by tashmcgill | Apr 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
Toward a Holistic Christian Spirituality
By Wilkie Au, S.J
“Being on the Way Is a Way of Arriving” (Chp 8)
“As in other human journeys, we reach the destination of our spiritual pilgrimage only gradually. However, there is a paradoxical nature to the spiritual sojourn. While alive, we will never fully reach our goal of union with God and others. Yet, being on the spiritual path is already a way of attaining that end. God is to be enjoyed not only at the end of the search, but all along the way. The Christmas story of the magi illustrates this truth. God was present to them not only when they joyfully arrived at the cave in Bethlehem, but also in the original stirrings that sent them off in search of the promised messiah. God’s presence was also experienced in a guiding star that directed them through dark nights and in a dream that warned them of Herod’s threat. They experienced God’s support, too, in the encouragement they gave each other throughout an uncharted search that took them miles from home. God is more present to us than we think.
Our search for union with God is lifelong, often a strenuous trek punctuated by dark passages. If we are to persevere, we must take courage in God’s abiding presence all along the way. Even as we are traveling toward God as destiny, Emmanuel is already with us in manifold ways.”
by tashmcgill | Apr 4, 2008 | Uncategorized
it takes a long time to love
cos love is a creeping vine
entangles and entwines you
and it likes to take it’s time
gets deeper with each winter
each sorrowed autumn drought
and the spring rains in September
they give seed to love itself
when first you thought you ever knew him
and years before you did
there were glimmers in the heart, before the loving ever starts
just a whisper you belong here
safe within his strong heart arms
and the chuckle of surrender along a girlish tender laugh
when first i knew you love was hurried
a faint and grand idea but it’s settled on my secret heart
your name, and love has grown there
five long summers in six years, broken dreams along the way
whilst i thought once had loved so truly
our true love grew on the way
call me home within that strong heart
where I’ve shared some sorrows too
and the joy of our long love dear, is what brings me home to you.
and when i’m far from you remember just how deep this love has grown
i am yours now, all entangled and your strong heart is my own.
it takes a long time to love
love likes to take it’s time
might take an hour every day for six years in a row
might take a full moon and a promise when love starts to grow
leave time love, for the fighting, for wounds to heal a mite
and the love gets better for the depths of it, the loving’s better for the scars
keep a picture of the heart in envy
take one in ecstasy, and let them both live in the memory
so you see what love can be
take me home into that strong heart,
to the only home I know
and make me laugh dear, with the memories
of the long road home to here.
i built this hard, love, with my fierce heart
i refused to let you go, once i realised what we were dear
what love we have become.
they might ask me why a strong man, when i could have asked for less
but i’ll say i wanted heart, your strong heart that loved me best.
we work so hard to make a life but the love is big enough
and that’s why it is so hard at times because the love is much too much
it took so long to learn surrender, my truth, but i learn it from your arms.
by tashmcgill | Feb 20, 2008 | Uncategorized
…Choosing Your Words Carefully
I got slammed the other night over my choice of words. I am still trying to decide if it was a fair call or night. There are two teams that I operate in, and I was praising the relationships, atmosphere and ownership of the project of one team, to a member of the other. Said member, felt that my commentary on one team also housed a negative bias on the other. The basis of the argument is that because I’m a ‘crafter of words’ (his phrase, not mine), then the standards set for my words are much higher. His expectation is that I put the same amount of effort and craftsmanship into all my words and phrases.
The truth is, it’s just not so. I’m lazy, unstructured and unmotivated to construct all of my words so well. So lesson for the week, leadership is choosing your words well, regardless. Because it’s in the listening that you can’t rely on others.
by tashmcgill | Jan 31, 2008 | Uncategorized
“Funny huh, that when the direction becomes clear, the path seems muddy. it always seemed as though the problem was getting my head around whether youth ministry was where I wanted to go. Now that I figured out the answer was yes, i wouldn’t have the foggiest idea how to get there.” – Tash McGill, 7 June, 2002.
Oh I live in a land of regrets
oh there are a few but mostly i forget
the names, the places
it’s just the feelings I remember
and the look in your eyes
of complete surprise, I always took you by surprise
Parachute 08
Parachute festival was its usual malachy of 3 days covered in dust, music and good times. I was helping out a little in the artist liaison team, as well as programming. A number of bands had issues with itinerary planning, communication and luggage. Namely, instruments not turning up, or getting there just in the nick of time. It was a great pleasure to meet a couple of bands from across the ditch, namely my new good friends Mark The Sky and Modern Joy.
I thought that a couple of a venues lacked real personality, and the headliners really failed to grab me but music is about the people as much as it is about anything else and the connections that get made between folks from all around th world are really precious.
Thankfully the installation that we have been working on for World Vision went really well, including an interview with Parachute Band. It was so good to put on my radio shoes again.
Eastercamp
Things are in full swing and now we get to look forward to pulling it all together. I’m delighted with progress.
by tashmcgill | Jan 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
Simon says..
“Someone paid an enormous amount of money to put an enormous picture of a fork in a sausage outside our office window. That says a lot to me about the average intelligence of the general population.”
