Funeral

Went to a funeral today- supporting a friend.  In fact, a family that my family has been supporting.  So I guess today I could be an observer.  I had met the person once or twice before he passed away, but as I said before, I was there to support a friend.

It was my first experience at a non-religious service; an experience I found both unsettling and sad.  Being a Christian and regular attender at church services, I am used to the structure of a christian service.  I know where I am and where the service is going. It was also sad because there was no hope.  Meant to be a celebration of a life well lived, it became a remembrance of a loved one now lost forever.  Nothing wrong with that I spose, but so sad.  No hope of seeing them again in heaven.  No hope in God and His awesome promises and power.

I am a ‘people’ person- I do not like to see anyone in pain.  To see someone you know crash into tears is hard for me to see.  I am ‘wired’ to want to help, assist, comfort.

Where am I going with this?  I don’t know.  Maybe I just needed to get some of these things out of my brain and into written form.  All I know is, I want my funeral to be a true celebration- that I am home with God.  That my friends and family can celebrate the same hope and faith together.  That we will see each other again.

This blogging thing

Am starting to get frustrated!  I've started to read other people's blogs; get an inkling of an idea or the overall gist of the post- want to blog about it, but then can't connect the dots coherently.  I've now got 2 posts brewing but all I've managed to do is write some really wordy and useless dribble.  Am I trying too hard?  Probably.  Either that or not patient enough.

And I thought I could change the world- or at least my little patch of it.

A friend blogs!

There is a new blogger on the block. He's not only a friend but my brother too. Seems I still have some older sister persuasion techniques up my sleeve!

You can check out his blog at: http://discojoevx.wordpress.com/

Weddings

On May 22 I wrote, what I called, Song for Today .  On that day, as on other days in the past twelve years, I was mourning my singleness, and wondering if I would ever meet 'that special someone'.

Today I was reading Postsecret and came across a postcard that I would normally easily relate too. But today is different- I don't know why but it is. Do I want to get married? Yes. Have I met someone? No. Maybe it's the hope/change thing I've been thinking about lately.

Maybe I've just decided that life is for living and I can't postpone it waiting for 'him'. (Don't get me wrong, I may collapse into a heap of self pity tomorrow or the next day/ week/ month, but for today, I'm ok).

Change is good.

Last update on change (well for now anyway)

Some of you might be glad to know that my posting on change will be stopping for now.  I didn't get the job.  I'm in the middle of being disappointed and trying to be positive about it all.  In hindsight (all 24 hours of it) it was a huge distraction.  It seemed to affect everything I did and was always at the back of my mind. 

At the beginning of the process I was concerned that I would get my hopes up for nothing.  But I don't think it has all been for nothing.  Change has happened- not what I was hoping for, but change nevertheless.  What it is I'm not too sure.  And that's ok.

Context and change

As a beginner blogger I appreciate all the comments and suggestions I can get re blogging. David pointed out that I need to put some of this stuff into context. I tried, but I'm going to have to work on it. Please be patient with me.

For more reading, the journey starts with Musings on Change.

Next update on change

I think the word really should be WAIT! Change, if it's even going to happen, is going slowly. Two days later and I'm not so worried about the interview- well I can't change my responses anyway. Am wishing though that I clarified one point. Oh well.

Why a blog?

I don't know. Just something I had to do. Had to get past the 'what a great tool- how can I use this?' question.
Been reading 'Blob' and came across some great comments about blogging. David writes:

You see a blog is primarily something you HAVE not something you USE. In fact the outcomes from blogs GROW from interaction, they are not manufactured by forces – market or otherwise. Blogs are RELATIONAL not merely TRANSACTIONAL. And nobody in a relationship likes to be USED.

Because blogs grow things, that’s another reason why a blog is like a garden, grown in a field, called the Net.

You can read the whole article here

Stokes Bay, June 2005

MVC-852F

Originally uploaded by Jane Adamson.

As promised, a photo from Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island.  I spent ages watching the waves crashing.

Christian Pastoral Support Worker

Well we have our new name.  No longer School Chaplains (well not until term 3).

Does it feel clumsy?  Yes.
Does it feel all wierd?  Yes.

In the end, it doesn't really matter what we are called.  What an awesome privilege to be able to work in the school system and support the staff and families whose children attend.