RevGals Friday Five (plus three)--My Favourite Things!

My favourite things…

It’s time for the Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals, and today it’s your favourite things. 

1. Warmth. Whether it’s a roaring bonfire on a cool autumn night, the genuine welcome of friends, the warmth of shared laughter, a hot beverage in the morning (blueberry or chai tea, coffee, and mint hot chocolate are my faves), a down comforter to cuddle into on a chilly night, or the hurts-so-good burning of newly-exercised muscles, it’s good.

  

2. Music of all kinds. I have a hard time answering when I am asked about my favourite genre of music. Truth is, I like most (well-played- i.e., in tune and on time) music. My favourite artists list ranges from Mozart to Loreena McKennit to Dolly Parton, with stops along the way for the Beatles, Melissa Etheridge, Heart, Bruce Springsteen, Bach,  Shawn Thomas, kd lang, Bobby McFerrin, Chopin, Indigo Girls, Iz, Handel, Sting, ABBA, Billy Joel, Mannheim Steamroller, TransSiberian Orchestra, Dead Can Dance, Schubert, and John Rutter. What I listen to depends on my mood and what I am doing, but I rarely do not have music playing. I like to sing, too, but the less said about that the better. My voice is serviceable, no more, unlike my sister, who has a gorgeous voice.

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3. Water. I have found I really really like to be near water—a river, lake, stream, one of those desk-top fountains… Something about water, especially moving water, calms and soothes me. To truly relax and get into a meditative state, the sound or presence of “live” running water (i.e., not the kitchen tap) really helps.

4. Books. Again, all kinds. Theology (of course), photography, science fiction, history (all kinds), biography, cookbooks, poetry, etc. The four books I currently have on loan from the library are a book of Seamus Heaney poetry, a study of mental illness by a psychiatrist, an investigation of “adoption theology” in evangelical circles, and an illustrated history of Canada. I once (foolishly) thought that a Kindle would keep me from accumulating physical books…now I have a huge pile of “to be read” (TBR) books on myiPad AND another of physical books beside my reading chair. Of the reading of books there is no end…

5. The changing seasons. There’s something to like (and, of course, detest) in every season. But I love being able to experience all the variety of the seasons here in Windsor. There’s the lovely stillness of a fresh snowfall; the stunning beauty of the autumn colours of the trees against a clear blue sky; the excitement of tulip leaves spearing out of the ground, followed by their glorious reds and purples and yellows in the spring; and the long, glowing evenings of summer, gathered with friends around a bonfire canopied by green leaves. I think I would enjoy vacationing somewhere warm—Hawai’I springs to mind—but I think I would miss the changing seasons.

6. Creating. A sermon, a poem, a blog post, dinner, a garden, a new arrangement of furniture…making something new is a way of showing the image of God in us—the ultimate Creator.

 7. Corgis.  Wonderful dogs. Big enough to be sturdy, small enough to fit anywhere, smart, appealing, loyal, energetic—all-around great dogs. I miss my Corgi Morgan almost every day; he was my buddy. 

 

Morgan as a puppy

8. Aimless time. I don’t mean times when I don’t know where I am going or what I am doing, but time spent doing what I am drawn to next, without a schedule. Browsing in a library or bookstore, surfing the Web, exploring a new part of town; unstructured time.