A Safe Place

I found this lovely story which I encouage you to read at all cost.

   A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: “Rising early one morning,” he said, “I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength. So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God.
   

Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God.”



A. C. Dixon

19th Anniversary Yesterday.

Yep folks Yesterday was our 19th Anniversary.  Scary thought though, seeing it only feels like a couple of years ago. Still it's great to be able to say we are still in love after all that time. The Lord has been exceptionally good to us in that time. Indeed we can simply say that He supplies all our need.  What a God, what a Saviour.  As a hymn writer once expressed, " Oh ! what a Christ have I !".    Ber is still in love with me too. What a joy she is .

I'm Sick ! I just don't feel sick!

I hate being unwell, particularly when I feel fine. I got up Sunday morning with a rash on both my arms and fingers and feet.  Came home from work last evening with a sore left foot, took off my shoes and socks and, after the house was deemed safe to re-enter discovered a number of very large water blisters. YUCH !  Went to a Doctor this morning and he told me my autoimmune system had flared up. I'm on steroids now ! He wants me to stay out of work for a few days.  I hate being out.  HEY ! am I getting any sympathy here !?

How's your hearing ?

I was reminded of something today.  It takes me back over 30 years, when I was in secondary school.  I was educated...... sorry !  dear people tried to teach me rather, in Rochestown College Co. Cork.  There was a particular priest, Fr. Aengus OFM Cap. who was the most charming and interesting person one could imagine, who was my Art teacher and I suppose my mentor.  Aengus was excellent in relating a good story and boy did he have stories !.  But, I'm drifting from what I want to relay.  I remember one time in Mass he delivered a sermon, which warned about how a message can alter when it is passed down by word of mouth.  This was over 30 years ago and while then a Catholic I would have sat through countless sermons which would have left no impact. Amazingly this one  has always stayed in my thoughts. It's quite a short story but the message is very profound as far as the Gospel Message is concerned. It goes like this.....
  " In the First World War a group of soldiers were in a trench in sight of the enemy lines. Feeling that they had the advantage on their foe, the Commanding Officer sent a message back to the troops a few miles away.  Not having any radio communications, the message was sent via Runners who would each go to a trench, give the word to another who would  then run to the next trench etc. .
     The message was, " SEND REINFORCEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO ADVANCE!".

And so this message was passed by word of mouth via many many trenches until finally the last Runner arrived, breathless but relieved at the main force which was enormous and powerful.  With a sharp intake of breath and great pride he passed on the Message to the Armys General. " SEND THREE AND FOURPENCE, WE'RE GOING TO A DANCE! "

                                                  
A Goood Story with a serious warning.  The Gospel is the greatest Message ever given to any one.  It's a message of Love , Pardon, Forgiveness, GRACE ( i.e. the undeserved Mercy and Favour of God ), with the invitation of Jesus,  "I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9
 A simple message sent out over 2000 years ago.  Have you heard the Original Message ?  Are you prepared to Advance or are you satisfied to make little of it ?  The wrong message comes with a high cost.  You can still get hold of the message as it was first given, it's called The Holy Bible. It holds a message for you today!.

I have gotten sooooo lazy!

I bet you thought I had disappeared did'nt you. Eh ! well I did. It's quite a depressing time we all are in and I find it affects my Artistic endeavours. Art is so Mood inspired.... I often wonder what kind of mood Picasso was in when he painted those strange portraits he is famous for. Someone once said that they'd hate to run in to some of his female models. Two eyes on one side of the face !!!. Me ! I just make a mess of so many canvases and cast them off as failures. However, one carries on in ones attempt to capture that "moment in time" which will result in a work of art that will make one famous. So much for One, Me I'm going off my game trying to hit that right mood that will leave me with a painting that gives me a satisfied feeling.
Got a comission for a work which does not have to be completed until the end of the year, so that gives me a bit of a boost. I should be in better form by then surely. Watch this space.

Pause 4 a Thought Today

The most familiar of psalms can often be overlooked or at best just receive a nod of acknowledgment. As I have often been reminded, it has been quoted in many a Western or War Movie, but how many people stop and consider its very profound meaning and philosophy. Just looking at the opening line opens up avenues of thought which should offer essential encouragement in discouraging days. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, " or "I shall not lack (anything)". We are in times when much of what we have enjoyed in prosperous days is being eroded. Not only is our standard of living being affected but our very security ( financial ). Many a heart will tremble at the prospect of unemployment or reduced income and having to struggle. It sounds bleak. Without the presence of its shepherd a sheep will wander close to the cliff edge and indeed could fall over at any moment. But the Good Shepherd is an ever vigilant one and rescues the sheep from destruction and brings it along the safest path, the greenest path where there is ample provision and the peaceful path where there is perfect rest. I was a stupid sheep once, thinking it was cool to "live on the edge", never realising that death stalks our steps
then one night ( March 15th 1989) The Good Shepherd laid hold on me and my life was turned around. I can say without exaggeration that "The Lord is My Shepherd" and I have lacked nothing since that day. Here's the thought for today...... is The Lord your Shepherd?, can you afford Him not to be?.

Did anybody see where the Summer went?

Has anyone seen where the Summer went !. I'm sitting here and the rain is lashing down !. It seems only yesterday that Ber and myself were walking along the various routes of The Kerry Way which seem to surround the town of Sneem. Oh the bliss of a touch of sun and clean clean air. Great therapy for City Folk like us. We were taking a chance on staying in Ireland this year, but due to certain constraints placed upon us we opted to take an apartment connected to The Sneem Hotel, for the fortnight. Gooood choice, great weather and more importantly lovely people to deal with. This is our third stay at the hotel and we have never been disappointed. One lesson learnt: do not apply the brakes on a bike when your freewheeling down a hill and turning at the same time. Ouch ! is it a bird?, is it a plane?, Noooo it's SuperBren flying through the flippin' air. As they say, the flying is fine....landing causes the problem. A cracked rib, but the camera upon which I fell was intact.


We're both back at work now and I'm already looking forward to the next break ( not another rib!) .

Ber really enjoyed the rest and I have to say I was thrilled to see her getting some of her energy back, though I think she has still a bit of a way to go. But she's still got her looks and that ain't bad.