Looking out for Joy

In a completely different vein to the last two posts, here's installment 2 of the Advent reflections on Joy for this week. (You can follow the whole series here.)

Oh, and i'm feeling a bit more joyful and inspired than last time. Last night i did a bit of creative writing, some quick charcoal sketches, and started to read The Little Prince again - all of which seemed to clear some of the clouds up.

Advent Reflection 2 - Looking out for Joy

Two reflective pieces to mull over as we wait with anticipation for the Joy of the world to come:

Unpredictable Joy

In the Gospel of John, Jesus sums up pretty much everything by saying, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). He said it at the supper that he knew was the last one he’d have a mouth to eat.
Happiness turns up more or less where you’d expect it to – a good marriage, a rewarding job, a pleasant vacation. Joy, on the other hand, is as notoriously unpredictable as the one who bequeaths it.
~ Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house empty
of its furniture, still,
treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
~ Rumi, The Guest House

When did Joy unexpectedly knock on your door this Advent season? Was she alone, or accompanied by some friends? (Say, perhaps sadness, or peace?) And, how did you treat these unexpected guests?

(un-joyful) advent thoughts about joy

I’ve been feeling rather uninspired and uninspiring lately. Something you may have picked up by the quality and number of posts. Quite a bad spot to be in, when you add in missing home, nostalgia about studying in the states, trying to find meaning in a new country, and some really big conversations about meaning, identity and spirituality. There seem to be some lights and the end of some of the tunnels, and I’ll let you in on them when I know what they are!

There’s also cool news about jobs for next year, furniture at home, and some pictures of our second Sydney adventure. When/if I get to them. Oh, and my garden now has some green tomatoes, capsicums and strawberries. No signs yet of any melons, and the rocket has aphids. There are pictures of them too (the garden, not the aphids), that I’ve been meaning to put up, but like I said, haven’t had a substantial amount of motivation or inspiration to get it done.

Deadlines and external pressure help in that regard. So I do have one piece of creativity that I can show for the last while - a reflection on Joy for Advent. I was asked to write 3 pieces for this week for a church. Quite an interesting task, since Joy is not up there with the many emotions running around in me head.

But I tried. Here’s the first piece… a bit cerebral and cynical, with some big words thrown in to show off, but true to where I am. Something to read if you are looking for an un-joyful Advent reflection on joy. (Hey, you never know what arb things people are looking for these days) ;)


Advent Reflection 1 - ‘Defining’ Joy

I’m not usually a supporter of ‘dialectic definitions’. Actually, I don’t really know if there is such a thing as a ‘dialectic definition’, but let’s pretend there is. What I mean, is that I don’t usually buy sayings such as, ‘you can only know peace if you have seen war’, or ‘only real sinners understand grace’ etc. The implication is that an emotion or state can only really be known once you have experienced its opposite or absence. For me, this type of reasoning seems too negative and dualistic.

However, this advent, my ‘rule’ seems to have met its exception in Joy.

I’ve been trying to ‘describe’ joy, and found that it is rather hard. The fabric or texture of joy is rather elusive. You either know what joy is, or you don’t. It’s not a propositional truth - something you can explain - but rather an experiential or relational truth – something you must experience. Hence my struggle in trying to reflect on Joy using words.

The only way I can come close to grasping the real texture of joy, is to place it alongside two other strong and complimentary emotions (themselves also rather hard to explain). So, let us begin our reflection on Joy this week by holding it alongside Sadness and Peace.

Although you would think Sadness is the opposite of Joy, it isn’t really. In a strange way, in times of despair the only thing that allows us to truly mourn, and still come out the other side, is that sliver of joy that seems to be hiding patiently, graciously, just below the surface of our lives. In my life, my saddest moments have often been a precursor to a renewed understanding of true joy and life.

When I rise up, let me rise up joyful, like a bird

When I fall, let me fall without regret, like a leaf.

~Wendell Berry, Let Me Rise

For his anger is but for a moment, his favour is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

~ David (?), Psalm 30

And then there is Peace. Peace is far more restful, controlled, and safe than exuberant, wild-partying Joy, but yet, there’s a common texture to the two:

Joy is Peace at play,

And Peace is Joy at rest

~ Anne Lamott, Travelling Mercies

Joy. It’s not the opposite of sadness, nor equal to peace, but it’s somewhere in there. It is an other-worldy state that can’t be drowned by sadness, nor quietened by peace.
Perhaps, like any real emotion associated with the mystery of advent, it is actually just grace by another name.

saving lives

The Journey
Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver, New and Selected Poems

source: Inward/outward

still streaming...

