What’s the Story in Dalamory

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.

Kierkegaard

Otherwise known as bird cherry, and very common around the rivers in Argyll. Absolutely beautiful.

Here is the flower in close-up.   

Here she is – looking very pleased with herself.

My usual bedtime reading consists of biographies, journals, diaries and so forth……usually so that I can read a few pages and drift off happily to sleep. Not so this week. I have been reading Daughter of Isis, the autobiography of Nawal El Saadawi. Not only is the language and style of writing compelling, but she draws the reader into her story at several levels and on different time-zones. Brilliant. Must think about trying one of her novels soon.

Incidentally, she has some interesting ideas about God for someone who supposedly purports to be against religion. She likes the idea of god as a God of Justice, and sees God as being resident within each person as well as the collective consciousness of the group. Sounds like there is a lot of sense in it. I can imagine the writer of the gospel of John saying Amen to that as well.

A recent picnic spot where the Clyde is barely more than a gentle stream. What you do not see from this shot is that the motorway and all its rush and bustle is behind us.

Forgot to mention that I shut a car door on my thumb last week. I stood looking at it for a few seconds before happily realising that I could open the door with my other hand. Self-restraint was the order of the day because grandchildren were near. Anyway, the said digit turned into a comedy thumb after a few days so a visit to the nurse was required. Turned out that I needed antibiotics for an infection. Our local post office person gave me the sticker.

My desk and in-tray are covered in paper and bills to pay. A traditional paperclog as I am inclined to call it. I have said before that it surprises me that such things still happen, even though I am retired. How lovely then to read in my Sacred Space reader for today……that I should slow down, look around me and allow myself to experience the healing nature of God.

The best thing is that it works.

Have overdosed on too much election comment. Thus today is a rest day……time to enjoy the last of this spell of good weather.

Misty enjoyed her first barbecue yesterday. She had home-made beefburger and rice.

This week I also finished You Can’t Take it With You by Jane and Mike Tomlinson.  I am attracted to people who achieve great things against all odds, but must admit to being astounded at Jane’s simultaneous fight against terminal cancer and determination to take on great sporting challenges.

I am not quite sure whether I am intimidated or inspired though, and that feeling is obviously reciprocated by some women who are suffering from breast cancer and feel unable to fight so hard. Nonetheless, Jane and Mike’s story is worth reading and is also written in a very readable form, with sections of autobiographical chapters from each of them.