Hi Folks,
And welcome to my offering of Friday Feelings.
I don’t know about you, but my emotions have been a bit all over the place this week.
I watched a video about the crisis in Madrid, and the poor doctors running out of ventilators, and having to make unbelievable decisions, and it broke my heart. The man on the video was crying, and so I imagine was everyone who say it.
But I have also received some really heart-warming stories of people looking out for each other, and finding ingenious ways of lifting one another’s spirits.
Without a doubt, when we have got through this, our priorities will have definitely changed.
Social Media has been a lifeline for many, and there is some great stuff to be had. But there is also some nonsense, so beware!
But the nonsense is not confined to new social media. I have been reading a book given to me years ago called The Little Book of Calm.
On the back cover it says ‘The little book of calm is full of advice to follow and thoughts to inspire.
Open it at any page and you will find a path to inner peace’.
So I thought, this sounds great, let’s give it ago. Each page has a HEADING, followed by a simple description.
So I opened up by chance to ‘SINGLE OUT SIMPLE PLEASURES.’ Approach something with your full attention and an open mind, and you’ll find pleasure and complexity in it. A bunch of grapes, or a glass of water, or a field of grass, or a sky of clouds. All of such things can lead to calm.
Beautiful, I liked that, so sat and contemplated on a field of grass, my mind moved to our lovely mountains, and I felt great.
So let’s give it another go. I opened up to ‘WASTE SOME TIME’ Hard working people never waste time on frivolous, fun filled activities. Yet, for hard working people, any time spent this way is far from wasted.
loving it. I just went off to do a magic trick, and film it for the grandchildren. This is great, I am feeling very calm. Time to dip in again.
‘START CHRISTMAS NOW’ It probably took a lot of trial and error over the centuries, but Christmas Carols and lullabies have a unique ability to soothe.
Well, I am not doing that one. Christmas in the middle of Lent. I have enough Carols in December, and I certainly don’t want to sing them to Sandra today. No, let’s give it another go.
‘PLAN YOUR WORRIES’ Put aside a certain amount of time each day – at the same time each day – which you devote to sorting out your worries. When the time is up, stop worrying.
Well that one is nonsense too. Can you imagine looking forward to 3 O’Clock worry time. Oh **** there is a pandemic of disease and the economy has crashed,, and I am stuck at home, and my holiday is cancelled and I don’t want to even start on start on what might happen next.
3.05pm Ok, That’s better. No, sadly that is another nonsense one. Try again.
‘GO LIMP.’
I am not even going to bother writing that one out!!!!
‘BREATHE LESS’ A deeply relaxed person breathes only 5-8 times a minute.
Breathe Less – you must be joking. Breathe less! I want to get all the air in my lungs for as long as I can. Just imagine giving out that advice at the moment! Hi Folks, we have a few issues going around at the moment, so we are just asking you all to Breathe Less.
This book is beginning to get on my nerves, but in the interest of perseverance I shall keep going.
‘WEAR DONALD DUCK UNDERPANTS’ Choose a few childlike accoutrements to remind you of the irreverent, uninhibited, joyous side of life.
Yes, quite like that, but I don’t have DD pants. I did have some once with a picture of Nicholas Parsons on them. Dressed in a cassock with his legs kicked up high. We don’t want to go there.
Back to the book.
‘PRETEND IT’S SATURDAY.’ That’s all is says. But I am not doing that, because it might be Sunday, or Tuesday, and I really like Fridays. No, that one is stupid.
‘PRETEND YOUR HUMAN’ Leave it to others to be perfect, to be wonderful. Be content with what you are.
Well I like the sentiment, but I don’t want to pretend to be human, and am human, and knowing that is good enough for me.
‘LEVITATE’
Levitate! Who is this guy. Come on Marcus, down from the ceiling, your dinners ready! Can you imagine.
‘SELL YOUR WISTWATCH’ Have you ever noticed how relaxed you feel the moment you remove your wristwatch.
No, I just worry about what the time is. Imagine, OK Folks at Calpe, the service will start when I get there, but I have no idea what time that will be, and the clocks go forward this week, so anything could happen. This is getting on my wick now.
‘DECLARE TODAY A HOLIDAY’
How can I do that, and who am I going to declare that to, and will they take any notice.
Sorry boss, I declared today a holiday, so you will have to do my work yourself.
For crying out loud.
‘RECOGNISE ADDICTION’ Recognise addictions for what they are, and find an alternative.
Oh right. Is that all you have to do. Why hasn’t anyone ever thought of that. I shall tell that to my 12 step friends.
This bloke is really getting to me now. Little book of calm! I am getting more cross by the minute!
‘LEAVE TOWN’
Sorry mate, but we can’t go out.
‘SMELL THE BLOOMS’
Sorry mate, but we still can’t go out.
‘SIT IN A CHURCH’
I would love to, but WE CAN’T GO OUT!!!
‘WEAR SENSIBLE SHOES’.
I would if I was going anywhere, but my slippers are fine for the foreseeable future.
‘START TEN MINUTES EARLY’
Oh I give up! How can you start ten minutes early. Most people won’t be there, the previous people won’t have finished, and imagine you are a bus driver. Everyone would miss the bus then be late.
Sorry to say Little book of Calm, you are full of nonsense. I could think of a better title.
But I tell you what, I am going to have a go at dipping in to another book, and see what I can find.
‘DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, AND DO NOT BE AFRAID. Jn 17.1
‘PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU. I DO NOT GIVE AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID. Jn 17, 27
‘I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE SAYS THE LORD. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIE, WILL LIVE, AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE. Jn 11. 25, 26
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’’ Jn 13. 34-34
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5
And of course I could go on.
But there we have it folks. There is some good stuff out there, and there is some that is not so great. But we have our scriptures, and of course they can’t be beaten.
Bless you, Keep safe, and count your Blessings.
As ever,
Fr Marcus