PROUD OF MY IKEBANA ATTEMPTS

Hi, as promised here are some of the photos of my work which i took during the first and second classes. Aren't they impressive ???

IKEBANA BANANA

I've finally pursue one of my passions - the art of Ikebana. My other dream or wish would just remain a fantasy - since it would be impossible if not hard to become a Geisha. Yesterday night was was second session and I am quite happy of the results. Our Teacher is a Japanese guy who has an extensive and long time experience in the art. He is very nice and oh yes he serves us with really nice rice tea while we were doing the arrangements. Isn't that nice! I was just thinking that in one of the sessions, we will be wearing kimonos. We have to bring our flowers and materials and do two projects during the session. One is a straightform Ikebana and the other is freestyle. I've taken some photos of my work from my mobile but it I still have to download it to the computer. Shoshu (the instructor) said that I am a natural. This is really great!

FAITH THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND SHIPS

I thought that I would continue blogging about my hair style and color but a new friend blogger Hattigrace arrested my attention to spirituality. So from this mundne concerns of hairstyle to the sublime discussion of faith. Goes. ... I may not have a face that could launch a thousand ships, but I am hoping that my faith could someday move a mountain. Pardon my butchering this famous one liner to immortalise Helen of Troy’s beauty (?), but this is the closest I could get to express my faith. Yes, I am born and raised in a rigid Christian faith and no one (in the family) to my knowledge has really converted into other beliefs, religion or denounced their faith. Hopefully not out of fear of being thrown into eternal damnation of hell and smouldering lava of fire and suffering. Or fear of being outcast. Or lack of choices. But keeping the faith because it affirms their humanity and gives them a good night sleep. Being born and baptised in Christian faith does not mean that I am “saved” or spiritually clean – to use the Christian terms. I would say that my spirituality is in constant evolution – as life unfolds. I would say that I constantly open my mind to other ways of thinking and try to understand a lot of belief systems (Islam, Buddhism, Atheism, Paganism,etc) which could shake the foundation of my faith, but hopefully not alter or uproot it from the very core of my being. (Train up a child in the way he should go!). But strengthens it. And yes, though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, in so many rugged and dark paths, I always find my way back. For every time I am lost, there is always a guiding light showing the way. I have ceased to be piously religious, yes, but my faith in a personal GOD of love, peace and understanding always transcends the difficult questions of life (poverty, suffering, injustice), quietens the nagging doubts and fills up the gaping hole of human existence.