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slum shaped Christianity

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Staff getting engaged!

‘God is in the slums, in the carboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.’

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wanderlust

Place: Milkd

Poison: Ginger and Lemongrass Tea

Favourite Things: Learn Thai Podcast

wan’der.lust’: A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel!

If I could choose one word to define my mood today it is wanderlust. I have such a strong desire and impulse to travel. Not because I want to run away, because I feel stressed or because I want to be somewhere else. Purely and simply because travel inspired this creative soul and being a tourist, experiencing new and crazy sights and sounds totally sets my inspirator on overload.

This last weekend, Penny, Rose and I became tourists in our own city, having a weekend away for Penny’s birthday. Becoming a tourist in your own city is a way to fight off wanderlust, however another way that I surrender my heart to this desire is by going to my local library and borrowing fiction and non fiction that will take me somewhere exciting.

Later in this year we are travelling to Thailand, so I got out every book on the shelf about thailand and was filled with Wanderlust.

Hmmm, the world is magnificent and wanderlust is a lust to wonder, ponder and discover places of the planet.

Up for it?

I am

A

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because

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Mac

Favourite Things: The pelting rain

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I went for a long walk this morning in my new parka, (because it is pouring with rain in perth) and I have been really challenged by the word ‘because’

When I was a teenager, I am sure my mum will passionately tell you my response to most of her questions was ‘BECAUSE!’. Said with much attitude, disrespect and bubbling anger.

Today though only years later, (okay maybe decades), I am using this word to define my choices in life and to help me define what I am truly living for.

Living with the word because helps me decide truly what I should, would or could be doing, because…

Living with a because for me means…

I was born because…

I won’t do that because…

I want to cut back on spending because…

I will go through the pain of publishing another book because…

I challenge others to live a bigger life because…

I watch Oprah because… (SMILE)

Life for me is no dress rehearsal and although popular culture professes the love of Hinduism and all things reincarnate, I believe I’m not coming back and the uniqueness of my being is not replicable.

So I live with ‘the because’ firmly planted in the front of my mind because…

What about you?

A

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Inspiration from a slum

Place: Milkd (YAY!)

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Miss Elly

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Last night I was priveleged to have dinner with Ash and Ang Barker from UNOH (Urban Neighbours of Hope), who live and breath and inspire others in the slums of Bangkok, Khlong Toei.

I am so inspired by the way they live their life! We are taking a team of creatives up there in December this year, to help and serve in any way we can.

Jen my sister has started a costume drive, which excites me right down to my creative core. Ang has groups of teenagers and children who learn dancing, however when they perform their dances, she finds costumes from the slums, (most of which were created for prostitution!) and thats what the children perform in.

We are collecting these costumes and taking them up and teaching dance and drama to the children so they can express their creativity with dignity.

If you know anyone who has a room full of costumes in the back shed, if you know of anyone who would be up for sewing costumes, get them in touch with us and we want to donate these costumes to the children so they can dance with pride!

Inspired.

A

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downtime

Place: My mums

Poison: Green Tea

Favourite Things: Hot Water Bottles with yellow fluffy covers

After a month or so of craziness, it has been so lovely to just ‘be’ with my family.

I found a quote by John Ratey ‘It’s an addiction…some people cannot deal with downtime, quiet moments. Without it, we are in withdrawal.’

I really love downtime, however it is totally a choice to go there. I think times of rest enable us to cope with so much more.

The pace of society is so extreme, so to stop and ponder life, love and family needs to be extreme also.

I believe it is not the decisions made in the race of life that truly make a lasting impact, but those pondered in the quiet moments with a glass of red by the fire.

As I sat tonight I reflected on the substance of what I want my life to be made of, the substance and depth of my character. Although I get it wring so often its those times of thought and contemplation that steer the ship, not the quick moves of the wheel in times of high winds.

I so long to make a lasting impact.

God change anything that I may be focusing on, that is a waste of the preciousness of life.

hmmm

A