Tuesday 15 September 2015

beating the bullies

Lets talk about bullies.  Perhaps I need to write Bullies with a capital letter since it is a big issue.

The dictionary defines bullies as follows:

noun
  1. 1.
    a person who uses strength or influence to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.


verb
  1. 1.
    use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force them to do something.


Now I disagree strongly with the term "those who are weaker" - many bullied people are not weaker.  They are very often strong, talented and great people.  You do not bully someone only because they are weaker, you get bullies who bully someone simply because they believe they themselves are stronger and better and they get a false sense of accomplishment and a huge ego boost from this. 

Many bullied people don't fight back.  There are a number of reasons for this.  If this is physical bullying they may desist either out of fear or because they are no match.  Mental or emotional bullying however is different.  A bullied person may simple step back because of fear, misplaced respect or in many many cases concern for what the outcome or retaliation or consequence may be for standing up to the bully. 

So if you are being bullied - find someone you trust and speak up.  And if you are witnessing bullying, stand up and speak up. 



till soon 
c'est la vie 





Friday 11 September 2015

Mary's house and me

I am looking at Mary's house. 

A bit below the ground we just walked on, stands what remains of it. Discovered centuries ago and identified by a then inscription on the wall, "Hail Mary", it stands inside the church, simple and at once immensely emotionally overwhelming. Such greatness in such simplicity.

I am looking at Mary's house. 

An altar stands in the entrance inscribed "Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est" - "Here the Word became Flesh"- as our Priest said, here is the true centre of the world. It is not defined by a geographical location or an entry on a map, this IS the true centre of the world for us.  It is defined by what I am drinking in with all my senses. 

I am looking at Mary's house. 

And I am completely humbled. 

This is my Faith. 


till soon 
c'est la vie 
xx

Sunday 6 September 2015

travels and testing relationships

Travelling to the Holy Land can open the eyes and the head to things that perhaps we don't want to accept and make peace with in the daily humdrum of our lives.  This trip has taught me much about relationships.  Ones I arrived with, ones that are longstanding and even new ones made as we travel.  Travelling together 24/7 is an interesting dynamic.  Some friendships cope better than others.  And interestingly I found that some relationships that are each now and then difficult and challenging at home are serene and uncomplicated here.  It is a daily reflection of mine in the quietness to work out why this is because I am unsure how to sustain this when returning to SA and daily life.  It takes effort from all.  I am afraid to lose this momentum.  And then there was a friendship that I had in SA that grew in every direction during this trip ... one that has become a tumble of laughter, joy, our faith, many deep moments of sharing, life experiences ... she has grandchildren ... I still have a schoolchild.  A trip that had her and I together 24 hrs a day and gave us a chance to put strong roots down.  A sharing in which one lesson was driven home to me repeatedly by her ... be me. My roomie - it has been a joy.

I go home on Thurs and will be bearing that in mind.  Love me for me.  Because if I am in your life ... you should cherish me.

The World According to C.

till soon
c'est la vie

So how is your week going? Yes I wrote this blog a while ago.  I have tripped going up (yes up, not down the plethora of steps up to our hou...