Slobbin

I've been having some nice chill time this last half hour, just lying on my recently made bed in my recently tidied room after a recently finished day of working and errand running. Ryan's been turned up to a good volume; we are becoming well acquainted, I with he. It's the first time I've kicked up my feet like this in far too long, and ho dang I am keen for summore o' dis! On the last essay now, then the filling out of summer dreams shall commence! For now, I reckon I'll let these feet remain kicked up a while longer.

Sacraments according to Thomas Aquinas

I think this writing by Thomas Aquinas gives a clear understanding of why we use sacraments in church:

‘Since it is connatural to a human person to acquire knowledge through the senses, and since it is most difficult to arise above sensible things, divine providence has appointed sensible things as a reminder to the human of things divine, so that human intention might the more readily be recalled to divine things, not excluding the one whose mind is not equal to the contemplation of divine things in themselves.... Again, sensible things are employed for human sanctification, in the shape of washing, anointings, meat and drink, and the uttering of sensible words, as signifying to the human that one receives intelligible gifts from an external source, and from God whose name is expressed by sensible words. Moreover a human performs certain sensible actions, not to arouse God, but to arouse oneself to things divine: such as prostrations, genuflexions, raising of the voice and singing. Such things are not done as though God needed them ... but we do them for our own sake, that by them our intention may be fixed on God, and our hearts inflamed.’

Summa contra Gentiles, III 119

Tele Nostalgia

Dan Ward, Jade and I watched the first few episodes of this into the early hours the other day. It was great fun. This theme song is so great. I'm pretty sure it was only this that kept me hooked for four episodes in a row. It brought back memories of when my group at school was addicted to the show, to the point that Logan, Rich and I watched it together because the girls were having their own exclusive screening. We even had home made scones that night! In my defence, I'm fairly sure that was the only episode I ever watched! Surely it's indie to watch it now.

Lana Del Ray, Video Games

Empty Space

I just read this:

‘Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never give much attention and which we do not want to surface. ‘Being busy’ has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion’ (Henri J. B. Nouwen, Reaching Out, 70).

That was written at the start of the 80s, prior to texting and social media. How much more true would this be today? Certainly I identify strongly with it. Clutter tends to dominate my world. I want to start creating empty space for myself, time just to enjoy solitude, reflecting, pondering, resting. 

I went for an hour long walk last night, fairly aimlessly to the beach. It was so great, in the dark, overcast and spitting a little, and hardly a soul on the road, just scuffing along the roads themselves, musing to myself and having a little God-time. I'm so glad of the time and space to do that! It wasn't really lonely or depressing at all, just peaceful, and a good reminder of God's perspective. Even though at times things are confusing and I have no idea what the point is, and difficult things like that can be on my mind, bogging me down, it's good to feel comfortable amidst it all. Having space brings these things to the surface, but as I hold them before God I get the peace and trust that God is good and he loves me. Verrrry encouraging!

Into Action

Aghhhh far too many distractions and things to do! My bookshelf is more a burden than a delight with its far too many unread books... My sax, guitar and clarinet are gaining weight in dust... My body and hockey skills are demanding more attention always... My Twitter and Facebook and friends' blogs want reading, my room and house want cleaning, hair wants cutting, sketch book wants sketches drawn, journal wants writing, youth group wants leading, budget and organiser want work done (as does my mum's design business), friends and sponsored child want letters sent and emails replied to, my trip to India wants planning, family, flatmates and friends want attention... You get the idea! And I want to do it all, but I don't know where to begin. It all excites me heaps (some things more than others of course), but I don't know where to start! I literally have piles of things to do, and I love the thought of getting into it all. Maybe this blog will be the trigger, the thing to set me in motion to start ticking boxes! But some of these boxes can't just be ticked... Practice makes perfect, but so many of these things require that! Perhaps some boxes with their tasks must simply be removed... Priorities must be set! I'm going to try prioritising where I spend my time, with whom, on what. Organisation to achieve efficiency. But it must all be with love. Love must be at the core, otherwise it simply becomes cold, organised efficiency. A bit like spiritual disciplines I think. Without the 'spiritual' it's just a discipline, and that won't achieve nothin' other than a false and orderly faith. Passionless. But without the discipline it just doesn't happen. Ok, here comes an attempt at a go-getting, organised and hard-working Elliot, who can still remain free, spontaneous and loving. Fully engaged, enthralled, enjoying.

Some Jill Rice wisdom

This is my mum's response to my previous blog post. She's so wise and thoughtful. This helped me heaps, some good stuff for me and hopefully y'all to think about regarding living life - together! Not solo.

28/06/2011

Dear Elliot

Found your latest blog post. Made me cry! If I am allowed to comment, this is what I would like to say.

Bud, I applaud your honesty. It’s good to own those feelings, but not to wallow in them. They are very real.

Yes, I think we are made for co-dependency. I don’t think we are meant to go solo. God our father is the 3 in one, and we are made in his likeness, to be like him. God is also not separate from humanity – he is very much in it. I think our trust in God and love for God is shown in our love and trust of those around us.

He said, whatever you do for the least of these you do for me, whoever welcomes one of these little children welcomes me (Mark 9:36), whoever receives you receives me, he who receives me receives the one who sent me (Matt 10:40), the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me (Rom 15:3) etc etc – we’re all together in this. It’s not just about you and God, it’s about us, because God is in us. We are interconnected. Where 2 or 3 come together in my name there I am with them (Matt 18:19). When you hurt, we hurt (1 Cor 12:26) etc etc. We are not islands, but more like an archipelago (!), together, with God, through each other.

No human relationship is going to completely fulfil and yet somehow that is God’s plan – that we are completed by each other. As we fail each other and then reach out again and forgive and trust each other again, in this way we are God to each other. God uses the imperfect to show himself to us, the weak to shame the wise, the last to be first etc etc. We recognise our frailty and in so doing, through faith we are made strong.

Jesus also felt lonely, and let down, by God his father, and by those around him, in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 20:36).... And yet he also kept trusting, not just in God directly, but in his human friends – kept relying on them to be there for him, to help him do his work and to spread his message - to love him. I love that he told Peter, after he had let him down 3 times, that “on this rock will build my church”.

So yeah, I think God is reaching out to us all the time, through e-mails, texts, phone calls, facebook, blogs, invitations of various kinds, and we do have the choice all the time, to respond or to reject. I think the answer to loneliness is to keep on choosing to do the former. And yes, that is an action.

I love you so much. Thanks for trusting us with your deepest, most personal thoughts. God bless.

Mum

Preach it mum. Love you too :)