~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pondering Ireland's
Patron Saint ~ Patrick
What follows are four videos,
that are offered as meditations.
that are offered as meditations.
As meditations, as Christian Mindfulness Meditation, or as it is perhaps better known as Christian Awareness, which seeks to not empty the mind, but to fill the mind with good thoughts, or as Saint Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
<>
These meditations invite you to enter a world that many of us do not know. It is a world where a young spoiled teenager, who enjoys the wealth and comfort of his parents success, but is rebellious in that he does not accept their beliefs or their lifestyle. He has committed some terrible 'sinful' act that haunts him for the rest of his life. What that sinful act might be we do know only that is happened.
This rebellious teenager, while sleeping in the comfort and security of his parents home, is suddenly snatched from the warmth of his bed, and from the reality of an easy life; and just as suddenly, in the blink of an eye, is transported across the Irish sea to live as a slave for six long years.
To put perhaps a very modern interpretation on a very ancient story, Patrick would be changed forever by his experience. Perhaps he had what we call PTSD ( post traumatic stress disorder). It is very evident in his writing that 'cold and hunger' were his constant companions, as were the possibility of death, by either of those, not to mention the dark nights spent on the hills of Antrim tending his master's flocks, or during the days and nights when he criss-crossed the Irish countryside during his successful escape attempt. Fear was perhaps his over-riding emotion as he learned to come to terms with the vast changes in his circumstances.
There is some good evidence that spending time in nature, walking among the hills and valleys, fields and forests, listening to the brook running or birds singing, and to feel the gentle breeze or blowing wind on your face, reduces the effects of negative stress. Even just looking at pictures of nature's wondrous beauty has the same effect. It may be a good idea to enter into this Awareness Meditation when you are not at work, but rather in a restful mindset, and so have time to participate fully.
The photographs are of Slemish and the surrounding glorious Glens of Antrim in the North of Ireland, near to where I grew up as a young boy. Most of the photographs are mine, those that aren't have been 'borrowed' from the web. The music is some of my favourite Irish songs. I hope you enjoy.
Blessings! The Running Rev!
http://beautyofgrace88.blogspot.ca/
To put perhaps a very modern interpretation on a very ancient story, Patrick would be changed forever by his experience. Perhaps he had what we call PTSD ( post traumatic stress disorder). It is very evident in his writing that 'cold and hunger' were his constant companions, as were the possibility of death, by either of those, not to mention the dark nights spent on the hills of Antrim tending his master's flocks, or during the days and nights when he criss-crossed the Irish countryside during his successful escape attempt. Fear was perhaps his over-riding emotion as he learned to come to terms with the vast changes in his circumstances.
There is some good evidence that spending time in nature, walking among the hills and valleys, fields and forests, listening to the brook running or birds singing, and to feel the gentle breeze or blowing wind on your face, reduces the effects of negative stress. Even just looking at pictures of nature's wondrous beauty has the same effect. It may be a good idea to enter into this Awareness Meditation when you are not at work, but rather in a restful mindset, and so have time to participate fully.
The photographs are of Slemish and the surrounding glorious Glens of Antrim in the North of Ireland, near to where I grew up as a young boy. Most of the photographs are mine, those that aren't have been 'borrowed' from the web. The music is some of my favourite Irish songs. I hope you enjoy.
Blessings! The Running Rev!
http://beautyofgrace88.blogspot.ca/
The marauding Irish kidnapping their 'slaves'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATRICK ~ ACT ONE
Sinner ~ Slave ~ Saint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATRICK ~ ACT TWO
Sinner ~ Slave ~ Saint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATRICK ~ ACT THREE
Sinner ~ Slave ~ Saint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATRICK ~ ACT FOUR
Sinner ~ Slave ~ Saint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
