OKness

I am working on my OKness
who for?
for the journey
for me
for you
for all
for yearning
for developing
for wholeness
for Shalom

I cannot work on your OKness
That is your job.

BUT

we could hold hands
as we journey
eh?

Hey ....... do you feel beautiful?
Do you believe you are beautiful?

I think - the answers you give to those questions, determine how you handle life.
(I naturally think - have I put the comma in the right place, I accept I am ignorant of basic things, but)
I believe I am
beautiful - imperfection.

John O'Donohue has said that the Greek word for "the beautiful" is to "kalon"
which is related to the word "kalein."
This is entwined to "call" or "calling."
So, John says - "when we experience beauty, we feel called."

Do you feel called?
Do you believe you are called?

I first started using the phrase "You are a beautiful human person" when I was working with gangs of young humans.
I struggled to love them - at first.
They were constantly abusing.
Me and others.
They spit in your face.
They lashed out physically.
Sometimes, even worse, there was no response, no acknowledgement that I existed ...........

I decided that -
God loves me
God loves them
I need to learn to love.
I need to grow as a human - in love.
Then I started to say, and write, and express in every way I could::
"You are a beautiful human person".

"The human soul is hungry for beauty;
we seek it everywhere - in landscape, music, art, clothes, furniture, gardening, companionship, love, religion, and in ourselves. . .
We feel most alive in the presence of the Beautiful for it meets the needs of our soul."

John O'Donohue
"Beauty: The Invisible Embrace,"

The beauty I see
the most powerful beauty
Is in you.

The greatest beauty is-
Is in humans.

Despite behaviour,
despite your behaviour,
you are beautiful.

The sun was setting over avalon
The last time we stood in the west
Suffering long time angels enraptured by blake
Burn out the dross innocence captured again

Standing on the beach at sunset all the boats
All the boats keep moving slow
In the glory of the flashing light in the evenings glow

When will I ever learn to live in god?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?

You brought it to my attention everything that was made in god
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything lives in god
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning and evermore shall be

When will I ever learn to live in god?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?

Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But youve got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new

And up on the hillside its quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep
And over the mountains and the valleys
The countryside is so green
Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder
You can see everything is made in god
Head back down the roadside and give thanks for it all

When will I ever learn to live in god?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?



Van Morrison

How do we encourage a free decision to talk, do the verbal, rather than explode our emotions?

What can separate humans from the animals is a possibility to chose to behave with some decision and not be controlled by spurts of emotion.

We are blessed, us humans, with prefrontal cortex, which is the thinking part of our brain that was added as an extra to humans.
You!
Me!

The cortex allows us to think, believe, hope, create and dream....to feel these precious feelings and also transpose them into positive, creative words, music, poetry and play - and more .........

"Emotions influence our thoughts and actions;
they inspire our needs;
they affect our bodies and impact on our relationships".

.

Tension::

This is only a part of a Blob Tree tool called Blob Tension.
It is new and can be used in many ways.
'That is me when I feel ....
'That is me now because I feel like ......
'That one would concern me most because .....
'That one reminds me when I was bullied ......
'That one reminds me about my frustration which is .....

You can get hundreds of such tools through contacting me via my email link on my web-site home page.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Over 200 emails in my inbox - and now only 37
I have worked hard today/yesterday.

Not much to report
external.
It has been a Bank Holiday here in the UK.
Strange quietness as human chill appears.
Then, like me, back to kicking darkness a.m..

Internal.
Always on the churn.
Churning the milk -
cream.
Churning the soul -
ends liquidity,
we thicken up,
tough and giving,
tender inside.
Feelings full,
action purposeful.
Love it.

I will go to love .............

I will be naked more
I will memorise clouds
There is no law that says you shall not study a sunset.
Beyond heavy woolens, beyond the Nightly News, beyond the
reach of what hurts you, beyond politics (national, local, sexual),beyond beyond

(From Goodby Silverstein's advertising campaign for the Norwegian Cruise Line)

Great news from Greenbelt::

Michael Franti has been booked to open the Festival - top of the bill on the first night.
A couple of years ago he closed the festival by playing the last gig on Monday night.
It was the most wondrous event - I was right up front with all the yoofs - loved it loved it.

If you have never been to Greenbelt - this is the year.
It adds something special beyond words
Greenbelt Festival is so big and much - it is an experiece not to be missed for anyone who is yearning to become.


A few days ago - Joan and me strolled through France when we visited Reims.
Strolling on the legs when there, but on the autoroutes in our Prius which was the first outing abroad by the little darling - so un-thirsty - so quiet - so iPod friendly.

That very same iPod played to us the best ever John O'Donohue talk.
I have heard many John O'Donohue talks - in the flesh, at Greenbelt, online, in the flesh, one-to-one and yet this one is one NOT to miss.
Youu can get it from Greenbelt HERE.
Don't miss the chance - download it and then play/re-listen forever.

THE BEST EVER JOHNO'DONOHUE TALK !!!!!

called:: Divine Beauty: the invisible embrace

love it love it ..........

Hey
I am aware that a Bank Holiday or a week-end of it - is not good for some humans.
Others love the break from routine.
Early mornings.
Commuting.
Thinking - even working but
some suffer more and feel some aching emerging through the cracks,
cracks on view due to a break of busyness ........

Had a roll out of bed to church this morning
followed by a quick coffee with Mr Singh,
he is a Carpenter - I love Carpenters.
He is now working on the Olympic site - did you know that is being held, in year 2012, on the Wilson Mansions Estate - a place called Stratford?

