Sunday, June 29, 2008

ST PAUL INSPIRES


MY TRIP TO EPHESEUS IN TURKEY RECENTLY CAME TO MY MIND WHEN I HEARD THIS STORY about ST PAUL, THE "13TH APOSTLE" read out at Mass today.

It reminds me of the truly life-changing miracles that can happen in anyone's life - when our Life Purpose kicks in. Writing my book on how the past eight years have transformed me from broke and broken-hearted to fulfilled and inspired to help others with emotional-energy healing...tells me that an Angel can break our chains (of hopelessness) and set us free just as happened to St Paul. And then when I reflect on his conversion on the road to Damascus ...I am inspired never to judge a situation on face value or give up the Divine calling for good.
Acts 12:1-11
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers,while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,“Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he followed him out, not realizing what was happening: though the angel was real he thought he was seeing a vision.They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said,“Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herodand from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”
BACK TRACK TO HIS CONVERSION
If you remember, this was not the first time St Paul was released from his "chains." The story of his conversion on the road to Damascus really can be described in that almost modern day cliche as LIFE-CHANGING.
Paul set out for Damascus a most aggressive persecutor of the disciples of Jesus, but suddenly became a champion of their cause. "The young man Saul was exceedingly mad against the pilgrims of the Way. He made havoc of them, and the word [used in Scripture to describe him] is that which would be used of wild boars uprooting tender vines. He devastated them with the fury of an invading army.”
Yet on the road to Damascus, in the company of many witnesses, Saul met and spoke with the risen Jesus - and went on to become totally devoted to being an apostle - the 13th apostle he was called - for Christianity.
Amazing huh? I have recently visited Epheseus in Turkey where St Paul made efforts to speak to and convert the Romans living there as part of his travels on behalf of Christ. In my next post I will share the story of our visit to the Mother Mary house up in the hills above Epheseus where both Muslim and Christian pilgrims go to pray at the spot where it is believed St John came to live out the last years of her life with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
I wonder if any of you, like me, have had a "Damascus experience' - or had an Angel-like experience freeing you of your "chains?"

Saturday, June 28, 2008

ROCK SOLID COUPLE


NICK AND CARYL WESTMORE on our wedding day December 16, 2007


For anyone curious to see a pic of Nick and I ... I just posted one of my favourites...Rock solid marriage built to last and built on a shared spirituality, sense of love and giving and so much more. We were married in Cape Town at Noordhoek and went down to the beach at sunset for this pic. It was one of the happiest days of my life.


VEGES GALORE


Abundant blessings. Abundant vegetables. Giving thanks for the bounty I just gathered this morning from our garden here at Sweet Echoes on the Isle of Wight. All thanks to my dearest husband Nick who spent three weeks while I was away in May moving huge stones and preparing the soil and then planting from SEED... carrots, spinach, lettuce and beetroot. I enjoyed the baby leaves of the beetroot, spinach and lettuce in salads and now the spinach is flourishing I will steam it for my meals. On the white plate are the baby coriander and parsley I put in my salads.
Do you want to know a secret? Why I haven't actually photographed the garden patch?
Well let me confess... a battalion of weeds have also flourished while I was writing. Look we writers have to prioritise our focus or we never get to put down OUR seed words and grow a book, okay? I've told Nick who is in hot Saudi Arabia I'm sorry... please forgive me... thank you... I love you. And he is okay with that.
But let's focus on the positive - a picture tells a thousand words. Mmmm and those carrots are sweet!
Best-selling writer Bryce Courtney from Australia once told us in a writing workshop.
"You want to be writer? Well you need three things:
1. A deadline
2. Bum glue (put your bum on the chair in front of the computer and STAY)
3. Say every day; 'I AM A WRITER"
You get the point!

Friday, June 27, 2008

NEW MOON...NEW BEGINNING

New moon soon... and a new beginning. So making a commitment to writing up my blog at least three times a week. Promise, commitment and a sense of right timing.

I've had my one-year sabbatical and am now deep in the throes of writing my book, alone at home on the Isle of Wight. My sweetheart and new husband Nick is away on a 6-month project in Saudi Arabia (he is a project manager in the oil and gas industry).

Summer Solstice, last weekend, I painted my second watercolour ever - the Druid-like landmark on the IOW Motterson Rock. Whether writing or painting, the creative process is challenging and delightful to me. But what helps is an encouraging mentor or teacher. I have lucked on Paul Hewson on the IOW for my painting and am excited with entering a coaching relationship with a new "writing/info product" coach in the USA, James Roche.
As the first weeks of the first draft of my book unfold, I am IN PROCESS with myself - or should I say all my Selves - The Creative, The Critic, The Perfectionist/Procrastinator and even the part of me I recognise as the Da Vinci multi-creative. All I can do is show up at the page and give it my focus.
My highest intention is to write authentically, from the heart, allowing the flow of Grace for freedom and joy to bless those who read the book. Aligned with my Source and Higher Purpose, may my passion and wisdom (and the amazing stories of my clients) shimmer through the words like healing gold-dust. For as the inspiring Victor Frankl wrote:
"Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued. It must ensue. And it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself."