{"id":6622,"date":"2018-12-26T13:13:59","date_gmt":"2018-12-26T12:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=6622"},"modified":"2018-12-26T13:13:59","modified_gmt":"2018-12-26T12:13:59","slug":"ding-dong-curiosity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/12\/26\/ding-dong-curiosity\/","title":{"rendered":"Ding! Dong! Curiosity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\ncome on in …<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

My Christmas reflection<\/h3>\n

from the lessons and carols service in Rotterdam on Sunday, 23 December 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

 
\nI love books, especially books full of ooh! and aha! moments. <\/p>\n

This book, How to be an explorer of the world<\/em><\/a> is one of them. It\u2019s full of practical projects designed to reconnect us with the wide-eyed wonder we had as children.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Wonder in the little things, the seemingly simple things of life.<\/p>\n

But if you get up close and personal you discover they are far from simple. Each living thing is a wonderland.<\/p>\n

Take a new-born baby \u2026 in many ways like any other baby, in need of love and nurture; in so many ways, wholly unique and unpredictable.<\/p>\n

Take the geranium in my kitchen or the orchid collection in Romina\u2019s living room; in many ways like other plants, in need of care and attention; in so many ways, wholly unique.<\/p>\n

Just like children exploring the world, discovering things for the first time, it\u2019s good to have some \u2018firsts\u2019 of our own on a regular basis … to set ourselves up for regular doses of wonder.<\/p>\n

The key is curiosity.<\/p>\n

Like Mary\u2019s curiosity that kept her from opting out in her encounter with the angel and that prompted her visit to Elizabeth.<\/p>\n

Like the shepherds, confronted by an army of good news angels, who left their flocks to search for the baby in a manger.<\/p>\n

Like the wise men, who were curious about the meaning of the star that appeared out of nowhere and set off to honour the new born king of the Jews they read about in their ancient writings.<\/p>\n

Naturally there were risks and no doubt they were afraid. How did they overcome the fear and come into action?<\/p>\n

Somehow they let their curiosity and not their fear dictate their response. They found the faith and courage to explore the world that God was bringing into being, partly through their willingness to play their part.<\/p>\n

May God bless us all with a good dose of curiosity this Christmas, so the familiar and the fearful do not trap us in a \u2018that\u2019s the way it is\u2019 and \u2018that\u2019s the way it always will be\u2019 mindset. Instead, may we find the grace to go deeper and maybe find new, more life-giving ways to celebrate Christmas and so discover anew the wonderland that Christmas is meant to be \u2013 whatever our age, whatever our circumstances.
\n <\/p>\n\n

A prayer<\/h3>\n

It may seem naive,
\n   in a world of grief,
\n      to choose to live in joy;<\/p>\n

It may seem foolish,
\n   in a world where solemnity is power,
\n      to sing and dance to a different tune;<\/p>\n

It may seem cruel,
\n   in a world of suffering and injustice,
\n      to speak of light and celebration;<\/p>\n

But you have come, Jesus,
\n   to bring joy into our grief,
\n      light into our darkness,
\n      singing into our mourning;
\n   and it is an act of healing and proclamation
\n      to believe and embrace the joy you offer.<\/p>\n

Joy to the world!
\n   The Lord is come!
\n      Hallelujah!<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n

written by John van de Laar, published on the Sacredise.com<\/a> website.
\n <\/p>\n\n

 
\nFrom the blog<\/strong>
\nNature bringing joy<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

come on in …   My Christmas reflection from the lessons and carols service in Rotterdam on Sunday, 23 December 2018.   I love books, especially books full of ooh! and aha! moments. This book, How to be an explorer of the world is one of them. It\u2019s full of practical projects designed to reconnect … Continue reading “Ding! Dong! Curiosity”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,148],"tags":[149,145],"class_list":["post-6622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer","category-reflection","tag-christmas","tag-prepare"],"yoast_head":"\nDing! Dong! 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Advent in the dark We wait in the darkness, expectantly, longingly, anxiously, thoughtfully. The darkness is our friend.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "reflection"","block_context":{"text":"reflection","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/reflection\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/moon_clouds_and_cyprus_trees.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/moon_clouds_and_cyprus_trees.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/moon_clouds_and_cyprus_trees.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/moon_clouds_and_cyprus_trees.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3205,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/05\/2017-advent-faith-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":6622,"position":3},"title":"2017: Advent Faith #4","author":"Laurence Twaddle","date":"December 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) Micah 5:1-5a \u00a0(NIV UK) 1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops, \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 for a siege is laid against us. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 They will strike Israel\u2019s ruler \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 on the cheek with a rod. 2 \u2018But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/olive_tree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/olive_tree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/olive_tree.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/olive_tree.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15912,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2024\/12\/04\/hope-for-today-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":6622,"position":4},"title":"Hope for today #5","author":"Graham Austin","date":"December 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Jeremiah 11:7 \u2018From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, \"Obey me.\"\u2019 \u00a0 Yesterday we left the Exodus people as they were about to enter the Promised Land with the choice of obedience or disobedience with its subsequent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "daily devotion"","block_context":{"text":"daily devotion","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/daily-devotion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_5.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hope_for_today_dots_800x124_5.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3499,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/17\/2017-advent-joy-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":6622,"position":5},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #1","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) On this third Sunday of Advent, we begin a new mini-series, this time on Advent Joy, featuring reflections by Rev. Andrew Gardner of the Scots Kirk in Brussels. YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY Isaiah 55:12-13 \u00a0(The Voice) 12 For you will go out in joy, be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/tree_house_cows.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/reflection\/\" rel=\"category tag\">reflection<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"come on in …   My Christmas reflection from the lessons and carols service in Rotterdam on Sunday, 23 December 2018.   I love books, especially books full of ooh! and aha! moments. This book, How to be an explorer of the world is one of them. It\u2019s full of practical projects designed to reconnect…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6622\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}