...a few more mini-streams and updates that come to mind... with pictures!

Capoeira
Julie and i started capoeira a few weeks ago, here at the ANU gym. It's great fun, and reminds me a lot of my 2 years dancing at the state theatre in Pretoria, and primary school gymnastics. It's a kind of mix between dance, martial art and music. Very tiring and enjoyable. Look it up on YouTube.

Kubb & Ben Boyd
Last month we went camping down to the coast with some friends. It was Sally's 30th, and about 15 folks trekked 4 hours to Ben Boyd National Park, just outside of Eden. It is a beautiful coastline, and i hope to get down there again soon. It was also so good to be out in a tent again. We ate, hiked, spoke, slept and played Mafia around the campfire. Good times, good times. Sally's brother in law is German, and he brought along his Kubb set. The game is a bit like pétanque, but with a bit more strategy. Maybe pétanque cross chess. We played it on Sunday morning before leaving, and i seemed to do rather well! Now to make my own set and teach my friends.

a breathtaking view of 'disaster bay' at Ben Boyd
looking out to Antarctica

Affluenza
I realised last week that the new guy in the ACC&C office is actually rather famous. I knew his name was Clive Hamilton and he was from CAPPE, but didn't know he was the Clive Hamilton of Affluenza fame. Next time he's in his office I'll have to have a chat and hear his story. I like what he writes.

Gardening
Canberra seems to come alive in Spring. The city looks fuller and greener when the weather warms up, daylight savings kicks in, and you can enjoy the long evenings outside. The spring feel also seems to get people into their gardens. We don't have a garden, but that didn't deter me from spending Saturday planting some seedlings on the patio. The garden will still develop, but for now i'm happy with my tomatoes, rocket (arugula), yellow capsicums, basil (in an old frying pan) , celery and carrots. I also plucked a few cuttings, a small oak tree, and some bulbs. I'll try to keep them alive until we have a place with a garden. Here is a pic or two:

rocket pot and basil frying

Floriade
Another neat thing about springtime in Canberra is Floriade - a display of over 1 million bulbs and tulips. Breathtaking colours! We visited 2 weeks ago - it was quite a sight. Take a look at this flowery goodness (click to enlarge):


Wheels
(this stream is very outdated, but still worth mentioning)

3 months ago Julie and i went shopping. After successful negotiations and test drives etc, she has four wheels and I have two wheels.

Julie's transport is a '04 Mazda2 Maxx, with really low kms, 1.5l, 5speed automatic and CD changer. We looked at a lot of old Subaru station wagons, but in the end chose something newer, lighter on fuel and less maintenance risks. I hadn't really noticed the Mazda 2 before, but now i see them everywhere. It is neat little car that is very spacious inside. It's in the same fold as the Honda Jazz, Toyota Echo/Yaris, Hyundai Getz etc and often reviews as best in its class.

My transport is a second hand road bike that i got from a frisbee guy here. Although not as retro and character-full as my previous bike, it does the job just fine. Canberra has the highest proportion of population in Australia that cycle to work, and extensive cycle paths and lanes throughout the city. Law here requires helmets, and front and back lights fitted on each bicycle, so in addition to the actual bike ($150) I spent almost double that on 'extras' (lights, helmet, lock, pump, puncture kit, pannier bag ... the list goes on). I'm almost fully kitted out for the daily (25min) commute to work.
As always, once i'm more financially settled, i still hope to get a fixie, and a mountain bike - there are great off road tracks in the mountains hills around Canberra.



So, things are developing rather well here in Canberra. We seem to be meeting people, making friends, learning new things etc etc. Still miss home and my family and friends there, but i'm trying to be as present as possible here in Aus-land.

streams of conscience

13 october 2008
streams of conscience/
stream of consciousness

Blah
I’m at home. Sick. On the couch. It’s windy and overcast outside. My body mimics the conditions inside. So I’ll take a break from work for a day (it was only a half-day in any case) and sleep, recoup and maybe write something. I felt it coming on for the last 3 days - a dry cough, general dis-ease and a need to relax. As always its timing couldn’t be worse - I’m off to Brisbane on Saturday for mixed nats.

