FRESH START

Living in Ireland is a great help towards looking on each day as a Fresh Start.

Perhaps what helps most is the weather, always changing.

I love the whole idea of making a fresh start each morning, just by looking out the window and taking on board what the weather is like...

Spring / Summer / Autumn  / Winter  can come in just one day here in this lovely country of ours.  How could you not love it!

The Spiritual life can be just like the weather, always changing and surprising us each day.

No matter how determined we are to follow a certain pattern which is solid and safe, we may find ourselves in the winter of darkness OR surprised to find ourselves blossoming in the summer of sunshine.

I like Spring because it seems to open up new avenues of grace where one is invited to reach out and enjoy new beginnings happening in nature and in our souls too.

Autumn can be challenging as we learn to let go and depend more on God working through us. 

Yes, the determination to open up our hearts and soul to God and continue to make a Fresh Start each day.

EASTER

Easter is a time for new beginnings, to let go the past and embrace the future.

Perhaps what is most important is to live in each present moment.

With great ceremony and celebration we have renewed our belief in the 

Risen Christ and the wonderful awareness of God's love for us.

To go forward means to take on the image of Christ and say YES to all that God might ask of us.

This bond of trust is our redeeming factor.

Walk with God and become the fruit of Easter!

SIMPLICITY

To be simple in our approach to life is not simple!
Perhaps this has a lot to do with how our minds and lives become cluttered.
We want to have a simple life and we know this is a

wonderful way to be happy and have peace of mind...  so, what's the problem?
A child learns to walk with little steps and if we can learn to imitate how a child learns, then we are making progress on the road to simplicity.
Take a step and follow through, whatever the goal may be.
For example, we have an untidy room and want to declutter...  take a step towards doing just that.
Make a beginning in whatever way we can, simply start perhaps with one item.
Open a press or drawer and empty the contents out.  Take a moment and with as much honesty and energy we have, begin to discard the 'rubbish'.
This can be hard, letting go of old memories / gifts / photos / clothes etc.
Now is a good time to remind ourselves of our desire for simplicity.
Step by step, follow through, perhaps one hour per day ( more if possible) and how glad we will be.  Happiness will be our reward!
The same applies to our Mind, if it has become cluttered.
Remind ourselves again of our goal, Simplicity, and work on one thought or project at a time.
This simple approach to life is so, so rewarding, what happy people we will be!