Dancing Guy + News + Cop21 + Lessons...

December seems to be racing away on us. Zoom. This 3rd week in advent has been filled with lessons, learning and has lit up some bright new experiences…

NEWS ARTICLES + READING
Some of my favourite articles from this past week are below...

1. Dancing Guy Caught On Camera >> CLICK HERE   +   Watch Video >> CLICK HERE
2. Canada’s Support for Refugees >> CLICK HERE
3. Faithful Gay Couple Welcomed in Detroit Parish >> CLICK HERE
4. Jesus Had 2 Dads Sign >> CLICK HERE
5. Chisel Skills, German Craftsman & a Christmas Tree >> CLICK HERE   +   Watch Video  >> CLICK HERE

---

The book SELLING ALL continued to be my reading focus this past week. Some areas highlighted:
1. The choice of commitment - Permanent vs Perpetual…
Permanent (descriptor of lifelong commitment) vs Perpetual (freestanding, unchanging substance or condition, usually qualifies movement)… “I am a perpetual learner no matter how much I know” (p 95)

2. Distinguishing between the vows as legal obligations and as poetic and prophetic language. The bible is really a book of metaphors, with large deep meanings. The 3 vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience can be metaphorical in many ways too.

3. Importance & development of relationship with Jesus Christ as central to Religious Life.
“The person whose experience of Jesus is such that it draws her out of herself, beyond herself, in a movement of unitive desire that consumes all that she is and can be to the exclusion of any comparable or even mediating love of another human being feels the need to commit herself to him by the irrevocable gift of her life.” (p 81)

This is a real development for me over the past few years, and definitely more so over the past year. I guess as a young fairly secular person it’s easy to hear the world Jesus and think of that crazy guy standing on the corner spouting out "Jesus Saves". But really, when you look past that guy on the street and look past that hesitation and fear you feel you can then open your heart, learn and get to know Jesus as teacher, as person, and learn from the metaphorical book called the Bible.
I have been and i’m sure you will be astounded by the wisdom, knowledge and love that the ways of Jesus can bring into your heart and soul. Just like Buddha for Buddhists, Jesus is a teacher for Christians.

Standing on the corner for that guy is the way he express’ himself... i can't judge, it doesn’t make it wrong. But that’s his choice, his way. My advice; FIND YOUR WAY. Look beyond the craziness, fear or hesitation you feel. You’ll be glad you did…

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.” (Matthew 7 : 7-8)

---
COP21
"It's hard to overstate the importance of what happened in Paris over the weekend: Ministers from 195 countries adopted by consensus a legally binding agreement to fight climate change. The Paris agreement aims to help the world abandon fossil fuels this century and, specifically, stop global warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius and, if possible, below 1.5 degrees. "
>> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
I was asked this week by Caritas NZ ((Julianne Hickey))  to create 3 images to help promote the wonderful news from Paris and emphasize our view on the situation intertwining Laudato Si..
My 3 images are below + >> MORE HERE

---

EXERCISE
I’ve been really enjoying trying to challenge myself a bit more with Yoga. doyogawithme.com has been and is a free wonderful online Yoga class solution. I would highly recommend checking it out.
Walking and running continues to be part of my daily routine. MAKING time in the morning to get outside is crucial… Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy spirit.
Some pics from my walking and exploring Sydney adventures are below.

---
VILLAWOOD
Ministry day this week was again at Villawood detention centre. It's a hard time of year for alot of the detainee's. Being apart from family and friends is tough. Unfortunately too one of the new visitors seemed to ask alot of questions. It was hard for me because that's not how I act when I'm there. It's really important in these situations not to ask, but just to listen, just be present. If the detainees want to talk, let them. But if not, that's ok too. Letting your actions speak first is crucial. Focusing again on what I CAN do; I CAN go there, share a laugh, a smile, some food and remind them that all that is needed to walk in patience and stay positive, 1 day at a time.
As we say in Maori "Kia Kaha" (Stay Strong), or in Maltese "Ghamel Kuragg" (Have Courage).

---
LESSONS LEARNED
- FIND gratitude and seek positive goodness in all you do. If a guy can dance and be happy when picking up rubbish - why can’t we all be like that?
- FUNNY-NESS and humour are all around us. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Play music, dance and smile.
- FOCUS on forgiveness, look at yourself and understand that the ways of others are not your own. Let them be them, and let you be you. Shine on...
“Let us show this love in our acts. Bearing with one another. Forgiving & forgetting" 
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop