The big-ish picture

Milly Mclean shared on some social media on Wed 29 Sept 2021CE: 

CS Lewis quote I just read which feels applicable especially if you replace "atomic bomb" with "COVID"

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"in one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited  London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays

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To the same end: 

Let's learn to play music, keep a beat, sing, hum, whistle, chant, again, to help our bodies & minds get back into habits that can aid forward movement!

Paul.

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God's trick to help us learn love

found it!… that bit oft quoted by Mr. L. Follent, when asked about his marriage to his beautiful wife, in the second poem by the Australian poet   C.J. Dennis, at the turn of the 20th Century - "Logic & spotted dog" (spotted dog seems to be a kind of food):

"I am marri'd to a woman; which is nacheral an' right. 

I sez that over to meself, fer safety, day an' night. 

Most times I sez it fond an' proud wiv gladness in me mind; 

But sometimes philosophic-like an' wot yeh'd call resigned..."

For the whole poem see this link:

(http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/denniscj/doreen/logicdog.html)

For the previous poem with some of the back-story, called "Washing day": (http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/denniscj/doreen/washingday.html)

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Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother Dell, has spearned, but learned from, hell ..

Audio of Paul trying to read this.

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As a teacher by instinct and experience, I can tell you 

• there are some people you can't teach, and there are others you don't want to teach… and 

• lasting the distance, showing up & participating, may not be everything, but it sure is something, and 

• (her) actions speak much louder than (my) words.

I'd like to be a better teacher. I can see Dell growing through the hellish things she's actually lived through (two house-covering floods, bowel cancer, loss of husband, loss of many friends, just to name a few) to be a better person. If I was a better man! - but, maybe I'm just a better! You win some, you lose some.

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"But (Nanna) Dell has lasted well" they say.

At 90 years, through floods and fears of more,

she's come, though some who're close aren't here today.

Well, many close have come to ends before-

hand - left this time and place to face the next..

next shore, or realm, or stage. The page has turned,

as birth brings mirth for new, but also vexed

responses, for old ways we'd boldly  learned

before don't work - they're jerk-y don't quite fit

in larger world unfurled, or body yet

to come (our way of taking on the bit

more life that's rife). Well, "Did we win the bet?"

What better would commit to it, if sure

that it would never happen? ... Lappin' up,

alternatively, options which give more..

more odds against them, yet the better's gut,

or other senses tell it's well on way,

and then the better's sure it will occur.

What better thing to bet on? I would say.

And in that sense, this life is better for

the game and fun, of race that's run. Better

be where not just "the odds", but insights go!

What better way to bet than if you met

a person with some news from inside? Oh,

I know that the insider story on 

our Dell is that she grows more  grateful each

& ev'ry year that goes. My nose knows one

I'd like to learn from, much more than to teach!

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Sudden sinking sadnesses & difficulties

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Well, oh my God, it's here again - that fear,

or emptiness, or meaning falling out

from where it's stored in this life. It appears 

to come just ev'ry now and then - with doubts.

With shame it seems to be associated,

connected with a loveliness that's lost,

and future joys (& past) are abrogated

with this occurrence. I feel grieved and tossed

aside from life's great gifts and joys just now.

It's funny - saying this, I feel a fraud;

b'coz I am so blessed with good around,

& to me - just that through me's missing Lord!

I want to be complete, mature, and true.

But incomplete, & immature, deceived,

spring more to mind for what I be; my clue

that keeps me hoping what I first believed,

is still that story you've brought me into

with you yourself a father; & it clicks,

I know, I see, what life is like for you

with all your hopes and dreams receiving kicks

from us as we still grumble, be afraid, 

attribute all the worst of us to you.

And blame you for our choices, 'coz you made

us able so to choose, and so to do!

 

Well, all this may be true, as I now see.

So just because they seem so opposite,

I won't miss out this opportunity -

appreciate the good that is in it.

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So, "Thank you, for the good I have enjoyed."

And thank you for that great good here just now.

And thank you for all other goods that buoyed

so many babes before me here, somehow.

The babies, and the children who can stand

up on their own two feet amongst a group

are models for those looking for your hand,

and learning mostly, in your fam'ly's loop.

And now I start to see how quickly these..

these little ones can feel so diff'rently,

they let their parents spank them, cry for cheese,

then put their hand out for some help. I see.

 .. t.b.c. ….

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Assuming

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In the light of what's addressed 

in " The trouble with "X" "*

& recent events:

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Well maybe when i "feel" someone presume

upon me, that's the very time to look

at my own heart, & actions; something's loom-

ing up, so I react. I'm like a book.

