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Christmas is in the air… 8 November 2009

Posted by sydcatholic80 in Christmas, healing, inspiration.
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Well, somehow my blog stats have been screaming ahead. My site has never been so popular.

Unfortunately, its not for the reason I put this blog together, and only really because  I have an old Christmas article with a Christmas photo up.

But it does prove people are definitely thinking about Christmas already. Tonight I was around at my friends house. He is literally the Spirit of Christmas! For the last 2 months he has been working on his fruit mince, and I must say, his fruit mince pies are the best I have tasted! He has already ordered his Christmas Tree, is looking at lights and decorations, and been planning Christmas dinners and recipes.

All this makes me think, how am I going to prepare myself for Christmas this year?

Most years it manages to whizz by without me having put any real soul into it.

This year I want to have a Christmas resolution: to make sure I contribute something positive during this season. I would like to connect more on a spiritual level with season.

It’s sad that is such a busy, commercial event. We have forgotten what it really is all about.

At the same time, I continue to struggle with my life, trying to find some meaning in it.

Maybe there is some connection.

At least Christmas isn’t necessarily a misery as my ex felt it was. That should have been warning enough for me to have avoided going down that path. Hindsight is 20/20. If only….

Below some stats graphs to illustrate what I mean about the sudden spikes:

A return… 3 November 2009

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I have kept away from here for a long time now. It hasn’t been an easy time…

I haven’t been keeping tabs on this, other than to reply to emails I have received, or comments people have left.

Seeing Christmas on the front page and with Christmas fast approaching, I thought I should do something to correct this.

I’m sorry I don’t have any inspiration to write at the moment, but I hope to have something here soon.

Josh

 

Christmas is here again 17 December 2008

Posted by sydcatholic80 in Christmas, love, prayer.
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Once again, Christmas has raced around. For most it is a time of joy and happiness. A time of festivities and decorations, laughter and good food. A time to be with family and loved ones.

Nativity

Nativity scene, courtesy of http://blog.scuolaleonardo.com/

Yet, we must not forget those who are alone or homeless this Christmas. For some of those people, this time of year can be extremely sad and painful time.

The most important thing to remember, is why we are celebrating at this time of year at all. It’s not the commercial feast that the secular world proclaims. It’s a time to remember the birth of Jesus. It should be a time to reflect on the past year, look at how we have lived our lives, and see if we can become better people.

 

The biggest gift  we can give is our love and goodwill. There are things we can do every day  to remember the forgotten people. Smile at people in the street, the assistant serving you in the shop or restaurant. Try to be cheerful. Pray for those people whom you know are hurting at this time of year. And never forget why we celebrate at this time of year.

Merry Christmas

 

Josh

Calling for contributions 28 November 2008

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Hi all.

I was hoping to find people to help contribute with content and discussion.

If you’re interested, please drop me an email (can be found on the about page).

 

Josh

7 months on, has anyone found this site useful? 27 November 2008

Posted by sydcatholic80 in Uncategorized.
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Well, I know I havn’t written much lately, so I was curious to see whether its worth continuing this blog.

I’ve posted a poll below.

Josh

Sunday Message – 12/10/2008 13 October 2008

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A Creed to Live By

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us are special.

Don’t take fore granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life.

Don’t let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future,
by living your life one day at a time you will live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn to be brave.

Don’t dismiss your dreams: to be without a dream is to be without hope;
To be without hope is to be without a purpose.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget where you have been
but also where you’re going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way. 

Sunday Message – 21/09/2008 21 September 2008

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Todays message from the bulletin:

Mourn too, with those who suffer:
with the sick, the lonely and depressed
with the anxious and those who have no friends
with the apparent failures of the world.

Be aware of them, care for them as best you can,
suffer with them, pray with them, weep with them.

Such real compassion brings its own reward,
of acceptance, trust and healing.

Give, and there will be gifts for you:
a full measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over,
will be poured in your lap;
because the amount you measure out
is the amount you will be given back. 

Sunday Message – 31/08/2008 3 September 2008

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Your Cross

The Everlasting God has in His wisdom
Foreseen from eternity the cross.
That He now presents to you
As a gift from His inmost heart.
This cross he sends you,
He has considered with His all-knowing eyes
Understood with His divine mind,
Tested with His wise justice,
Warmed with his loving arms.
And weighed with his own hands
To see that it be not one inch too large,
And not once too heavy for you.
He has blessed it with His Holy Name.
Anointed it with his grace
Perfumed it with His consolation.
Taken one last glance at you
And your courage.
And then sent it to you from Heaven.
A special greeting from God to you,
An alms of the all-merciful love of God.

St Francis de Sales. 

RIP Mark Priestley 28 August 2008

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Well, this morning I felt like titling this post “Disappointed” with the body “…that I woke up…”, because it was honestly how I felt. I went to sleep last night hoping for that outcome.

I guess however, things were quickly put into perspective. In the news today, an actor in a popular Australian medical drama “All Saints”  was found dead, reportedly of suicide due to depression.

He was only 32.

Rest in peace Mark.

 

Mark Priestly

Mark Priestley 09/08/1976 - 28/08/2008

Disconnected… 27 August 2008

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Just something I was feeling, thought I should write it down.

How many of us go through life with blinkers on?

It is a complete shock when you fall off the road, and when you pick yourself up again, if you have had an epiphany, all of a sudden you find you don’t fit in anywhere anymore. You look at the road you fell off, and know that you can’t get back on there, and you don’t really want to in any case (putting aside nostalgia, romanticism or regret). You could if you wanted to choose ignorance again, and pretend you didn’t discover life wasn’t meant to be that way, but otherwise, the past is closed to you.

Alas when you look around, there is no where else for you to go either.

That is where I am now.

I have no idea which way to turn, or in what direction I should be looking in.

There doesn’t seem to be any place for me to turn to.

This is isolation. This is loneliness.