Borndays
It was my birthday last week. Julie says Bornday. It was a good day. On my way to work I passed some cyclists on the cycle path. One of them said “Good morning Gareth.” It was Jess, a frisbee friend, who recognised me as we sped past each other. Starting to feel like I belong a bit more here in Canberra.

At work over lunch I was asked how old I was.
‘26’ was my reply.
Boss Barry recalled where he was at 26, and was frightened at the recollection.
‘I wish I was as wise as you when I was 26’ he remarked.
What a graceful statement. Hmm… yes. Thank you.

Again, at frisbee training that night, I was seen. Larissa saw my birthday on the afda website and brought honey cakes and rum balls for after training. I don’t like being the centre of attention. I like being the centre of attention.

Internet grace
Facebook is not something I’ve spent much time on lately, but last week I was thankful for it, and the way it reminds me of my full life. Friday morning I read through my facebook happy birthday messages. From close friends and distant faces.
Thank you, thank you.

Skype joined in on the internet birthday grace on Thursday. I spoke to 5 of my 6 family members. Parents and sisters are all well in Jo’burg. Mom sold 5 paintings at a recent figure studies exhibition in Melville. There were a few hundred people at the opening. And as a naked man.

[Naked man
‘There’s a naked man here!’ Tash shrieked to my parents.
He was naked, and clothed.
He had been body-painted. Tiger stripes on his upper body. Grass over his belly button. Olive green legs. Some men were shocked. A (conservative?) Afrikaans man captured it perfectly:
‘Daar’s a tier in die kamer, en ‘n slang in die gras’
‘There’s a tiger in the room and a snake in the grass’

I laughed!
I finished working at Fox Antiques on Friday. Having our beer at 5 after work we spoke of nakedness again. Barry sharing stories of co-ed saunas in Holland, topless beaches in Germany and Australian prudishness]

Family (ctnd)
Bronwen got a new job teaching reception class. Vicki is waiting for Uni to start. Jane is in Cape Town getting ready to lead a DTS. Dad told me that derth is spelled with an ‘a’. Dearth. I laughed.
I hung up with them at 11pm, warmed by the conversation. As if by grace Matthew came online from London, so we spoke for almost an hour.

Mat
is almost finished his London adventure. Told stories of Slovenia, poker and my aunt. I said he must add the Lake Districts to his Scotland trip in a few weeks. I miss him. There’s a photo of him and Gra mooning the camera, jumping into some lake in Slovenia!

Blogging
is rather taxing on me. I find myself thinking about what I should write, the opening line that will draw people in, and show off my deft use of language. As with many of my well intentioned ideas, I never get around to it. I have 5 unfinished posts in my drafts folder. If I wait long enough they will be so outdated that I’ll delete them. And delete the minutes they filled up running around in my head. For nothing. Making me agitated.

But then, sometimes, I’m sick in bed, and I write. Freely. Mostly.
I still try to show off (is any writing completely devoid of ego?).
I still censor. That’s okay. I’ll keep trying.

Julie
is beautiful.
Studying for her UNISA exam today. She’s next to me on the couch:

‘G. Guess what’
‘What?’
‘Women work 65% of the world's working hours. And guess how much of the worlds salaries they get paid?’
‘20%?’
‘No, 10%
And they own less than 1% of the worlds assets.’

The exam is on Theological Ethics: Human rights, values and social transformation. At the SA High Commission at 2 today. It’s a big white Cape-Dutch style house near to Parliament here in Canberra. I’ve been there once. They weren’t very helpful.

stream of consciousness
and conscience
to get out all the half-post I’ve been thinking about over the last weeks. I should try it again.

What else is there to say?
started a garden
got a black eye from a frisbee
got some good wine from Adrian & dad
saw Utopia: the Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye yesterday. Profound artist and messenger. What is the message?

This week
No more Fox antiques. 3 days with the ALP IP, 2 days with the ACC&C. Make that 1 day with the ACC&C - today I’m off sick.
I stopped working at Fox on Friday. The ALP wanted more days from me, and the work was too tiring.