Sometimes I think that my reactions show

a lot about the world around about,

when maybe, it's a case (from what I know),

of they are kind of like a wake up shout.

From the very self of me that's bound

up in a new creation, started up

the day that resurrected life was found

on Earth within humanity erupt-

ing into others who were round about,

(somehow, within relationship, & so

they physic'ly came nearer - not to flout,

but at an invitation: "Come"; then; "Go",

the Second Course; but only when that life, 

was seeded into them by God within

this world of his, (that's also full of strife -

but that's when light's discerned, when else is dim).

The coming brought folk nearer, then, to him,

who helped them to presume upon him more,

as baby child lives plainly on their whim,

and each is seen quite clearly on the shore

of where the ocean and its waters of

the womb of life is splashed up on some land.

Oh God I need your help to grow in love,

as well as wisdom. More I understand.

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*  a very helpful article (to me), by C.S.Lewis, on the trouble with … someone in particular… but it also turns out to be every person in my life. Video quote: https://youtu.be/A_tmzC9Y_Gs 

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"Unless you change & become like... "

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And oh my God, you are above the rest.

The God of all the baby gods down here.

The source of all our sapience, most blessed.

The only really wise God that's appeared.

But also most apparent of yourself

is that we've never seen your face at all.

The God of all creation's in good health.

But fetuses inside the womb, so small,

in health or ailing, none will really see

their parents, who apparently still are.

And thus en-wombed, it seems to me I be

in need of trusting, as my kids, so far,

have trusted both their Mum & also me,

their father, and have taken their Mum's milk,

and learned from us to walk, talk, hear and see,

with sense of humour, music, and that ilk.

But learning really came on when they came

out of the womb, to where they could see us,

with eyes and ears developed, and a name,

that somehow matched the way we hoped, and fussed.

So I am hopeful, as (he clearly said)..

this bunch of little ones God sent to teach,

as prophets, and as models, have now led

me into his own fam'ly, in my reach

if only I would reach out, as they do,

and learn from him to be quite thankful for

the good that's showered on them, daily, new.

My children's children teach me, more and more!

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Jesus said: “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:3 GNTD

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learning unspearning

 

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Oh God, when I'm designing with someone

& finding out what makes things to be fun,

I've more respect for all that you've begun

& how much you have given us to run.

What seemed to me an oversight, when seen

from my own vantage point, that's one who's been

so ignorant, and yet so full of me, 

'n giving not that much, for still un-weaned,

I see now as profoundly gracious stuff,

designed to give more options, and enough

potential to let each, though still quite rough,

participate quite strongly in the love

& thoughtfulness of honest active truth

that seeks the good of others, 'specially "youth",

and thus grows to be more gracious and couth,

creatively enabling ev'ry "who"

that comes near us, we're learning in his WAY,

creative love is more the game we play,

in earnest, as we each and ev'ry day

consider how to act, & think, & say…

I'm learning to begin to trust one who

would make a game like this, to see the clue

embedded in the walls, and not to rue

each unexpected thing that comes to do

some thing that's better than I had in mind.

I choose to live ecpectantly to find

the good in things by moving more in line,

developing myself to be more kind.

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We're going on a holiday (Twenty twenty-two)

(Thanks Gilbert for your help on the last line of the  second verse)

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We're going on a holiday

with Davie, and Polly & Mai,

Tullia Matilda 

is here and will de-

velop as she will do!

We're going on a holiday

with Davie, and Polly & Mai,

Tullia Matilda 

is near and will de-

vour a snack or two!.

We're going on a holiday

with Matty & Bellie away

with COVID they're covered, 

so rovin' is smothered;

their fondue has come in leau! (Thank you)

We're here with Sam & Ebony,

& Hunnah, Peter & Sophie

Hannah & Gilly, 

Duncan & Millie,

Katrina, and me (a few).

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Recording of first two verses.

virtue'el simulation

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Oh God, I see the wonder of your plan,

the way you've gone ahead to bring more joy,

enabled us to be as god to man

to image on this Earth your child, your boy.

That one who loved to call himself the  son 

of Adam (that's the male & female who

together were to image the great ONE,

to show the purposes of love and truth.

You've not stuck us in just one body here.

You've helped us to let go of one, and be 

transformed in a new body that appeared

in public at our birth, and was more free.

And though each starts as individual cell,

we're transformed into multi-celled creature,

and when pubescent, if all things go well,

we pair to make up a twoman* feature!

And humans are all borne from one of these.

