Epiphany

 We have decided to keep the tree up until Candlemas, I think we did the same last year!  I'm just not ready to let go of its comforting presence and it is so cheery to look at too:

Where The Map Begins ~ A Blessing for Epiphany

This is not any map you know,

Forget Longitude, 

Forget Latitude,

Do not think of distance or of plotting the most direct route,

Astrolabe, sextant, compass

these will not help here.

This is the map that begins with a star,

This is the chart that starts with a fire,

With blazing,

with ancient light

that has outlasted

generations, empires,

cultures and wars.

Look starward once

and then look away,

Close your eyes and see how the map begins to blossom

behind your lids,

how it constellates

its lines stretching out

from where you stand.

You cannot see it all,

cannot divine the way

it will turn and spiral

cannot perceive how the road you walk

will lead you finally inside,

through the labyrinth

of your own heart

and belly

and lungs.

But you step out

and you will know

what the wise who travelled this path before you knew,

the treasure in this map

is buried not at journey's end

but at its beginning.

Jan Richardson, 'Circle of Grace, A Book of Blessings for Each Season.'

I love that the treasure is found at the beginning of the journey and not at the end, that gives me a sense of hope and very much ties in with a Benedictine philosophy that, 'each day we begin again' and listen with the ear of our heart to your words O Lord.

I will not lie, I'm struggling with awful inflammation in my low spine and at one point it became too painful to even sit.  I have some pretty strong anti- inflammatory medication that has begun to take down the swelling and the gentle walking is helping to try and shift everything into place.  I also have an Osteopath appointment next week, Praise God!  However, if I'm not careful pain can really start to drag me down, so having these challenges such as an outdoor hour keep me focused and distracted. Seeing the little shapes being coloured in on the nature mandala wheel is also a real encouragement to keep going. 

Since the 2nd of January I have so far clocked up a total of seven hours outside, which is no mean feat for someone with a chronic health condition.  It has not all been plain sailing and there have been times when I have wanted to stay huddled next to the fire, but every time I have ignored that inclination my spirits have lifted for being in nature.  This morning I took a very slow walk to the nearby river and I sat on the bench to soak up the sounds, finish my prayers and just be in God's presence:

In addition to the challenges we also have a joy jar on the table with squares of paper and a pencil and it is openly available for folk to add something that brought them joy that day.  I'm hoping by the end of the year it will be full of such moments that we can share and reflect upon.

Whilst I was on my walk Pip was busy turning this masterpiece into thank you cards for family and friends:

Gifts From The Heart And From Friends

We decided to try a new New Year's tradition which is popular in some of the Slovac countries and that is to pick a Saint for the year.  One's goal is then to learn as much as possible about that person and emulate some of their virtues.  In addition to this I also thought it would be a good idea to claim a fruit of the spirit and work on that facet of faith.  So here is our list for 2015:

Dave:  Saint Peter The Apostle, "Lord, you know everything and you know that I love you."  Pray for the Holy Father and The Vatican.

The gift of joy.

Me:  Saint Catherine of Genoa, "Dear Children I ask you to pray every day for the souls in Purgatory.  In this way you will acquire intercessors who will be able to help you in life."  Pray for The Holy Souls.

The gift of peace. 

Pip:  Saint Mechtilde, "All those who love my gifts in others will receive the same merit and glory as those to whom I have granted those gifts (Jesus)"  Pray for the underpriviledged.

The gift of mildness.

Benedict:  Saint Francis of Assisi, "I know Jesus poor and crucified and that is enough for me."  Pray that Jesus be loved.

The gift of goodness.

When I received my gift I instantly thought of the scripture passage, 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." 
Matthew 5 v 9.

And then I thought, "God really does have a sense of humour!" because there are plenty of opportunities for daily peace brokering in this family!!  Not between Dave and I per se but between Benedict and Pip.  They are at a time in their lives where the age gap and gender difference seems to be playing a significant role.  I wonder too if Pip being at school and Benedict being at home is also contributing to these difficulties, since they no longer have any common ground.  So one of my tasks is to find and work on shared items with them both.

Peace in The Heart and Soul

In these days of strife and turmoil and perplexity,

We all need peace, the peace that heals the mind-

the peace that brings the inward calm of quiet thoughts,

the precious balm - that comes to us from worlds we cannot see.

In these days of deep unrest we need to seek a place-

where at times we can find a sanctuary-

discovering the joy that springs from good and quiet and lovely things,

and learn the secrets of tranquility.

Patience Strong

My friend a non-Catholic Christian finds peace in our cathedral church.  There is no drum kit or happy clappy music, not that I am against any of these!  The church being what it is, is very quiet and reverential and the biggest blessing of all is the living presence of Jesus in the eucharist.  That peace truly is palpable and to sit in the silence, heavy with the prayer of the faithful is balm for a weary soul.

Peace can be found in other places too ~ on a hill side, a walk through the forest and even by the roaring of the sea!  Dave finds his peace in the workshop, he becomes so absorbed in the making of the tiniest springs and levers that time stands still ~ mindfulness mediation at work.

I used to think that knitting or crochet was my peace but my time at Hyning and painting an icon changed all that.  It was then that I truly understood the peace that world cannot give.

It is good to get away from noise,

From chaos and from din,

To seek in solitude and peace

The beauty that's within.

To go into a quiet wood,

And breathe its loveliness,

To contemplate in silence

Those things which calm and bless.

The mysteries of the universe,

The wisdom of the sage,

Take some old and lovely thought

From a bygone age

And meditate upon the good

The honest and the true

This calms the mind and you will find

A blessing comes to you.

Kathleen Gillum

Carrie over at the the parenting passageway also has the word peace for her year and will be writing a series of post on that subject.  She also wrote an excellent article on the difficulties of being eleven. 

On this day of the three kings we also received a beautiful package from Dorina and family.  We were treated to yummy New York coffee and tea, knitted goodies and wonderful reading material.  Thank you so much dear friend!

Apologies for the blurry images, the photgrapher was having a whoopsie daisy day!

 Beautifully wrapped packages.

 Opening.

 Needing a little help.

 Totally Pleased!

 Another Happy Reader!  Pip's second book was about a pilgrim girl and both books are by her bed as the current bedtime reading!

 A lovely rainbow purple cowl for me which will be just right for my time in the icon studio, it gets mighty chilly in there, even with a roaring wood burner!

 A snow man birthday card for Pip from Chanda and some really sweet pink fingerless mittens.

Peace to you x