I’ll miss:
the sweet smell of the wax we polish the antiques with,
the casual banter in the workroom,
the lunches out on the pavement in the sun opposite the Belgian Beer place.
I won’t miss:
the dirty dish-clothes
the heavy lifting.

Global economic crisis.
Crap.
I’ve not paid it much attention. (still have to study my Masters of Development Economics)
But I read this article today. It helped to outline what’s going on, and why this could well be the end of the current economic system as we know it. That’s a good thing - in my mind. However, as usual, the poor will feel it first and worst.

One last stream:

Clergy Gentrification
(what!?)
I heard about it at last weeks’ conference. Which went very well by the way. Maybe I’ll write about it. Or, more likely, I’ll plan to write about it. Work out some sentences, and then not write.
Back to the clergy and how they are like buildings.
Clergy are well educated, get a salary, their children then go to school, go to university and get an office job. After a generation or two you have a wealthy, educated clergy of and for the bourgeoisie, the status quo, those in power… with no connection to the working class any more.

Just a thought.

That’s maybe why liberation theology (take the text back to the poor and let them interpret it) and feminist theology (reading from the margins and the underside) make sense to me. Me - someone with no natural connection to the working class, though trying to follow/understand a Jesus of the poor?

End

I
am okay.
and happy.
and am not a poet.
(yet?)

Thankful for all the streams that have made, fed and changed me.
Got to take Julie to the High Com to write.
Okay bye.

okay

As the recent derth of postings shows, I've been rather busy elsewhere. But fret you not (those of you who fret) - i'm okay, doing my ususal things: Canberra has warmed up, the forest of blossoms have become green with leaves, i wore shorts for the first time in 3 months, cycling to work is energising, frisbee training on Thursdays, going to poetry slams with friends, reading a good book etc etc.
The most pressing thing is the ACC&C conference which starts tomorrow, but this seems well under control. That ends on Sunday, then i've got a 1 day ultimate tourney in Sydney on Monday. After I resurface from all that excitement i'll put up some updates, pictures and general ramblings and musings. It is my birthday month after all, so i've got to get this state/stage back in action!
toodles...
G

ACT update... with pictures!

Yes, this one even comes with pictures!

So, we’ve been here a month, and are starting to get vaguely settled. Apart from the freezing cold, things are falling into place. We moved into our flat a week ago, and my dream of house-husband is almost realised! Without a job (yet) I’m cooking, cleaning and decorating. If only there was a garden! With a few garage sales, and some of Julie’s aunt’s surplus furniture, we’ve managed to scratch together reasonable furnishings. My favourite are 4 delightful old suitcases we picked up from a church, and use as storage and decoration:
The block we're in is old, but the unit itself is really nice, and has been recently redone. I especially like the kitchen sink, and cabinets with downlights in them. The light helps to accentuate my great Edward Monkton mug that my brother sent to me from London! Thanks Matt! ;)

our only plant, the kitchen, and my mug and classy wine glass

We’ve made some friends with the Quakers (we stay two houses down from the meeting house), and we've also met quite a few SA folks who came here in the 70’s and 80’s in exile. It’s been refreshing to hear their stories, and have people who understand where we come from. Most of the people here are civil servants, or linked to the University. I’ve begun to network some with people from the Uniting Church, as well as some developmental agencies. I was wandering around ANU last week, and looked around their courses. I’m quite interested in their Masters in Developmental and International Economics, and may try to get one of those while I’m here ;) During my wanderings I carried on through the campus to the National Museum of Australia - a rather impressive building on Lake Burley Griffin where you can see Civic (the city) and Parliament over the water.

a collage of abstract museum shots

the city, ainslie hill, and the commonwealth bridge over Lake Burley Griffin

I am enjoying the relative peace and security here - being able to walk around at night, and not worrying about hijackings when you stop at traffic lights! Sometimes I do wonder if I’ll get ‘soft’ though. I have met quite a few ‘activists’ who are saying and doing things about social justice, but in a sense it’s just not the same if you are not living with the injustices in your face. Mind you, the ‘grass-is-greener’ saying is not true, there are problems and dis-eases here in Aus too. Our flat has an alarm system, and the council houses are known for crime and drugs. From a surface level, the problems may seem petty, but there are big issues to deal with: youth suicides in the rural areas, shocking history with the natives, big environmentally un-friendliness etc. So, there are some dangers, plenty of work, and quite a lot to learn from the people here.