It's twomen which are given that good gift

of making copies of "the God who sees"

who intimately knows us, and would lift

us higher, raise us up, to plane of life

as fam'ly - who would seek the other's good

from positive regard of them, in strife

instead of saving self, we'd be as would

a duck or chook, who's watching over young,

who saves them at the cost of its own life,

but on a higher plane than what would  come

from instinct. This is love that has grown rife.

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* twoman = (pronounced two-man) two humans, a woman & a man, from whom (both physically,  socially, psychologically, and fully culturally (including mature gender formation), new humans are brought to (increased) life.

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Forward ho!

 Txt2me:

Jesus said, " there is only one thing to

be concerned about.." to Martha at that time..

I hope to glean a bit of wisdom, and,

in asking God, my God for wisdom, then,

I hope to also learn with my friend Paul..

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Txtback:

& me too, to the end that who-ever

might join us, in unfuss-ing and deploy

whatever we can to be who we are -

not grownup yet, though still we can en-joy...

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..less ness

Oh God, I'm scared that I will fall away

and not respond to all your lovely life, 

and somehow double-cross you, or display

a lack of sapience. Foolish in strife.

It feels like I am doomed to middling here.

Maybe coz I've been sidetracked by my work

in doing up this house, it might appear

that I am just another silly jerk,

who's caught up in my own world, and my jobs.

And certainly I have been focussed lots

on doing up this house, somehow it robs

me of the joy that's greater than robots'.

So I will gladly do what's done with you,

and miss out doing all the other stuff.

A day off here tomorrow sometime,  to

rejuvenate, and clear my head enough

to keep priorities on top to see

I do the necessary surely, and,

if things are missed out on today, they be

the optional, or 'for another" planned.

I'm getting tired now, but glad as well,

to share a night of resting - in your arms.

I'll trust you for your wisdom 'gainst the hell

of bannishing all faithfull love, for charms

or lucky things, or systems I invent.

I love you lord, and I will sit down at

your feet to learn and listen, since you sent

me here, to your good Earth, when you begat!

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As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38‭-‬42 NLT

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Boy Like Me/Man Like You

With a new online music account, I've been listening a lot to this song recently - that i used to listen to a lot 20 years ago, in an albumn "The world, as best as I remember it" 

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Boy Like Me/Man Like You

Song by Rich Mullins

You was a baby like I was once

You was cryin' in the early mornin'

You was born in a stable Lord

Reid Memorial is where I was born

They wrapped you in swaddling clothes

Me they dressed in baby blue

Well, I was twelve years old in the meeting house

Listening to the old men pray

Well, I was tryin' hard to figure out

What it was that they was tryin' to say

There you were in the temple

They said, "You weren't old enough to know the things you knew"

Well did you grow up hungry?

Did you grow up fast?

Did the little girls giggle when you walked past?

Did you wonder what it was that made them laugh?

And did they tell you stories 'bout the saints of old

Stories about their faith

They say stories like that make a boy grow bold

Stories like that make a man walk straight

And you was a boy like I was once but was you a boy like me

Well I grew up around Indiana

You grew up around Galilee and if I ever really do grow up

Lord, I wanna grow up and be just like you

Well did you wrestle with a dog

And lick his nose?

Did you play beneath the spray of a water hose?

Did you ever make angels in the winter snow?

And did they tell you stories 'bout the saints of old

Stories about their faith

They say stories like that make a boy grow bold

Stories like that make a man walk straight

Did you ever get scared

Playing hide and seek?

Did you try not to cry when you scraped your knee?

Did you ever skip a rock across a quiet creek?

And did they tell you stories 'bout the saints of old

Stories about their faith

They say stories like that make a boy grow bold

Stories like that make a man walk straight

And I really may just grow up

And be like you someday

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: David Strasser / Richard Mullins

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Where my story seems to connect with, or maybe has grown out of, this man's song:

• Wistful Title, states just enough, & no more. Draws me into a way of being in God's world. The Jesus way. And brings to mind a little phrase I got from a book on ethics once that saw the source of Christian (& to some extent, Judaism, that Christianity has grown out of) Ethics to be "like father, like son":

•  Adam was not just a creation, but a "son of God", that is what gave him the right to rule over God's world and its creatures. 

• "You shall be holy, for I am holy". 

• The Lord your God is just, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness to all his creatures. … But you have neglected justice and mercy.

• God & Jonah: you cared for a plant that you did nothing to help bring about… & you are upset that I cared for thousands of ignorant people and animals.

• "Lord, I wanna grow up and be just like you

"grow up & be like you someday"

• "did they tell you stories 'bout the saints of old

Stories about their faith

They say stories like that make a boy grow bold

Stories like that make a man walk straight"

• What's Rich's story?

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