- taken the car for a service and then collected it again;
- sorted through all my toiletries, thrown out loads of old stuff, cleaned the bathroom shelves and put everything back on;
- done 3 loads of washing;
- had 2 snoozes.
I’m about to multitask cooking (OK- defrosting and re-heating) my tea, clearing out some books and watching T.V.
I’ll let you decide which bits constitute “doing a Smudgie”!
from a really fantastic long weekend in Norht Norfolk. I had a fantastic time with a friend exploring the marshes and the coastline. I’ve got weird shaped patches of sunburn on my back (where I thought I’d covered everything exposed with sun cream but had actually missed some bits) but I’m very glad to have had the time away. I’m in the middle of a 2 week holiday from working and now have a couple of days to get the car serviced, get my hair cut and “do a Smudgie” (ie clean and tidy the flat) before my parents arrive for a couple of days at the end of the week. No doubt this means you’ll be hearing much more from me in the next couple of days!
This is a poem I wrote today.
It’s not in its final form and still clunky in places but I wanted to let you read it anyway.
Sorry for the lack of proper blogging recently.
I am OK, though just tired and busy ( and having a few emotional ups and downs, but surviving)
The Bible tells me so!
Jesus of course,
when he walked this earth,
when he had arms and legs
of flesh,
and blood, real blood
pumping in a beating heart
like yours and mine,
was always at great pains
to let the people know
what worms they were,
how worthless in the eyes of God.
Before reaching out
to the touch-starved leper,
didn't he spell out to him
his insignificance within
God's universe;
make sure he knew and understood
a three point sermon on his sin
and worthlessness
before that contact,
skin on skin,
that made him whole.
And he made sure
blind Bartimaeus knew
the cruel schoolboy taunts
he heard each day
were just his due;
that just like so much dross
his blindness really served him right;
– before he finally
restored his sight.
Surely you know,
how remonstrating with
the adulterous woman,
he made it clear her sin
put her beyond such common courtesies as
mercy, grace;
the halting of the stones
was but his whim
capricious pleasure
or a greater cause
but truly she was not worth much to God.
But children knew
and children came
and saw within his laughing face
the promises of so much grace
that echo down the ages.
So do not be surprised
if you can hear
that child who knows so much,
one day rise up within
and so declare
that she will enter in
his kingdom;
that hearts redeemed and welcomed
albeit sand and mud
are notwithstanding
cherished,
children shining like so much stardust
in the heart of God.
