Thoughts for the New Year

Thanks to all those who commented in the last post.

Here are some new questions for 2009.

What is the one thing that you want to accomplish this upcoming year?

What is the one thing that you would like to see happen? (a very general question)

What are your thoughts?

Many people stumble across this blog for a variety of reasons from all over the world. What I would like to do is invite all who read this to simply, and even anonymously, post the answer to this question:

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW?

The topic is whatever you are thinking!

So, is this what Christmas is about?

A while back I had the opportunity to read the story of Brian "Head" Welch, who was the guitarist of the band Korn. Here is the book in a short version...from the website I AM SECOND...

http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Brian_Welch/

So, is this what Christmas is all about?
Thoughts?

Kenya Update.....

Just in.... please remember Bernie and Celia in your prayers.

"Dear Friends and Family

We received the very sad and shocking news that Josephine, our senior teacher at the school, died last night. I only just found out yesterday afternoon that she was very ill and I phoned her straightaway. She was in the local district hospital waiting for the results of an X-ray they'd done on her chest. She was breathing in short breaths and sounded terrible. She told me that last week she had suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and then was unable to stand or walk. At the hospital they told her that her heart seemed to be getting bigger but they didn't really have a clue. I urged her to go to the mission hospital at Kijabe (about 40 minutes away from us) as it's a much better hospital. I was very worried about her and had a sense of foreboding. I rang her again in the evening when I knew that our cook, Joram, was going round to see her.

She was back at home. It turned out that they couldn't find anyone in the hospital to read the X-ray results and wanted to keep her in hospital until such a person turned up. She told them that she wanted to leave and try to go to Kijabe Hospital. She sounded better on the phone and told me she was planning to go to Kijabe Hospital the next day. I then received a call at 1.15 am telling me that she had died. Her husband also called me at 6 am to give me the news.

To be honest, I feel completely devastated. Josephine was more than a teacher in the school, she was a dear friend. I used to have lots of chats with her and trusted her and valued her wisdom. Somehow, after you'd spent a little time with Josephine you felt that the world was a better place. She had a strong faith which amazed and challenged me frequently. The children at the school also loved her: she was fun, caring and so concerned about each child's progress. I will miss her terribly. I know that all of her colleagues at work feel the same; we don't know quite what we're going to do without her. I wish that I had known about this sooner, I wish that I had done more, I wish, I wish. I feel full of self recriminations. We managed to rescue her at the beginning of the year during the clashes, so why couldn't we have done something to stop this happening?

If this is the way that we feel, then how much worse must her poor family feel? She leaves behind her husband, Philip; little Marianne, 3, who was coming to our school; Winnie, 8, who is Abbie's best friend; and Sharon, 14, her eldest daughter. Josephine and her family became intertwined with our lives especially from the beginning of this year when she came to take refuge here after the violence. Her family has suffered so much this year, they lost everything they owned and now they've lost their wife/mother. It's too sad.

The other day I dreamt that a Tsunami was coming. I was trying to warn people to get to higher ground but no one was listening. Maybe this is it. It certainly feels like a tidal wave has hit us. One thing is for certain: Josephine is in a place now where she won't be having to face life's Tsunamis anymore. I just wish that we could have got everyone to higher ground with this one.

It has surely been a tough year this year. And now, after we say goodbye to a colleague and friend, we will have to start looking for a suitable replacement, a task which fills me with dread.

Thank you for listening.

God bless.

Celia"

The Meaning of Christmas?

OK…we can now rest for a month until parliament reconvenes. So, I am changing the topic:

Every year as we approach this season we call Christmas, I ask a simple question... “What for? What is all this for?” I do not want to sound like a scrooge....maybe I do.....wait, I guess I must only be happy if I am spending money on something that no one really needs or wants!
What for? I guess this is what Christmas is all about!

Watch the video, and would love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K14c4NGuhDI

Prorogue

So, our government has moved to prorogue Parliament. Here is a new thread to express your thoughts...

Your thoughts on Canada?

With what is happening in Ottawa right now places us in a unique position as Canadians in this moement of history. I know that our spiritual community is made up of all types of political leanings and I tend to stay away from mixing the Bible and the Pulpit...but now, I would like to hear your opinions. (Tastfully)

Thoughts?