A few of my friends read my blog and once in a while they provide content for it. I got the text underneath from Elizabeth and was touched by it. I straight away snapped out of a bit of a down feeling and thought "cheer up girl, I am not supposed to feel down. Feeling a bit tired and having teenage kids who are on a different wavelength (in the Mars region) is completely normal.
I am a very privileged person. I have a family who is healthy, I have friends, I have enough money to do all the things I want, I have a job I like, a nice home, I live in a beautiful country, I can do things I love like blogging, tramping and making photos. I am very privileged. There is a Reason for what life gave me and I owe it to give back to live. The least thing I can give back is to be happy and be alive so that other people can be too. I challenge you to do the same and be inspired by the following and bombard you with smiles if you want it or not :0) :0) :0) :0) well 4 will do.
I am a very privileged person. I have a family who is healthy, I have friends, I have enough money to do all the things I want, I have a job I like, a nice home, I live in a beautiful country, I can do things I love like blogging, tramping and making photos. I am very privileged. There is a Reason for what life gave me and I owe it to give back to live. The least thing I can give back is to be happy and be alive so that other people can be too. I challenge you to do the same and be inspired by the following and bombard you with smiles if you want it or not :0) :0) :0) :0) well 4 will do.
artwork in Addington, Christchurch
A brief for the defense
Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere. If babies
are not starving someplace, they are starving
somewhere else. With flies in their nostrils.
But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants.
Otherwise the mornings before summer dawn would not
be made so fine. The Bengal tiger would not
be fashioned so miraculously well. The poor women
at the fountain are laughing together between
the suffering they have known and the awfulness
in their future, smiling and laughing while somebody
in the village is very sick. There is laughter
every day in the terrible streets of Calcutta,
and the women laugh in the cages of Bombay.
If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,
we lessen the importance of their deprivation.
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world. To make injustice the only
measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.
We must admit there will be music despite everything.
We stand at the prow again of a small ship
anchored late at night in the tiny port
looking over to the sleeping island: the waterfront
is three shuttered cafes and one naked light burning.
To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence as a rowboat
comes slowly out and then goes back is truly worth
all the years of sorrow that are to come.
Jack Gilbert, from Refusing Heaven
are not starving someplace, they are starving
somewhere else. With flies in their nostrils.
But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants.
Otherwise the mornings before summer dawn would not
be made so fine. The Bengal tiger would not
be fashioned so miraculously well. The poor women
at the fountain are laughing together between
the suffering they have known and the awfulness
in their future, smiling and laughing while somebody
in the village is very sick. There is laughter
every day in the terrible streets of Calcutta,
and the women laugh in the cages of Bombay.
If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,
we lessen the importance of their deprivation.
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world. To make injustice the only
measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
If the locomotive of the Lord runs us down,
we should give thanks that the end had magnitude.
We must admit there will be music despite everything.
We stand at the prow again of a small ship
anchored late at night in the tiny port
looking over to the sleeping island: the waterfront
is three shuttered cafes and one naked light burning.
To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence as a rowboat
comes slowly out and then goes back is truly worth
all the years of sorrow that are to come.
Jack Gilbert, from Refusing Heaven
Thats great.... it is the little things that help us survive the major issues in life.
ReplyDeleteand life in NZ is pretty damn good.
Love the artwork - I often eat at the cafe across the road from it :)
Wow. That was a wonderful challenge. Indeed, let us fill our eyes, our hearts and minds with God's glory instead of darkness. If we have to sit in darkness, it is good to be a light.
ReplyDeleteI just read the last post. Very interesting. Makes me wish I was there.
Without these moments of surprised delight one probably wouldn't have the strength to continue .
ReplyDeleteHello, and thanks for stopping by my blog. Your beautiful words are inspirational and I'll remember to wear a smile all day tomorrow, and maybe the day after that too :) :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100% Marja!!
ReplyDeleteI also feel I live such a privileged life and want to give as much back as possible while I am able to.
Love the photo, it certainly made me smile. :D) And YOU my friend make me smile too.
Big hugs
Peggy xxxx
I've been in a funk all week and more. This definitely helped show me the way out.
ReplyDeletethoughtful post.. good write up.. and even inspiring.. guess your job is done... that is what the writer intends to achieve.. way to go!! good post
ReplyDeleteI have a great life but need to give more back. Great post Marja!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo and eye-opening verse.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photo,Marja and a thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are feeling better. Teenagers can be a real drain on us at times.
ReplyDelete