January 2006

Well, here we are. Happy New Year! An interesting expression that... rather like "hello, how are you doing?""
It's not one of those things to which we expect an answer. What does "Happy " mean? We all get" New Year" - obvious by the date, but happy?
To some, happy may mean success - in work, relationships, finances, etc...and the list goes on. When one gets to the verge of dotage, happy may mean good health, and fewer episodes of the syndrome OMC [ongoing monentary confusion] .
This is a condition that can be induced at will. It is characterized by short term memory lapse, inability to form complete thoughts or sentences, a general sense of vagueness, and is a useful means of avoiding any unpleasantness.
So whatever your new year happy dance is, may it continue for the duration of the year. Oh, and another thing....sorry, i seem to have misplaced a thought. Perhaps it rolled under the couch. Until next time may you be richly blessed in the days following January 1,2006

Seasonal Kindness

Morning. Quick one today... try to brighten someone's day with an act of random kindness.
Yesterday up the street, in a block-long line of traffic, a mother with a carfull of kids was trying to enter from a side street. I decided it would be nice to let her in, so I stopped.

The suprise and relief on her face to get into the traffic was a small gem of joy. She smiled and waved appreciatively.

In itself, a small gesture, but it was a brief moment of connection and kindness which blessed someone else... a nice feeling , really. How wonderful it would be if that same spirit of geneosity would last all year.

In this season take a moment to reflect -"She will bear a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus [The Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God] (Amplified Bible Matthew 1;21)... there IS a reason for this season.

May the Lord's peace, grace, provision and protection be with you all.

Till the new year,

MartinFH

Dim Reflections 3

Whinge: TV weatherpersons . Sorry, but most are talking heads. What is required are more cultured and uplifting presentations. An hypothetical example in the lofty style of ABC, BBC etc..( to be read with sombre tones and well modulated voice:)
"Good evening. The Bureau of Meteorology, after a period of intense study, reflection, evaluation, examination and scrutiny have released the following statment in respect of atmospheric conditions for the period ahead. The Bureau advises that there will be occasional darkness after midnight. This will be accompanied by the accumulation in the atmosphere of extensive cloud cover, resulting in the plummeting to the earth of droplets of rain. This will cause moisture to gather atop dwellings, vehicles, lawns, and exposed surfaces. It is anticipated this activity will cease with the advent of increased illumination after sunrise."
I find that presentations such as this are comforting, as we are being taken in to the confidence of the Bureau, and have a warm fuzzy glow resulting from the reassurance that the Bureau is looking out for us. Such comfort enables , in fact- empowers us to reach quality decisions about our wardrobe for the day to come.
Have a nice day. Take the umbrella-just in case.

Dim Reflections 2.

Good Morning. Today's Rant: Furballs. Cats. Felines. P....y. No ,don't get me wrong. I don't dislike them, but they are a different order of pet. They are sly, almost devilish, cunning, and above all, are incapable of a genuine , sincere relationship.They are manipulative, selfwilled, and filled with cattitude.
I had a cat once, well actually more than once, but on this occasion the black& white furball was clawing the couch. As I had wood floors, I introduced the furry fiend to the art of bowling, and gave him a ride on his backside down a long corridor into the wall at the other end. "That will teach him," I thought. Sure enough. When I got back from work, the cat had pulled all my shoes out of the cubboard and scattered them all over the floor. Score: 1-all. Now in my dotage, i reinvent definitions of words with cat in them: catastrophe=prize for top cat. catalog=object in the kitty litter. catapult=device to launch felines in to space. catacomb=feline grooming device. As you can see, it is now time for my medication. have a nice day...and remember to fill the water dish.

dim reflections no. 1

December. The month of reflection. The season of review. Looking back.
Looking ahead.
This season we'll omit the new year's resolutions- those 7 day promises that lie in crumbed tatters with the leftovers from holiday culinary excesses.

Rather, be encouraged. The new year will soon begin on the bright uplit plains of promise and potential. Gasp! no more of such etherial sentimentality! The new year will begin on January 1. As someone once said "If you wake up breathing, you have another chance."

By the way..let's all try to be more tolerant, forgiving, kind, and tear up the rear vision mirror of the slights of the past year. There's no point dragging the past in to Jan. 2 and beyond. If we don't carry grudges, our load will be much lighter!
Have a healthy, (in all areas) new year! Martinfh in Australia.