Oh, I’ve also met a Dutch Reformed minister from Stellenbosch here, and have really enjoyed chatting to him about Canberra, South Africa, theology and life. He followed his wife here 5 years ago, and then found a Uniting Church to minister at. He has a PhD from Holland, and a good take on the city. He’s been very encouraging about me finding a position in the church here. My question now is to discern whether that is the work i want to do just now.

the (new) state of gareth...

... is now in ACT.
(Australian Capital Territories, that is. Technically its a Territory, and not a state, but who's being technical?)

Julie and I arrived here two weeks ago. It all happened so fast, so i guess i can back-track some:

The Canberra Journals #1: The prologue
We were exploring working overseas for a bit, tried Seattle, went and got jobs, but the not-so-friendly Dept of Homeland Security wouldn't play along when it came to Jules' visa. So, in the midst of our despair, Julie's cousin (a famous/infamous rugby player) happened to give her a call. "Hey Cuz, we've been looking for someone for our company, the Aussies are not good enough, and we want YOU!" he said, sounding a lot like pre-war Uncle Sam posters. So, we thought about it, and fought about it, and wished it were anywhere but Aus-land.

In the end I got over my issues with Australia, we appeased our shocked friends, and decided to give it a go. The tome of visa papers went in, and 10 days later we had an email in our inbox telling us we had a 2 year 457 working visa. Wow. We weren't too sure what to do with it intially, as it came so soon. But, being the intrepid adventures that we are, we looked at our calendars, Julie resigned from work, I finished CPE, had a week at home with respective parentals, said goodbye and boarded flight Quantas flight QF64 to Sydney on June 1 2008. (phew)

The Canberra Journals #2: The arrival
We disem-boarded in Australialand 17 hours later.

The Canberra Journals #3: First steps
And here we still are! The first few days we allocated to sight-seeing. We covered all the sights in an afternoon and then slept for the next 3 days! I'm exaggerating a bit, but it is a small city and after a few days we pretty much had the inner north, south and civic sorted. Julie started work Monday last week with Healthfutures, and that left me to deal with the cut-throat world of the Canberra rental market. It's crayzeeee! On Thursday we secured a nice little apartment for a not so nice price (prices here are exhorbitant) in Turner - a suburb in the inner north, a couple of block from the city centre, and two houses down from the Quaker meeting house! We move in there on the 24th, sans any furniture or anything! We will start with a matress on the floor and paper plates. Things can only get better from there so watch this space!

CPE is...

...all consuming,
exhausting,
fulfilling
&challenging.

With two verbatims a week, daily reflections and assignments due, you can guess for yourself why the writing on this state of gareth has slowed to a trickle. Tomorrow starts a 4 day long weekend, so in between writing another verbatim, a genogram and partying it up at Balkanology (I need a party!), i'll try post some insights and news from the CPE front. All i can say for now is that it is really really worthwhile, i'm learning tons about myself, and trying to get in touch with my feelings.

technology gripes and family bites

Hip-freaking-hooray! After 2 weeks of listening to Telkom and Mweb’s call centres, the ADSL connection at my parent’s house has finally been repaired. The lack of connectivity was caused in part by cable-theft as well as one humongous thunder storm last week.

So, when I wasn’t listening to the appalling call centre music on the telephone, I was spending time with my much depleted family. I say much depleted because, from next week onwards, only my parents and Bronwen will be at home. This is a house which, for twenty years had 7 Beyers’ running around, now only has 3. Matthew is flipping burgers and skiing in Veil, Colorado with some friends for a couple of months. Vicki and Jane have just graduated from high school and gone down to Cape Town to do a Youth With a Mission missionary thing. I’m back down to CT on Sunday too. And then there were 3.

PS- It will be rather nice having my ‘baby sisters’ in Cape Town with me. I’ve promised them train rides to Simonstown, Coffee at Olympia and any other big brother treats I can arrange. In return all they have to do is come play for my Frisbee team in Summer League ;)

PPS- Happy new year to you. Hope it is invigorating and honest and faithful.

holiday quote

I have to move out of Ariel’s flat today. I hate seriously dislike moving. Anyways, I was going through my papers and found this quote that I got from a labyrinth gathering a earlier this year:

do not search for the gate of knowledge; only stop believing in walls and their security

yes. Think on that for a while! I’m off to Jozi tonight to hang out with my fandamily. Looking forward to it - I haven’t really spent time with them since I returned from Atlanta. It will be a pity to leave the beautiful beaches of CT though.

