Where Life and Faith Meet
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4Ü #272

Champagne flowing freely from the rocks

5 April 2007

WASSUP - What plans do you have ...?

What plans do you have this Easter?
Catching up on unfinished chores around the house?
Some time put your feet up and read a book?
How about some shopping - interest free and no payments till 2010?
Join the queue of people trying to escape the city?

But who is that man who hangs from the tree?
Check him out

Andrew

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INSIGHT OUT - Champagne flowing freely from the rocks

Rees / Dart - day two

Same socks new day
The promise of the little pill worked wonders
but it came with a disclaimer
Seven minutes into the trek the pain will return
Sure enough - it came back
But this day was different
This day had never been walked before
The air was like drinking liquid oxygen
Breathe deeply

Guarding the valley, mountains of indescribable beauty
Monday had long since passed
Who cares what day it is
It is TODAY
It is NOW
The only time
now

Keas came to greet us
Bold, brash, boastful, and beautiful
Sparking conversation
Why is the New Zealand national symbol a Kiwi?
Flightless and shy
Why couldn't it be the Kea?
Bolshie, in your face and provocative
"Na, that would make us too much like Australians"
So?

Mountain streams that began a thousand years ago
Crossed our path
Inviting us to drink of their offering
It was like being given a day pass to a winery
Champagne flowing freely from the rocks
Drink all you like, it's on the house
Only two rules
walk out on your own feet
you can't take any with you
Drink deeply of this water
it is life

At the head of the valley the Rees Saddle
I was told by one who had been before
"when you hit the wall, look up it's not nearly as hard as it seems"
Listen
What's that sound?
Do you hear what I hear?
The sound of your heart beating in your ears
with a little huff and a puff
and some more huff and more puff
The saddle had been mounted
But take in the view!
Drop the pack and with raised arms salute the sky
Your eyes don't know where to look first
There is so much to take in
360° of unrestrained beauty
camera captures but a frame

Lunch day two
OSM (See day one)

"It's all down hill from here" (What a beautiful phrase!)
The decent into the valley
Arms wide open as to embrace
Joining the growing stream
as it races to become "grown up"

The Dart Hut
Boots off
Bed secured for the night
The obligatory hot toddy
and stories
tales of the day and past adventures and sleep... for some

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OUTSIGHT IN - What day is it?

Lesson for the day:
The only time is now

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SEE YA SUNDAY - Easter for everyday Kiwis

Good Friday 9.30am

Easter Sunday 8.30 & 10.30

Join us for an inspiring experience of Easter

  • Art display - the Hands of God
  • Interactive experience of the stations of the cross

No Sunday evening service this week

Can't wait . see ya Sunday

Thanks for this time to chat.

Andrew
St Columba
Where Life and Faith Meet
andrew.norton@stcolumba.org.nz

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It's free but don't steal

If this is of help to others, you are welcome to forward it. This e-mail letter is 97% original - 3% cut and paste & 100% fat free. 4U is copyright to Andrew Norton. That means you can't cut and paste it and call it your own (that's stealing). I'm happy for it to be used but please refer to the author.

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LAST WORD - To see

This life's dim windows of the soul
Distorts the heavens from pole to pole
And leads you to believe a lie
When you see with, not through, the eye.

William Blake


© 2008, St Columba Presbyterian Church, Auckland