[autumn fashion]

It has to be done once. The fashion review of the season.
Today I was absolutely mesmerised with this Hermès website.
So inspiring. After some browsing, and
visiting this Exhibition I'd so want to do something
with fashion again.
Most of the new stuff at Urban Outfitters reminded me
way too much of our childhood in the 80's and 90's
and therefore I can't yet quite take it seriously enough
that my eyes would have adjusted to think of it
as fashion.
But there were some items that caught my eye.

Anglomania Wool Drape Mac

Malababa Tan Agate Clutch

Silence + Noise Soft Origami Skirt

[how a thief had been robbed]

and a burst of reality
like water from a duck's back
and a realisation that you are beyond my control
and not even any ability to even guess
and so out of reach
and it felt exhilarating
you come back to me when you want
and if you want
and it feels like flying to Neverland
and with you
I feel as found as I was lost
Am outlines that get content

[prayer for today]

A friend of mine send me this in an email this morning. As lots of us, myself included, 

are on the cusp of new seasons here, I found it appropriate. It is a prayer for new life in transitions, from the Common Prayer book by Shane Claiborne &comp. 

Lord help me now to unclutter my life, to organise myself in the direction of simplicity.

Lord teach me to listen to my heart; teach me to welcome change, instead of fearing it.

Lord, I give you these stirrings inside me. I give you my discontent. I give you my restlessness. I give you my doubt. I give you my despair. I give you all the longings I hold inside.

Help me to listen to these signs of change, of growth; help me to listen seriously and follow where they lead through the breathtaking empty space of an open door.

Amen.

[the day]

On the day when God made ​​you
He did not have to bother to do much else
Got up early, took a pen to his hand
and started to draw

Day wore on, but a moment's rest
the Great Maker didn't give himself
Like in ecstasy, because He wanted you 
The Master crafted ​​you

A beautiful image
Oh, a miracle indeed
Form Divine and better inside
And next to the image he noted that
the laws of mortals won't apply to this one

For those who still doubt the Creator
I say in response,
That, if they even once would see you
They would not have a chance but believe


Anna Puu: Mestaripiirros 
My own free translation

[to learn]

can't do much for the world
but find myself from the mirror/
and live from the heart
with desire and passion/
serve those
who come to my path
with overflowing joy/
to love them without
term or condition
or a small print at all/
and to stand up again
if I happen to fall/
swim faster
if i happen to take a dive/
For the "Glory of God is
a man fully alive."/

[What Pollutes Your Life]

It is said here, plain and simple. What is in our hearts determines what comes out. That's why we need to guard our hearts. That's why we need out hearts to be healed. That's why we need to take good care or our hearts, be gentle and kind to them. Heart is the core of our being, it is what we believe of ourselves, or others and of God. What do you believe in your heart this morning? Does your heart feel lonely, rejected, left out, jealous or proud? Does your heart feel joyful, peaceful, satisfied, loved, excited? 

After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way from Jerusalem, criticizing, "Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?"

But Jesus put it right back on them. "Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God's commands? God clearly says, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.' But you weasel around that by saying, 'Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I've given to God.' That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God's command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah's prophecy of you hit the bull's-eye:

   These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
      but their heart isn't in it.
   They act like they're worshiping me,
      but they don't mean it.
   They just use me as a cover
      for teaching whatever suits their fancy."

 He then called the crowd together and said, "Listen, and take this to heart. It's not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up."

Later his disciples came and told him, "Did you know how upset the Pharisees were when they heard what you said?"

Jesus shrugged it off. "Every tree that wasn't planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots. Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up in the ditch."

Peter said, "I don't get it. Put it in plain language."

      Jesus replied, "You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that's neither here nor there." Matt. 15: 1-20

["Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."]

It really dawned to me this morning, perhaps the most deathly of all sins is pride. I've been reading the Gospels from the Message translation and enjoying the joy, revelation and power of words Jesus speaks. Words of life, words of freedom, words of transformation. Strict words against self-righteousness and religious systems, obligation, control or isolation.

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt. 11:27-30

[7. The Sun And The Moon]

Daniel broke the king's decree,
Peter stepped from the ship to the sea
there was hope for Job like a cut down tree,
I hope that there's such hope for me
dust be on my mind's conceptions
and anything I thought I knew
each word of my lips' description,
and on all that I compare to You
the preference of the sun was
to the south side of the farm
I planted to the north in a terra-cotta pot
blind as I'd become, I used to wonder where you are-
these days I can't find where you're not!

mine's been a yard carefully surgace level tended
foxes burrowed underground
my gardening so highly self-recommended,
what could I have done but let you down?

the sun and the moon,
I want to see both worlds as One!

mine's been a vivid story, dimly remembered
and by the hundredth time it's told, halfway true
of bad behavior well engendered
what good is each good thing we think we do?

find a friend and stay close and with a melting heart
tell them whatever you're most ashamed of-
our parents have made so many mistakes,
but may we forgive them and forgive ourselves

the sun and the moon are my Father's eyes


                   -mewithoutyou