Realising the joy - and living it.

Here it is, Friday afternoon! Once again it arrived sooner than I anticipated. The week has flown by, disappearing into nothingness. The days appear to melt into one and other, just like the threads on the cobwebs that stretch from one branch to the other, on the apple tree in my garden.

For me a simple week with the normal 'run of the mill ' activities, most of which I could do with my eyes shut.

For others, those who mourn their loved ones killed in warzones or in accidents that occured this past week time must seem a like a never ending zone they can't escape from.

We, the dutch nation, along with others, stood still literally this week in respect and in silent witness to the horror of innocent victims of yet another futile war - a grab for power by those who should know better and spend their time guiding their nation instead of trying to enlarge it.

There are wars raging that go beyond the power of comprehension. Is it so hard to be loving to one and another? Is it so difficult to respect and share the space we have together as humans? Oh, how I pray for the madness to STOP!

It is all so surreal. Here I am sitting in my garden 'house'. With a view that impresses all those who visit here. I am playing the CD called In Paradisum - Spiritual Classical Melodies. I can hear birds chirping, far in the background a lawnmower chugging away over a patch of long grass. A cock is crowing - proud and loud! On the water beside me some ducks slowly glide by, I can just see them out of the corner of my eye. A pigeon came and rested on our rooftop earlier this week - and has decided to stay a while. I can hear it coo-ing!

WHAT A CONTRAST! I can scarcely take it in.

There is peace in my space - a peace that I can taste, hear, feel and almost touch.

It has taken me a week to be able to enjoy it again. I felt an immense sense of guilt and it seemed almost obscene that this paradise of mine is part of this world and it's ugly wars.

I have decided to embrace what I have been given - the peace to be and do what is necessary to live the life planned for me.

I have decided to protect the peace as I know it by embracing that which I have - and not let it be TAKEN by those who know not how to live in that peace.

This afternoon the sun is a welcome visitor on my face and I feel so BLESSED!

My prayers and thoughts are with those mourning - that goes without saying. 

That, however, must not stop me REALISING my joy and blessings and LIVING THEM!

A world gone mad

As many good intension go - the goal to place an article at least once a week - has not been realised. The will was present but the planning, timing and energy was not. 

Here I am once again picking up the threads of my BLOGGING commitment ( it is not a burden you understand) just prioritising!

Summer has arrived - the weather has been kind to us this year. For months now, we dutch, have been treated to stable summery temperatures with a few disturbing factors thrown in for fun. Just a hailstorm or two, whirlwind and a heatwave to keep it interesting.

Our country is divided into 3 sectors, each starting the summer holidays a week or so apart. Today, Monday, the last of the 3 sectors has started it's school holiday season. The roads are less busy, the shopping centers too, where-as the fun parks, family campings and swimming pools cope with the attendance of the holidaying public. Life, as we know it- goes on. At least, on the surface so it appears.

This year the atmosphere is different, tainted, solemn- in shock. A plane filled with holiday makers and other travellers has been plucked from the air with disastrous consequences. Pain, disbelief, shock and horror filled the hearts of thousands as they received the news of this enormous disaster. It doesn't really matter what nationality these unsuspecting travellers had - united they died despite their backgrounds, not because of it. 

I cannot comprehend the enormity of this deed.

How someone, somewhere and for whatever reason had the nerve to push a button, pulled the trigger or whatever, that sealed the fatal fate of so many. Nothing justifies this ( or any other for that matter) ACT OF VIOLENCE

On board were 298 people. Men, woman, children! Hopes, dreams, aspirations, plans - future, past and present! To those families left behind - what a tragedy they now have to come to terms with. Gut wrenching, unfathomable, grief strikken! I for one, cannot comprehend the enormity of this pain. At this moment, I think the notion that - loving memories will help and sustain you - right now won't foot the bill, if ever!

Why write about this event? Because I need to 'get the noise' out of my head. The unrest, the frustration, the horror, the confusion. Somehow when I write it settles my mind and 'clears' my head.

Words don't do justice to describe my emotions - just that I am full to overflowing with compassion, love and prayerful support to those hurting.

And for those non-believers, No, GOD didn't shoot that plane down! Someone decided it was THE thing to DO! We have a responsibility - we have FREE WILL! And that responsibility is not as valued or treasured by some in the same way as it is by others.

Choose LOVE and you will be RIGHT every time!

John: 13:34-35

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Corinthians: 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

I cannot abide ill will - am allergic to animosity of anything of the 'un' nature. I am a lover of peace and attempt in my way to either avert, resolve or divert dissension. To those who agree to disagree with me, that is their privilege. To those seeking my company I say welcome, to those who avoid me I say welcome, to those near and far, welcome. 

Right now- I am trying to make sense of a world gone mad.

We humans are losing the plot!

Every day thousands die - when will de killing STOP?