Fragile

Thanks so much for trying to understand @Dimity

****

Just paddling my canoe

With a lot of Boohoo (anguish and grief)

Underneath

my coping persona

Trying not to frown

Or only be a sad clown

Grateful for the opportunities to be real

As I cope with life's latest deal.

Too much for me to feel

At the moment.

@Lozenge Just saying hello. I like many of your posts.

(Edited by moderator)

Community does take time, and not just numbers to develop. Some continuity in personnel is essential. New upgrades are not necessarily better, if a lot is lost in the process.

(Edited by moderator)

I hear you @Appleblossom .

Commiserations.

Here's Handel's Art thou troubled? for you.

https://youtu.be/Sqv5wnBMIag?si=-49mT-ri6EvNMQRN

By the way, there seems new practice re tagging staff. I hesitate to say "policy" as it's unannounced, and has been denied in posts. I've sent feedback on this and other matters (Edited by moderator)

Do you know Eliot's Journey of the Magi? "no longer at ease here..." but in hope.

Take care

Dimity

Love these reflections on faith being a form of patience... in a brief extract

@Appleblossom 

‘Glimmerings are what the soul’s composed of’: Letters between a poet and a theologian - ABC Religion & Ethics https://www.abc.net.au/religion/miroslav-volf-christian-wiman-letters-on-faith-poet-theologian/107000826

oh @Dimity

Thank you for being you. I think of you as a soul sister, not a phrase given lightly. Hard earned, over time, with lots of relevant sharing of depth and resonance, and similar tastes. Whatever happens with the forum, look after you.

I love the Handel and that his songs are in English. He is important to me for having a European musical sensibility, but putting English words to his music (as well as his recorder repertoire). Singing the Messiah was a profound help for me; putting words to religion and feelings, in a different way to the Australian, fairly Bogan English, I heard aound me in my low socioeconomic teens. Can you believe my first record was Machine Head by Deep Purple! I was trying hard to fit in! haven't listened to it for nearly 50 years. Now I just love that Richie Blackmore is happy to credit Beethoven for his Smoke on the Water riff. lol The lack of intelligent conversation, drove me to be a good girl and do my physics homework. lol I did not come across much good English while I was young.... and the Messiah, not til my mid 30s.

****

Yes, the 3rd last line of Eliot's poem.

"Metoo.... Not at ease".

.....

"At the end we preferred to travel all night,

Sleeping in snatches,

With the voices singing in our ears, saying

That this was all folly...."

****

The Religion and Ethics article is good. I have valued reading various philosophers and theologians over the years, including Nietzche decades ago. Perhaps it was because I taught Catechism as a teen, and received teaching notes from the diocese, and we had a coupole of seminarians involved in our youth group that I was able to distinguish my mother's narrow dogmatic approach as just hers, and not definitive, especially given I had so many people step into the mothering of me... fosters, social workers, aunts & nanna. Recently I had a theology book printed called Suffering by Dorothea Soelle. Nup not spending money on hairdressers or fancy clothes... we all have our funny habits. lol

Somehow, I sit between theist & atheist positions.

Thanks for your support @Emelia8 The 2 of you created a sense of community in your unique ways. Hugs.

My cat has been curled up on my lap for over an hour. I dont like to disturb her, but will need to get up soon.

Good Night and thanks for being there.

@Appleblossom 💞👋

@Emelia8 Hoping Hannah is alright... and U2 of course

Thanks @Appleblossom yes we are both okay thanks. Hannah a real blessing. I am very tired, just not sleeping. Been seeing my psych regularly to talk thru a few issues.

Here is a pic of my adorable Hannah.

She is pretty adorable @Emelia8

I am glad you are both well.

I had a surprisingly good day today. I had 3 events, which was very busy. At each one I had a deeper sense of connecting with people. So I am starting to feel a sense of belonging. It has been slow in coming, but feels satisfying.

I'm glad @Appleblossom , because to feel a sense of belonging is such an important thing. 💗

Very glad to hear you had a better day @Appleblossom . The Soelle book looks intriguing. In my tidying I've rediscovered some Nouwen and other theology. I'm slowly getting back to reading, a great relief and possibly an antidote to despair (anecdotes as antidotes?)