My book to learn from can be a scrapbook magazine or reference book, or a cook book, or a basic guide to something. I’ve tackled the idiots guide to politics, travelling the world, designing your own backyard, lots of handicraft books, autobiographies, how to write the great Australian novel. Its exciting how much there is to learn!
My books for pure entertainment are frivolous things; the less brain required the better. I especially love old Harold Robbins, or Jackie Collins. You get the idea! These are what I turn to when my brain is tired. I’m so used to reading before I sleep that these are a perfect remedy to drift to sleep by. I do tackle other crime solving, mystery type exciting books, but I know what I’m like and I can’t afford to be lying awake all night with my nose stuck in a gripping read!!!
And then there’s my soul food. My Bible has always had a place next to my head where I sleep. Sometimes there’s been a little layer of dust, but that reflects the changing tides of my life. (It’s dust free at the moment!) I’ve walked with the Dalai Lama, visited the Seat of my soul with Gary Zukov. That men are from mars, women are from Venus makes sense to me! Dr Phil has helped with relationship rescue. I thought if I spend time and feng shui’d my home maybe I’d find the contentment I’m seeking. I’ve enjoyed reading of other people’s journey of faith. I know what’s amazing about Grace!
But my greatest sense of inner peace, contentment and joy has always been in meditative handiwork. I’d not realised until recently that it was my time of prayer.
It’s common for many women that we sometimes can’t find twenty minutes of uninterrupted time. It’s during those times of busy hands that our minds become free to wander. When others see that we are occupied, they leave us be. It can be as mundane as ironing, or knitting or crochet. (Or for us scrap booking or card making) the simple repetitive actions of our hands free our minds to wander.
In the centre of our home, in the heart of the family living area I have carved out a space for my craft. It’s the crossroads room, where everyone passes through to go to another part of the house. It has the highest traffic of any room in our home. It’s there that I sit surrounded by clippings and snippets, colours and patterns to create my legacy to my family; and my mind can drift away!
I count my blessings, and think of all the fabulous events of the day. I think of my hubby and sons and contemplate their journeys of the moment. Then in my mind I travel to other family, and to friends, to events unfolding in the world. I smile to myself at the stories of divine intervention, and place in context the ills of the world. In front of me, amazingly a project is completed, almost without being aware of it.
I always have an ear open for the family. I overheard the other day from one of them. “Wait til later, mum’s in her Happy Place”
Take care, God Bless and enjoy your Happy Place!
Love Linda
A little snap
shot from our last retreat
