s reign is “near”! Give up all your own agendas - take this seriously.”

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Step out! - into the dance I'm learning…

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And learn to do the simple thing - admit

when I am immature or self absorbed;

and, on the side of greater good, then git -

to work again, the sacred oil’s been daubed

on toe, and thumb, of this priest of the God,

the spirit of creative love who loves 

creatively, with pow’r that’s not just nod-

-ding to a principle, with gen’ral shoves

in right directions. Partnership it is,

but still not one of equals; I must start 

with humble, loving, learning ways of his,

who’ll reach, impeach, and teach me all his art

of living well, by seeing good that’s there

around about me, ev’ry step I take,

and letting my heart well in thanks, and prayer

for others round about, then help them bake

the cakes they love to make, to bring more good

into God’s great good world, when thirst is slaked, 

and hunger which is meant to serve, or should

enhance the passion - fruit icing what’s baked…

and say the thing his prophet should then say,

and rule the world - bring order as a king

is meant to do, who knows the kingly way

of God who rules the rulers of each thing

or aspect of our lives here down below!

I’ll recognise, then speak, and sing, and play

his praises, to his honour, for I know

the kind of songs he sings, and words he’ll say.

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