Quiet Reflections

Dear all, Thanks for following along on this page, which started off with trying to navigate church in such a way as not to explode my head. I sort of did that and sort of didn't but I'm feeling less turmoil about it all.  I'm flying off to focus on sharing personal reflections. These will probably be of a spiritual nature because I'm designed that way. There will still be some drawing of a non-professional standard. At some stage, there might be some music of a professional standard, you never know! You will be able to find me at reflectionsofruthie.blogspot.com I'll try and make a new Facebook page too.  Warm regards, Ruth  (Felt pen drawing based on an oil painting by Grandpa AKA Jack Fanshawe)  

In my first post, I was interested in relating to church in a different way due to Sunday headaches and sensory overload. Then I was in danger of just writing devotional posts and ignoring the proverbial. So, here's an update. Sometimes, I visit a church or churches for varying reasons on varying days and at varying times. I don't beat myself up for not being 'a regular' and I enjoy spending most Sunday mornings at home with Mum.  I attend a small group during the week. Interestingly, the first part of small group this week was trying, along with a friend, to find a safe place to take a young, somewhat disoriented person, who was roaming the suburbs. I've been in a number of 'not officially church' settings and felt very much as though I was in fellowship and even worship. Frequently, I experience a sense of connectedness through silent worship. While not aspiring to be like the 'oblong mob' in Midsomer Murders, I am following my heart more than befo...

The basic lines and shapes in the above picture were drawn in a 'sort of eyes closed supposedly relaxing doodling process' that I came up with about 6 months ago. It wasn't really all that relaxing (my sister finds the process more relaxing than I do) but I was certainly delighted each time a dog, or even a Snoopy or another animal, appeared on my page. It's amazing how often that happened! I've dabbled with a few relaxation techniques - not guzzling diet coke at midnight and float therapy, for example. The Headspace App has helped me to let go of mental clutter while amusing TV shows and chatting with close friends are enduring aspects of my relaxation arsenal (a nod to my maternal grandmother's football club there).   I cannot deny, though, that a much deeper sense of calm comes to me when I contemplate the following words of Jesus: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. I can sit in silent solitude and find rejuvenation and ...

I made this picture recently, following conversations with someone who was experiencing the loss of a loved one. It's a bit faint due to ink running out, but, hopefully, it tells a story. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted. Psalm 34  

  My morning church today is staying with a young family member who is currently sleeping.  I sense the presence and love of God. There are 2 people, quite a few Snoopies, Penguins and other "animals". Oh, there are also 2 cats, plus birds singing along outside.  In the old days of the 70s, we sang a song that went something like, "If with all your heart you truly seek me, you will ever surely find me. Thus says our God." (Slight modernising of words there). It's based on Jeremiah, I believe. Divine.

  Creating this picture, and then giving it away, was an experience in which I felt particularly connected to God. It was a type of worship that sprung up, over a period of about a month. It wasn't stifled by a church building or bureaucracy.  Within the time period from start to finish and giving away, I found myself in an extraordinarily unexpected setting. This was a garage in my neighbourhood, in which strangers shared their faith with me, and I tried to encourage them and support them in their grief.  The whole experience made me think that the church, gatherings of people of faith, is actually all around. It's alive and free, not tied down by politics and power. Realising that the heart image would be completely destroyed if just one piece was removed, I started thinking about all of creation. Following a search for "all creation worships", I arrived at Psalm 148, which includes the following: Praise the Lord.  Praise him, sun and moon, shining stars,  hig...