So, how are you doing, friends? All this turbulence in the world — the extremism, polarity, accusation and fear — does it bother you?
Are you someone who has made the decision to stay high on your eagle's perch to avoid being dragged down into the mire?
Are you very politically engaged, and if you are — what is your perspective? Left? Right? Centrist? Floating voter? Has your perspective changed in the last few years, or are you steadfast to the course you'd set?
And if you do feel tossed about by everything tearing the world apart, what are your preferred ways of keeping your equilibrium?
From the wise spiritual people I listen to online, I'm hearing unanimous recommendation that we do well to find solidarity in groups that lift us up and encourage us. Are you in a group like that, or are you more isolated? If you are in such a group, do they keep you steady? How? By what means?
And your group — is it near (walking distance) or do you have to travel to meet up, or can you meet only online?
So many questions! I hope you don't mind!
It's a gloriously sunny day here on England's south coast, as you can see.
Of other news, our kitchen is now fixed and — praise be to God — when the cabinet came out so we could inspect the damage, the disastrous effects were mainly restricted to that one cabinet. The work tops had to be replaced, but the floor was okay, and the wall behind it. It's all calmed and back in place now, looking like this.
5 comments:
Waving from the sunny North and so happy to see you and read your words. I’ve also enjoyed reading reading your older posts on simplicity 💕
Thank you for the thoughtful questions Pen and yes I’m heartily sick of the polarisation, extremism and violence in this world, that is why you will always find me here in this space.
I’ve always voted Labour largely as a means of outing the Tories and very occasionally because they were offering a slither of hope amidst the dross. I cannot imagine voting for them again but if I vote Green am I giving a vote albeit vicariously to Reform instead? The whole parliamentary system is not fit for purpose and there are times I wonder could proportional representation work but there’s no doubt issues with that too 😬
I’ve appreciated your reflections of anchoring your light and for me I relate it to being in your own ‘anchor hold’ ( I use that term loosely and not as Mother Julian lived) and doing your best right where God has placed you, for me it is in my vocation as a wife and mother. Even in a small family community there is a microcosm of society reflected in our daily actions - holding and supporting one in need, navigating conflict resolution, managing the home economy and being good stewards of our resources.
I guess you could say I’m a ‘solitary’ in both the lived world and in online spaces. I was pondering our family pilgrim path and realised this morning that it is where we are meant to be and that is largely through your words on an old blog post of yours. In the post you shared that reading before work was frowned upon by your mum and seen as ‘being lazy.’ Your mum was always busy but your path of really listening to life and observing people, nature and seasons has led you down the path of a writer. We need people like you Pen who walk the quiet paths and remind us there is another way to live life well.
With much love
San xx
Forgot to say I’m so glad the kitchen was easy to repair and it’s now up and running. Your stew sounds delicious xx
Waving to you, San! I really loved what you said:
"I was pondering our family pilgrim path and realised this morning that it is where we are meant to be"
That lifts my heart — I'm so glad you are on the right path for you, both as individuals and as a family.
About the politics — I wonder if people might vote differently in local elections and national ones?
In our last slew of elections I voted Green, as did many others in our town. I think I'll vote differently when it comes to a General Election, but I'm very pleased with the way I voted for Hastings. Our Green councillors stormed home and they have turned out to be absolutely brilliant for Hastings. Particularly what I love is that they are patient, courteous, thoughtful and people of integrity. No back-stabbing, and they talk things through conscientiously and work tirelessly to get everything as good as we can manage.
So, though my politics no longer align with the Green Party's — because the political landscape has changed so much and so fast — I'm even so very happy with the way I voted. They're doing a grand job in our area.
Yes I wonder too if folk vote differently. I must admit I voted Labour in both elections and we’ve ended up with a Reform council! There are things about the Greens that I’m not mad keen on and don’t wholly align with where I’m at. I’d forgotten about Lib Dem, Ed Davy is big on supporting carers and the disabled. I know for sure I couldn’t vote Tory or Reform. My Dad in law refused to vote because there wasn’t a box stating ‘none of the above!’
Recently I've thought that if we had a General Election tomorrow, I just do not know how I'd cast my vote — not least because we rarely get what was proposed in the manifesto and promised by the candidates. I always have voted, thinking that if I don't vote then I've voted for whoever gets in. I'm just hoping that things will become clearer as we move toward the next election.
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