All is meaningless....except

 So my daughter suggested that as a family we read through the book of Ecclessiastes. I had trouble spelling it just now. Anyways some may be familiar with the content but for those who aren't it pretty much considers the meaning of life. The useless chasing after the wind. It sums up our existence between birth and death and what we do in between. In other words after birth we grow and toil and accumulate, fight, hate, love, gather and then we die. A chasing after the wind. Meaningless! BUT its only meaningless until we consider whats next. This life isn't it. As a matter of fact this life is the prerequisite for the next. The only way to the next is through Jesus Christ. The sooner we realize this and embrace the promised life  through repentance, then our toil and gathering, work and pain, our joys and suffering will we all have purpose through our loving Father who created us to do good works. Good works that are meaningful works. Good works that doesn't pay for a seat, but are a by product of our love for the Father who already guaranteed us a seat by His blood. So when we believe and accept HIS payment for sin then All IS MEANINGFUL!

Toodles

The Spiritual Balance

 I recently pondered on my emotional state, reactions and feelings of just about everything and what seemed to impact me the most. Whether its due to hormonal imbalance,(ahem peri-menopause) age, lifestyle changes or just a lack of the most fun things I often reminisce, I seem to find my thoughts and feelings quite disheveled and sometimes completely susceptible to the outside world.  I have read, "Change the way you think and you change your life." In a sense I agree very much with this statement. The Bible seems to endorse this urging true followers of Christ not only to follow his commandments but to think on things that are praiseworthy and true (Philippians 4:8) and to walk and live according to the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit of God brings assurance and peace that does not adapt to the outside world but remains in its purest form despite all around us. The mind then is the center, the battleground in between flesh and spirit and will act according to what its being fed. So whether its daily affirmations, positive thinking or more importantly the Spirit of God, if this becomes our constant source for our minds, then feelings, emotions and our deepest thoughts will be healthier stronger and more at peace, giving us that spiritual balance we all need.

Toodles

Weird or Misunderstood

 Don't you just find that most people seem weird. Social interaction is becoming less natural and relating with each other seems more of a task than a welcomed practice. Saying good morning to your neighbor, small talk when we find ourselves in a similar predicament, helping someone rather than recording or just showing genuine care and concern for others are becoming norms of the past. We complain, we hate, enforce rules rather than understanding, we lack the love and patience which are the pillars of any community and the community is slowly ceasing to exist. Ok so keeping it real, Im in a multi diverse society, with different cultures and perspectives, the people beside me are weird, the people behind me are even more weird and the those who take a stroll at the same time as me weren't taught manners growing up, or have since thrown manners through the window. Have I misunderstood them, maybe. God knows I wish thats all it is... but I do believe the more we live on our phones in isolation the weirder we become. Natural organic social interaction is no longer natural but has become a weird awkward occurence that we would rather avoid  . Ahh Well...

Toodles

Two Opposites

 One child is goal oriented. She spends her days thriving to achieve only the best, goals and deadlines are real. Measuring up, proving one's self, only the best, failure isn't welcomed, a perception of whats commendable and noteworthy and ahhh the joy of success. Having a perception of what isn't up to standard  and how could one be even remotely happy with that. In all of this, if there is some laughter and enjoyment then its perfect.The other lives her life for experiences. Shared togetherness, fun, laughter, artistic creativity, people, places, music, her goal is to live and love. In all of this lets mix in a little bit of achievement but whats more important is that she enjoyed it. Two opposites for sure. At my age Ive come to realize (wisdom should take credit here) that a little bit of both with the former relenting to the latter and God being the ultimate focus and guide is key to real JOY and peace . Not happiness, JOY. Thats all one really needs.

Toodles

The outside world is important

I thought about this. Its a feeling of being alone and wanting something soothing, soul satisfying, a deep yearning for something more but not quite sure what that something is. The uncertainty comes from the fact that you have your family maybe a friend here or there you occasionally meet for coffee, whatsapp family connections and the once in a while somewhat enjoyable Netflix binge series that you struggle to get through towards the end. Thats good, I think but is it enough? Theres still this longing and I believe its the need for the outside world. A community of vulnerable people be it friends family or strangers, who share in each others lives and experiences intermittently. The random but frequent meetings, the smiles, greetings and sharing of life in ways that we laugh cry support and grieve together. In ways that feed our souls. In raw, unfiltered, authentic ways. In ways that strengthen us so we can go back to our nests refreshed and filled ready to pour.  I need this world. 

Toodles

Wars and Rumours of Wars

 So its been a strange week with Dubai caught in the war between Iran Israel and the US. The whole Gulf Region is in protect mode. The uncertainty looms and life has shifted into what feels like "what the hell". Someone described Dubai as the band that kept on playing while the Titanic sunk. Not sure how I feel about that statement but it does make you think about what the possibly outcome could be. So whilst I have a healthy concern for this whole debacle, Im using this time to really exercise some hard core trust in God alone. Not knowing what will happen but trusting that whatever happens it will be ok because Gods got this! Feed your faith and your doubts will starve themselves to death.

Toodles                                                   

The Little Girl with the Paper Doll

 I had a paper doll when I was eight years old. I remember it clearly because it was my most prized possession. I played with it carefully and regularly, enjoying every style change not wanting anyone else to handle her because she was so fragile, after all she was paper. I remember this because this doll made me so happy. Once I had her everything was just right. I never minded that I was by my myself, in fact I never needed anyone else, never craved anything else and knew as a matter of fact, that me and that doll was enough. Got me thinking, what has happened now? In our modern day lives, we just cant seem to be satisfied no matter what we have, always needing the approval and acceptance of others and constantly killing our joy with comparison. We need to find our paper dolls, we need to find ourselves.

Toodles