I have been tagged by
http://bimbimbie.blogspot.com/ to give eight random facts about myself. In turn, I would like to offer the challenge to
http://cornflower.typepad.com/domestic_arts_blog/ and
http://edaleputt.blogspot.com/I have no way of knowing who has been tagged in the past, so if anyone reading this post would like to take up the challenge, please feel free to do so :)
Being flexible is one of my key principles in life. To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go go creating oneself endlessly.
I am an incurable optimist by nature, always looking on the bright side of things, which my husband says is a euphemism for 'idealist'. My husband, on the other hand, is more of a pessimistic nature, but he prefers to think of himself as a realist.
I would describe us in this way... I am like Tigger, full of insatiable energy and bouncing around. He has a strong tendency to be like Eeyore, with his, 'Oh, no! Not another rainy day!'
Whenever I get too 'high', he tugs on that invisible cord between us and brings me back down to earth. Whenever he gets too 'low', I pull him back up again. They say opposites attract. I'd say it's that magical thing called love :)
My maiden name is of Norwegian descent. It means 'Fresh pastures at the top of the mountains', as in the story of Heidi, when she took the goats to the fresh mountain pastures after winter. No doubt my ancestors were Vikings who came to Scotland and settled on farms, though a few of my relatives are sailors.
For moments of relaxation I like to do su dokus and crosswords, though, when I have a longer spell I love to sit and read through some of my favourite poetry books or browse through my collection of art books too, especially paintings of Turner, Titian, Rembrandt and Caravaggio.
Artistic expression has always played a major role in my life, so much so, that I feel I am full of restless creativity. I was born with the gift of being able to turn my hand to most things, which means I am never bored.
Light is important to me. Light is knowledge. Enlightenment is about the lightening of the mind and the spirit. For me, light has a spiritual dimension. I like things that are lighter, brighter, more colourful and happier...and, therefore, full of laughter.
I am a Christian. In this complex mystery we live in, nothing makes sense to me without my faith. It colours my attitude to everything I do in my life, from how I have dealt with personal adversity, such as my mum's gruelling death from cancer and my brother's life being cut short by unscrupulous men, to my attitude to giving to others less fortunate and learning to forgive.
I believe faith's greatest challenge comes, not from intellectual argument, but from a heart broken by grief and despair. While knowledge may make a person look big, it is only love that can make one grow to full stature, and we are mature only to the extent that we can love.
I believe we are the stewards of the earth, and that we should do all we can to leave the world a better place.
Faith and doubt march in a holy crusade against a common enemy - absolute certainty.
I agree with Martin Israel when he said that love is the keystone of the arch that joins the soul to God.
My favourite prayer is by Michel Quoist.
Lord, I have time,
I have plenty of time,
All the time that you give me,
The years of my life,
The days of my years,
The hours of my days,
They are all mine.
Mine to fill quietly, calmly,
But to fill completely, up to the brim,
To offer them to you, that of their insipid water
You may make a rich wine such as you made once
In Cana of Galilee.
I am not asking you today, Lord,
For time to do this and then that,
But your grace to do conscientiously,
In the time you give me,
What you want me to do.
Amen.