Conference + finished!

Phew.

Time to catch up on sleep. spend time with Julie, call home and move out of my apartment. (Oh - almost forgot - and to write an autobiographical essay for CPE).

The SACC Child Rights Symposium is over. I can finally breathe, relax and enjoy my pay-check. Three weeks ago I wasn’t so sure it would be pulled off, but the good news is that it was. The only hiccup was two delegates stranded in Jo’burg with no accommodation and three people from Free State who didn’t get on their flight (still have no idea what happened there). I’ve been to the airport and back 11 times in three days, and now have to collect invoices and account for R200 000! Thankfully I have five years of theology degrees to equip me for all these tasks! Teehee.

I wish there were a website or something with all the info and papers presented, as there was very good stuff that was said, but there isn’t. Part of the budget is for a publication to follow the Symposium, so I’ll be doing that for December and maybe can make it electronic. (I’ve added the programme for the two days here if you want to see what we covered). What made it all worthwhile were the comments during the closing session. People had their thinking around corporal punishment, discipline, and parenting changed and were moved towards restorative justice and positive discipline alternatives. Hopefully they will take their gleanings back to their local constituencies, as well as interact on a political level to ensure that the Children’s Amendment Bill gets passed in its entirety.
My highlight was when a senior minister from a rural area actually said that he was going to go home, call his son and apologise for the times when he had beaten him, thinking then that that was the best form of discipline. Joan Van Niekerk, the head of Childline SA responded in tears saying one of the most healing times in her life was when her father apologised to her for the way he had disciplined her as a child.

So - don’t smack your kids, apologise if you did, and help us to end corporal punishment and promote positive discipline!

Umm.. yeah that’s about it. Not too much news else. This conference has been all consuming and I’ve neglected quite a few things that I’ll have to catch up on next week (in between the accounting). First though - time to sleep!

growth expected next year

Yesterday I went to Groote Schuur hospital to ask about the CPE program that I hope to do next year April. The current students are almost finished a tough course, and I’m beginning to realise that this will be a very hard program for me. The chaplaincy visits to patients, being faced with death, abortions, violence will all take its toll. However, the main challenge is the internal growth that this program is really about. I am so good at deceiving myself, avoiding the questions, running around conflict, that 3 months of intense inner growth will be tough. But, it is something that needs to be done. The supervisor told me that we aren’t allowed to read any books during the course, the only book we are reading is ourselves - the ‘living human document’ as they call it. So, God willing, I will start level one CPE in March next year. Pray that a more self aware, gentle and humble Gareth will emerge after the 3 months. Until then I’m biding my time with the SACC and maybe a stint helping organise the Design Indaba. And, as ever, playing Ultimate and enjoying Cape Town in the summer!

space watching

hooray! From Thursday i have job with office hours and an office. That also means internet connection, telephone and income! woohhoo. So, watch this space - now that i'm back online i hope to do some posting. Still have to tell about Seattle, and news here in CT>

For now i'm off on a Presby Clergy retreat in the mountains. Cheers!