Joan and me met Sheila today at J. Sheekey for lunch,
maybe you may need a nice/extra/treat/special when you visit London.
This may be it?
It is a fish restaurant and really good.
I was sat next to the TV human, of wild life fame - BBC naturalist and presenter David Attenborough.
Also someone else I recognise but lost the name somewhere in the cloud in my head.
Also Kwame was in there and I know 'B*n*' eats there too.

Then we got home to watch our team on TV.
We were playing our biggest rival 'The Pie Eaters - sometimes called Wigin.
We absolutely thrashed them 57 - 16 ..................... hey hey.
Such a great pleasure ...........

Sooooooooooo ...... I note that all these, above, are largely FACTS which is only Level 2 Communication.
I am committed to 'L5' so that means I need to connect to FEELINGS, my soul, the washing machine in my interior, which sometimes spins ......
I am feeling ....... I have feelings about all the paragraphs above.
The humans I mention.
The places visited today.
The Saints - what a team and what thrills they give my soul.

I have a feeling about something not mentioned.
This morning when I went to the Communion rail to receive Communion -
I directed a thought to God as I knelt there.
I said something like::
'It was a big decision I made back there when I was 21 years old. That decision to be a follower. Not just having a faith. Not just a belief, but actually placing myself into a large pair of hands, actually referencing decisions. Those decisions to follow the road less travelled - that decision, at 21, has changed my life so, SO, many times'.

I reflected on the crossroads which have changed my life.
Some which meant geographical location change
(I know lots of Christians who have given their life to God, as long as they can stay at home - in their own cultural group/district (but maybe a better house - and certainly a better job!)
Some decisions were about the humans I reached out to. (Loved - I mean)
Some about the place I/we lived in.
About when I felt I was battering my head against a spiritual wall.
When I realised that I needed to change my belief system.
The limited picture I had of Jesus.
That God would answer my prayers because they were long or loud.
The massive decision to enter in to a different relationship with him.
The decision I made to discover emotions - to let myself cry .......................... and feel a deeper sense of God.
And even - to enter in/on/to a road less travelled - that was within myself.

Maybe that communion rail was another set of crossroads?
Maybe there is one before me now as I click?
I will look for crossroads - more-so from now on..............

I had forgot how it is to be relaxed
I had forgot how you feel tired when you relax
I had forgot what it was like to let things drift.

We are back from having a short break in France.
Two great days.
Aware that many humans never have a short break
never have the pleasure of breaking away from routine.
I am eternally grateful.

We had great time and when we returned to Wilson Mansions.
I was different.
I think that means relaxed.
I guess that means it has done me/Joan good.

I have been away doing gigs and stuff.
But we have never been chilled since our USA trip over the new year.

I even seemed chilled about 260 emails in my inbox
instead of the normal 100/160.
and the good thing is,
I have a Bank Holiday week-end to catch up.

Just been on Skype to a hotel in NYC,
speaking live to Sheila.
She asked to see Zig but he was out on the town.
The weather has been so bad that it has delayed her shoots.
She returns a day later - Monday.
I don't know when we will see her,
maybe when Dana is here from Canada.
Dana would like to go to Canterbury and Joy lives that way.
I must call and collect my two new pairs of Converse All-Stars - hey hey.
(If you wear them - did you know you can put them in the washing machine,
cold wash, and they turn into brand new ones!!)

Talking about cyber contact,
Richard has now found worthwhile employment in the US,
working in a homeless shelter in Seattle. Good on you Richard.
You will be a blessing and bBlessed also.

Tomorrow, after Church, we will go into London town to have a meal with Sheila,
the other one.
Joan will be away with her Mother when it is her birthday so we are having a
small gathering of three to celebrate her day.
We are going to a fish restaurant, never been before, and looking forward to seeing 'Little She'.

Monday it is Bank Holiday but I will need to flick the power switch back on,
and get back to sorting the mess out called 'life' !!
I jest - I love life.
I seem to have little admin logjams,
but life is so exhilarating and on the edge - uncomfortable.
Growth does not reside in a place called comfortable,
I want to be there ......................

I would like to thank you for being there.
Being there means I don't feel alone in my churning thoughts.
Being alone as I work it all out,
fumble, stumble, peer, breathe, be and become.

I believe you are beautiful,
from surface to core.
Everything beneath the mask.
Especially in uncertainty,
in vulnerability,
in your specialness,
uniqueness,
beauty-full-ness .....................

Cafe du Palais in Reims, Champagne, France.

Two hours drive from Calais and we were in the Hotel in the centre in Reims.
Bottle of Champagne in the room.
First stop was this cafe - 'since 1833' it says.
It is a bustling street cafe next to the bus stops.
We sit there with a glass of Champagne,
people watching,
connecting with the waitress who loves to talk English.
Nice teeth too.

Then we shop.
I target a shop which sells ink of a certain colour for my 'always with me' pen.
I get six boxes.
1 euro each.

We love it here - a treat to be away.
One great thing,
just falling asleep on the bed.
No work to do,
no washing,
no computer working,
no TV worth watching,
distractions - nil!
Love the simple things.

Then a meal out in Frenchland.
Simple tonight,
tomorrow is a Michelin Star restaurant!
We finish off in a bar,
guess what,watching football!!

That is day one,
only two nights here - but love it,
refreshing the soul.
Talk talk talk.

On the journey down,
Joan was up for reading a chapter of a book I am reading about school 'behaviour management'.
It sparks a great discussion as we drive, because it triggers an analysis of ourselves.
About others too.
Amazing talk talk.

Back in the bedroom now - must find a place to post this tomorrow,
cyber cafe come on ...................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and I didn't find one as May 1st was May Day and a Bank Holiday in France - all the shops were shut.
So I chilled
we did some great things
now I feel tired because
I am home and relaxed
and must go to bed
switch on
tomorrow zzzzzzzzz