BUT NOUGHT: August 2017

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE


ELSIE GEORGINA DIXON

On this day, 30th August, my dear Mum Elsie Georgina Dixon (nee Beckman) was born to Eternal Life - 46 years ago. You were the first born child of the young German immigrant Edward Toby Leonhardt Wilhelm Beckmann and his Australian born wife Louisa of English stock.

You grew to be a beautiful young lady, not only in looks but also in heart and spirit - and that is the way you lived your life selflessly caring for those you loved no matter how your " heart full of love" was treated.

You were taken Home in 1971, and, I reckon Birthdays don't matter in Heaven, but anyway, Happy Eternal Birthday Mum. I think of you and pray for the repose of your soul every day.Thank you for all you gave to me in love and lessons taught by wonderful example, your life of 66 years was a frequently difficult one. Your departure took us by surprise - we should have known better.

You were truly "meek and humble of heart" and your life was lived for the benefit of others. I am grateful to be the product of your gentle loving care.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord
and may the Perpetual Light shine upon her
and may she Rest in Peace'
AMEN.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Ever since my boyhood, I have enjoyed the thought of ships and the sea! I am a a romantic at heart- and that is part of it,But I have always considered ships one of man's most noble and worthwhile achievements.Just as the sea is one of God's most wonderful ( yes, literally wonder full) and often majestic or peaceful creations. Man's construction of a ship - be it the wooden wonders of history ,all wood and rope and tar and oakum and canvas , or the steel giants of later years - is a pledge to use his God-given intelligence and free-will to seek mastery over the elements to use the whole of Creation more fully and achieve his greater flourishing

Being at sea is to enter onto a constantly changing scene producing bliss, exhilaration,fun, awe, terror and delight- each in their turn. It is hard to beat the feeling of coming onto an almost deserted deck and walking onto the foc'sle on a bright sunny morning to collect a steady 18knot breeze accompanied by a gentle rise and pitch of the bow in a mild sea - the salt air - better than "King of the World"- rather a joyful part of it! Then again, the fine morning after a stormy, rough night when the ship has been "pile driving", that is, her bow rising clear of the wave passing under her and then crashing down into the next ,sending a shudder down the length of her hull: out you come to find a clearing sky, brilliant sunshine and a sea still running strong but clearly becoming more civilised by the hour.

But of all the glories of man and the sea, what can excel the sailing ship?To combine the effort to achieve mastery over the elements with the achievement of beauty and grace is a wonder in itself . I have gathered together here some examples of what I mean, which I hope you will enjoy as much as I do: