DAY 44: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE.......

'The more things change, the more they stay the same' - a well known proverb that we've all heard many times.

The official definition:  

The observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.

Translation:

Changes do not affect reality on a deeper level.

A chair will always be a chair will it not, no matter how many times you alter its appearance?  No matter how much "progress" is made, human society is still pretty much the same.

However true the above may be, we cherish a hope concerning change, encapsulated

 in 1 Corinthians 3:18:

'But we all,with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (CHANGED!) into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.'

DAY 43: HAVE A GUESS. . . .

On every tree there sits a bird

Singing a song of love
On every tree there sits a bird
And every one I ever heard
Could break my heart
Without a word
Singing a song of love

A song of love is a sad song
Hi-lili, hi-lili, hi-lo
A song of love is a song of woe
Don't ask me how I know
A song of love is a sad song
For I have loved and it's so

I sit at the window and watch the rain
Hi-lili, hi-lili, hi-lo
Tomorrow I'll probably love again

 Hi-lili, hi-lili, hi-lo

I wonder how many will remember who sang this song, and the name of the movie?

DAY 42: KO-KO'S SAD SONG

Song by Ko-Ko in the Gilbert & Sullivan opera 'The Mikado'

On a tree by a river a little tom-tit
Sang "Willow, titwillow, titwillow!"
And I said to him, "Dicky-bird, why do you sit
Singing Willow, titwillow, titwillow'?"
"Is it weakness of intellect, birdie?" I cried,
"Or a rather tough worm in your little inside?"
With a shake of his poor little head, he replied,
"Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!"

He slapped at his chest, as he sat on that bough,
Singing "Willow, titwillow, titwillow!"
And a cold perspiration bespangled his brow,
Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!
He sobbed and he sighed, and a gurgle he gave,
Then he plunged himself into the billowy wave,
And an echo arose from the suicide's grave —
"Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!"

Now I feel just as sure as I'm sure that my name
Isn't Willow, titwillow, titwillow,
That 'twas blighted affection that made him exclaim
"Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!"
And if you remain callous and obdurate, I
Shall perish as he did, and you will know why,
Though I probably shall not exclaim as I die,
"Oh, willow, titwillow, titwillow!"

DAY 41: TASTING FREEDOM

I am very envious of flight - not of squeezing myself into in a plane seat,which is a necessary discomfort if you want to go anywhere; no, I am envious when I see birds simply lift off the ground into the air, and off they go - how marvelous!

I witnessed another marvelous freedom flight yesterday while we were having lunch on a beautiful sunny winter day.  We were sitting at a table in Big Bay facing Table Mountain across the sea (get the picture?) when a family arrived with two dogs on leashes.  They walked sedately along the pathway, enjoying the great outdoors, when the youngest child, who was holding a daschund (sausage dog) on leash, lost control and the daschund made a break.  

He ran his little legs off with such a look of hilarious delight at getting free. He dipped and weaved, he swerved and almost did cartwheels with happiness.  What a picture of fun and naughtiness!  He was actually a very good dog, because after the wild show he put on, he returned to his family and submitted to discipline once more. I had to restrain myself from applauding.......

DAY 40: IMITATION

Some things are planned, and some things just happen.  
That's life.
But setting a good example in all things needs to be a lifestyle.  

No one in the kingdom can get away with 'that's just me, 
take it or leave it.'  Well they can, of course, but disciples of
the Lord strive to walk a different path. With a sense of humour!

DAY 39: WHY A BIRD SINGS

A BIRD DOES NOT SING BECAUSE IT HAS AN ANSWER.

IT SINGS BECAUSE IT HAS A SONG.

The joy of the Lord is not happiness that is dependent upon our circumstances.

For instance, enough or plentiful = happy face :-)

Not much or not enough = miserable face :-(

Joy is more than a temporary emotion that fizzles at the drop of a hat,

because it is the product of a heart that is at peace.

DAY 38: THEREBY HANGS A TALE!

This is the MADAGASCAR PARADISE FLYCATCHER.
What a beautiful bird it is.  
But I wonder if it ever struggles to live with such a long tail?

Some of us are like that....we are saddled with long tales that we carry around like baggage - and wherever we go, we take our long tales along.

Breakthrough is possible though - we can cast all our cares onto the Lord by His direct invitation, because He cares for us.