update on life

So, how’s Cape Town? Without an office or internet connection this blog hasn’t really been the place to keep abreast of what’s been happening.
I’m working part time as a monitor with the Parliamentary Monitoring Group which brings in some income if I go regularly. You can see some of my reports online if you wish. It’s a great way to learn how legislature is made, and I even got to be on TV news on Friday! I’m still talking to Keith Vermeulen at the SACC Parliamentary Office about a researcher/admin post. He needs and wants the extra ‘personpower’, the problem is getting funds from the General Secretary in Jo’burg.
There has been another really interesting development - I met with Kevin Light a while back and had a great chat. He is a Methodist minister who is involved with ‘post-religious spirituality’, and doing really interesting work with his group called Labyrinth. Go have a read at their website. Labyrinth has three ‘rules’ which I really enjoy: no hierarchy, no orthodoxy and no jury. It is simply a place to come and explore spirituality. I may end up doing some work with them in the future. Coupled with this has been my similar experiences (through Julie) of Quaker worship. She attends the local Quaker meeting, and my experience of their worship and fellowship has been interesting and refreshing. They have no clergy, are silent worshippers and live out the belief of ‘that of God in everyone’. Both the Quakers and Labyrinth seem at first glance to be undermining the future occupation I’ve spent 5 years studying for, but, as an ecclesiologist (grin) these alternative faith expressions are helping to shape my own.
As to other life aspects, Julie and I are enjoying being in the same city; I’m playing for ‘the Remnants’ - a local Ultimate Frisbee team here; and my housemate took me surfing for the first time ever. It was humiliating. I’ve seen a sunrise from Simon’s Town beach; listened to Harris Tweed, and the Kolo Nova Movie Band in concerts; been loaned an awesome retro bicycle; and worked out how to catch the (free) University of Cape Town student shuttle into town.
For next year, I’m really excited about doing CPE (hospital chaplaincy) here at Groote Schuur in March, and then perhaps a year long internship in Seattle. That could mean Probation waits a bit. Or CPE counts towards probation. Something like that ;) I don’t want to be in too much of a rush to get ordained, yet I also don’t want to put off my calling. A chaplain of mine’s question of “why do you need to be ordained to minister?” helps to slow me down.

life is full of starts and finishes

So, this week sees the start (and finish) of another chapter in life. I've finally moved my clothes and some books down to Cape Town. Today i'll be unpacking them into my new room in Mowbray with Guy Chennels. Looks like a great setup and i'm excited about the whole thing. Julie lives about a 10 minute drive away, and i'm right by the train station and taxi rank in Mowbray if i need to move around. (Footnote- last week i caught a notorious mini-bus taxi into the centre of Jo'burg and back, so after that i think i can handle the CT transport systems).

The few weeks at home were great (and too cold and short). Life seems to be going on merrily and humourously in the Beyer's household in Midrand. This friday my mom deserves a huge party in her honour: Vicki and Jane finish high school - for the last 17 years my mom has been taking children to school and back. Well done! Next year the twins (Vicki and Jane) may be coming to Cape Town for YWAM, so it will be neat to have them in town. Matt is finishing his film and media school and trying to travel, and Bron is enjoying her Montessori teaching. Aaah, how we grow and mature!

And me? Well, hopefully i'll settle in soon, find a good fresh produce store, join a frisbee team and get a job! Parliament is back in session so i'll start the monitoring work next week. I'm still waiting to hear from the SACC Parliamentary office. When i get a set office i should be able to post here some more. My dad is in town for the long weekend, and Julie and i will join him up the West Coast at a friends house. Hopefully the weather is nice - SA has been having some revolting cold snaps, winds and floods lately. Climate change is to blame again!

Well, that's me, over and out. Hopefully next time it will be from an office, with a set job!

still a new place

So, two weeks later and…

Gareth is still in Cape Town. With Julie. Looking for a job. Hooray!

Haha. There’s got to be a bit more to say than that. There have been some promising developments that I can fill you in (if there is anyone still visiting here). I have a casting agent, and am about to get a voice-over agent (going to record demos tomorrow). I’ve also signed up with some local tutoring organisations. The plan is to mix-and-match voice-overs, tutoring and also some stints with the Parliamentary Monitoring Group for the next few months. That should get me my bread, and give me space to get a feel for the local Presbyterian churches. I’ve met some of the ministers already, but need to let my face be shown a bit more, get involved somewhere, and then hope that a place will open up. There’s also a rather promising opportunity as a researcher/office assistant and the South African Council of Churches’ Parliamentary Office that I need to work on and explore funding opportunities.

Sometimes I’m anxious about the whole move, finding meaningful work and stuff, but most of the time I’m excited and ready for it. Who knows, I may even find myself ordained in a year? Still need to think and pray that one through though. Cape Town seems to be where it’s at for the next while. With the sea, the mountain, the best Ultimate Frisbee in the country, and a wonderful girlfriend, what more could I want ;)

Well, this update was long overdue. I’m off to fetch Julie from work and throw a Frisbee on the promenade, before we go home to eat and change for… a UB40 concert tonight. One of the perks of Jules’ radio job is tickets to all the concerts in town!

