An Inner Sun

Hello there, readers. I hope you find yourselves in fine fettle this day. The above pics were taken a few days ago, during Amanda’s second visit to The Stratford Butterfly Farm, Warwickshire. 

Throughout the months of winter, I am confined to my bed for the greater part of every day. Counting bare branches on the rain drenched chestnut trees standing tall outside the house. Grounded, like a caterpillar – anticipating fondly that day when the sun will smile kindly again upon our northern climes. Summer brings the promise of improved mobility, and although I can’t without difficulty leave the confines of our house, the garden is my patch of eden. Here I spend the long, warm days, counting numberless leaves on branches attired – until the sun must travel south again. Optimism is an inner sun, whose yellow rays will rouse our frozen wings to life.

We are all born, like the caterpillar, with the capability of becoming something extraordinary, and beautiful.*

Until next time, strive to be happy. Amras.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

— Helen Keller

* https://amras888.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/divine-elegance/

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

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Be Prepared

 

Here we are with part two, gazing once again at sleek and shiny machines. Mercedes Benz World is located in Surrey, England. Here you can learn how cars work, take advanced driving courses, or just have a go in a fast car. You can even step inside a grounded Concorde and look around.

Because I am housebound, Amanda holds the keys to the family car. That’s her in the red jacket. I haven’t been able to drive since I became disabled, and I miss it a lot. During the work and school runs, every red light was an opportunity for a silent prayer. Every long traffic jam, a chance to catch up on some reading. Phone calls were private, and I always got to choose the music that best suited my mood – bonus.

When I was a boy scout, a very long time ago, I was told a story about a boy who took the trouble to ask himself how he might respond if he should witness an accident. It happened that one day, when he was riding in a bus, it crashed, and although he wasn’t hurt, many elderly passengers were. It was he who ran immediately to the nearest telephone, and called 999. He then administered first aid to the injured passengers – using shirts for bandages, and neckties for slings, etc. He worked until the emergency services arrived. Tributes aside, I feel that this boy’s greatest reward was in the satisfaction of knowing that he had successfully marshalled an effective, and well prepared response to the emergency.

In my job, I worked with injured and disabled people every day. I met many good folk whose active lives had come to an abrupt end. And, as I mentioned some time back, I grew up with a severely disabled brother, (who is coming to see me later today to celebrate my 66th). Therefore, and not that I don’t complain aplenty, I do endeavour to face my own trials perhaps more stoically than I otherwise might have.

Ok, I hope you enjoyed our two parter, and that you are also enjoying things in general. The world may be a sad place today, but nothing lasts forever. ‘For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave’ – and universal balance will return. We know this because circumstances have called us to stand firmly in the light of humanity’s highest values. The darker the shadow, the brighter the light. Those who know that heaven is real, can love their way across the battlefield, and then we, as one family together will light up the skies of dawn.

I think I’ve written enough for now. Thank you to all who read, follow, and comment. I hope to return soon. Until then, peace from Amras.

Do not place treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moths and corrosion disfigure and where thieves break in and steal. But place treasures for yourselves in Heaven, where neither moths nor corrosion disfigure and where thieves neither break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.

Matthew 6 – 19

 

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

The Red Carpet

Greetings. How beautiful is this world: created for us.  I can never find words adequate to describe the wonder of being alive. The red carpet is rolled before the feet of a monarch; and are we not, each and everyone of us, the anointed monarch of our own lives? To take these pics, I need to be driven into the forest, which is otherwise within walking distance. From there, I lean against the car, or hobble for a few feet, using my trusty walking stick to save me from an undignified tumble. On this occasion, as you can see, the said carpet had been prepared in advance. The local church, atop the hill, crowns the forest. I enjoyed immensely the job of taking these pics, and hope sincerely that you enjoy viewing them.

I want to take this occasion to thank everyone who drops by this blog. Your visits are appreciated thoroughly, and may I say too, that your blogs are always inspiring to me. So, despite the howling cacophony that thunders on without, peace is real, and is found only within. And within every blog I read, I sense a longing for that peace to be shared.

May those of us for whom peace is the both the destination, and the path, be ever more mindful of this truth in the crazy days just ahead.

Hoping as ever to return soon. Namaste, and peace from Amras.

 

Every time you take a positive action on the basis

of a high-level consideration, you establish

certainties of courage, self-assurance

and skills.

A.E.vanVogt.

 

 

 

P.S., It seems that scoundrels are attempting to charge money online for photographs and original artworks from this site. Do not be duped.

 

Photography©Francis Moloney.

Line of Sight

Roads go ever ever on

Under cloud and under star,

Yet feet that wandering have gone

Turn at last to home afar.

Eyes that fire and sword have seen

And horror in the halls of stone

Look at last on meadows green

And trees and hills they long have known.*

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Namaste dear readers, and welcome to all new friends, and followers.

I took the above pics in 2007, from my wheelchair, somewhere in Devon, England. My legs a seat, four wheels my feet, I always need a push. On that day, my wife, son, and brother each took a turn at pushing me. For days like these I feel truly very grateful.

While life on the outside flows with fresh challenges, I will never allow myself to forget that place of stillness on the inside, symbolised by this chapel, standing alone in the fields.

And though the journey be a noisy one, I will always keep that silent chapel in my line of sight.

Until next time, Peace from Amras.

 

When you become aware of the presence within, you awaken from a deep sleep.  You become aware of the beauty around you.  Things that once seemed a burden are no longer a burden.  You become aware that nothing is yours and yours alone.  You are aware that all things and all people belong to God.  You know you are his child and you see that if you are a child of God, all others are children of God.   

Gerald O’Donnell .

*Tolkien.

Once Again

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Around these parts, we have had some surprisingly cold weather  during recent weeks, and this fact has been somewhat challenging. Summer though, returned just the other day, and it gave me enough disposable energy to go a-pic-hunting.

I return again therefore with photos to share. Although posting is difficult while my computer suffers its own set of disabilities, my camera is working just fine; so please enjoy the freshly taken pics above.

Peace, and Namaste to all, from Amras.

Let the love within reach out to all without.

Photography ©Francis Moloney.

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