On Wed I’m back in Jo’burg for three weeks. Seeing my family, speaking at my old church., visiting my granddad etc. Gimme a shout if you are there. I don’t know when next I’ll be up in Gauteng.

travelling

The last two weeks' whirlwind tour is almost over.

atlanta - huntsville - savannah - alanta - princeton - NYC - london - edinburgh - glasgow - iona - glasgow.

Still to come: glasgow - london - jo'burg - cape town

Phew! Tonight I'm back in Glasgow after two glorious days near the isle of Iona on the far West coast of Scotland. I've been checking the Iona Community out a bit to see if i want to come and work here. Tomorrow i catch the train back to London and next week i fly back HOME!!! Hooray. It's freezing cold there, but i still can't wait. SA here i come!

farewell

Well its over... this journey across the ocean.
I leave the US today.
Goodbye and thank you, it has been a pleasure.
Until we meet again...

Garden State of G

2 weeks of silence must mean that something has been happening. Correct!
I've been graduating, travelling, saying goodbye and moving on slowly back home towards Afrique du Sud.

The long way home:
Today finds me enjoying the gracious hospitality of Pomo Adam and Serene Sarah in Princeton, New Jersey. Sometimes NJ is called the Garden State... other times it is called the Armpit State. Anyway, Princeton is pretty. Today I took a tour of the famous campus, saw some pop art, took some pics, cycled on a great pathway next to a river, and finished it off with a Guinness and a braai. I didn't meet anyone famous, but i did see the place where A Beautiful Mind was filmed (John Nash still lives in the town.)
Tomorrow I'm catching a train into NYC baby! I'm going to run around there for a bit, take a walking tour of Wall street, see the sights and meet a high school friend, Eben, for lunch. It seems like he has been making the most of our solid Boys' High education and causing a stir in the big apple. I'm intrigued as to what he's been up to.
Friday I fly to London, and Sunday I go up to Scotland to visit the Iona community for a few days to see if that is a place I could spend a year or two at. Then back to London town for a few days to see my aunt, Charles, Nikki, Bi and some school friends I've reunited with through facebook. Phew! Wed 13th i finally fly home to cold wintery South Africa!

Rock Star:
To tell you the truth, all this traveling, the big names and places, make me feel like a bit of a rock star. I need to get home somehow, so why not the glitzy way? Nah, in a sense it's actually bitter-sweet. I'm enjoying the sightseeing, and every new place means that I'm one step closer to home. But it also means that a season has ended. I had a great time studying at CTS and living in Atlanta. The year was restful, surprising and grounding, and it was really sad to say my goodbyes. I'll miss the student life, friends so close by, cycling through beautiful neighbourhoods, the AFDC Ultimate etc. Even the safety was great. I guess it can't carry on forever. I have a calling, family and girlfriend to get back to. So... here's to a great year that has been, two exciting weeks of travel to come, and happy reunions back home! Cheers!

Oh yes, that two week silence:
I managed to cram quite a bit of exciting adventures into my last few weeks in Georgia - hence the silence here. First of all I graduated on Saturday the 19th. The ceremony was rather neat - all the professors in their 'religious super-hero' capes and colours, the bus loads of family members, and, of course, getting a degree! I even had two of my own fans who came from Huntsville to be there for me. Warner and Linda - you are amazing! Thank you!
After graduation, and the necessary celebrations and formalities, I got a granny car (NOT the 2007 model though) from my host family to borrow and drove to Huntsville for two days to say goodbye and thanks to my friends there. It was a brief visit but needed to happen.
I couldn't leave the US without a last game of Ultimate. So, on Friday i woke up early and went with some friends to Savannah, GA for the SUDS Memorial Day hat tournament. The weekend was great! Camping near the beach, great weather, super frisbee and, to top it all off, a really fancy dinner at The Olde Pink House in Savannah. Saturday we played in town, and Sunday was Beach Ultimate on Tybee Island. It was great to spend the day at the ocean, getting a bit of a tan/sunburn before I return to my third winter in a row.

Monday was the last day left to pack, clean the house, pay an exorbitant amount to ship my books back home, and to say the last goodbyes. All which I did before jumping on a plane yesterday and flying to NYC. It was sad to see the city of Atlanta disappearing through the window. It did. Who knows when I'll be back there. And that all finds me back here in Princeton, which is where this tome started. So I'll stop! Good night.