August 2017 – ALookintoT

Sixth Sense

The definition according to Merriam-Webster dictionary of sixth sense is “a special ability to know something that cannot be learned by using the five senses. A power of perception… a keen intuitive power.” Okay, then why are we so sure or judgmental when us humans cannot predict what appears obvious in hindsight? Hindsight is 20/20! Right? Our five God given senses are sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. We have body organs that facilitate these senses if we are so blessed to be born with them. Eyes for sight. Nose for smell. Ears for hearing. Tongue for taste. Finger tips and special sensors all through our body for touch. Pride is not one of those gifts from God. I believe if we really exercise our five senses then we have an excellent chance to become perceptive of our surroundings and perhaps even possess that intuitive power defined as a sixth sense.

Can we predict rising water? Perhaps, but can we foresee a historically high water event?

As the picture shows there is water everywhere. We are all experts now is saying why didn’t the authorities do something sooner. After all, the weather folks forecasted a huge hurricane that would dump water over east Texas. Did we not listen to the warnings? Well, yes we all listened to a forecast but did we have a sixth sense to predict just how bad it was going to be? I took this picture just outside my house in Louisiana but is no where near the historical event as seen in the Houston area. Should I take precautions? Yes, like getting sandbags and making sure I have ample food and drink in case “Harvey” continues its destructive path over us. But does that cover my potential risk? If it is not a monumental water event, I am confident all is ok. Does that give me the right to condemn others for their lack of preparedness whether victims or authorities who some say should have known? My point is that we all live our lives making preparations as if it all depended on us but in reality we should be aware that we are all subject to conditions beyond our anticipations. We use our five senses to help protect our bodies to the best of our abilities. If we really exercise our bodily senses, we may even become very perceptive far beyond our known abilities. When we possess that intuitive power, we can be used in a mighty way.

In Matthew 16:17, Jesus acknowledged Peter’s intuitive power as a gift from the Father and because of Peter’s gift, Jesus saw the foundation of his church. Now that is a precious gift to us all. In Romans 12:2 we are advised not to conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can receive God’s will. I believe we should tone up our senses, and tone down our rhetoric. We should not look at terrible events that have happened and be prideful that we would have done better after hindsight. We should build up our senses or gifts given to us to a level where our perceptive powers can act in advance of the inevitable news cycles after the fact.

do or do not

We are blessed to have scientific knowledge at our finger tips but what if we were born when eclipses signaled a terrific event? It would be a moment of extreme anxiety but today we make it a celebration because we know the outcome. We are not blinded because we are educated on how to protect our eyes. Do you believe in miracles or do you not believe until proven by science?

The exclusive trajectory of this eclipse is first time over the US since 1776 and first total eclipse of the sun visible at all in the US since 1979. Scientist say with a certain amount of confidence that this phenomenon will cease in about 600 million years because of the moon’s slight changes in orbit. Now that is a long time! The next time we have such an event in the USA will be in 2024. But are all things explained by science? I think perhaps not all things can be explained away.

I think we can be a agent for miracles or in other words we can do an action that prompts divine intervention or we can do nothing and never know the outcome of our inaction. Let me use the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish as described in Matthew 14:13-21.

Have you ever consider the message within the message? It took the disciples efforts to feed themselves and their master before the real miracle was possible. What if the disciples had not taken a small action? Would there have been a larger miracle that day? Maybe, but I suspect the moment would have past without the miraculous event. I contend we must take action before a greater action becomes perhaps a miracle. I have heard it said that God cannot steer a parked car. We must get in the car and start on a journey before we can be led to a higher calling. I consider this dilemma has a decision to do or do not.

Where will the next miracle occur and will you be party to the doers or the do not group?

Stepping out of Wales

I promised more on the Welsh language which I think is very peculiar in a wonerful way. Their dialec when spoken in English sounds similar to the Scots but more singing in their pitch, in my opinion. However, when you hear them in their native tongue, not too recognizable. Their towns are sometimes more of a description to the area. The most longest one is translated into a location as follows. “Mary’s Church by the white hazel pool, near the fierce whirlpool, with the Church of Tysilio by the Red Cave.” (See picture for the Welsh word for the town.)

This postcard says it all. Can you pronounce it?

We arrived in Conwy on the 3rd Day in Wales and booked into an awesome B&B called Gwynfryn. You can find them at their website at www.bedandbreakfastconwy.co.uk. Interesting that the owner bought the place from the Methodist and converted the sanctuary into the breakfast area and the vestry into rooms for guest. We all loved the accommodation and hospitality so highly recommend. You can see loads of pictures on my Facebook site as well as their site. Conwy is a very quaint town. The food and pubs are great so the B&B is very well located just inside the castle walls a block from the high street and a few blocks down to the harbour. A great location for day trips to Snowdon and Caernarfon Castle where Prince Charles became Prince of Wales.

Sanctuary converted into a breakfast area but note features of the sanctuary remained as is. Lovely preservation!

The next day we were off for a Day in Liverpool translated from lava pool. The ancients saw the sea weed in the Mersey and thought as lava. Liverpool has a mythical bird called a liver bird with seaweed hanging from their mouths as statues on some older buildings. Gerry and the Pacemakers made the Mersey famous with their song of crossing the Mersey. Lyrics starts with “Life goes on day after day…So ferry ‘cross the Mersey”.

We really went to Liverpool for one reason. You guest it. Beatle mania, not me, but my wife as she always wanted to tour their museum. It was awesome even for me. Lol. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, that song will be in your head all day. Right? Oo, she loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. We nearly over stayed our time at Liverpool as almost missed last ferry back to Gwynfryn for our home away from home. Apart from the Cavern famous for Beatles’ jam sessions and where Cilla Black worked, did you know about their original hangout at the Casbah Coffee House?

On our 5th day, we headed to Snowdon after an awesome tour of Caernarfon Castle. Charles became Prince of Wales there but that is modern history as the castle dates back to 1283 where Edward 1st shored up his kingdom from the many who claimed rightful king over Wales. I find it very interesting to see ancient power struggles. How will history write our chapter 1,000 years from? That is of course we do not blow ourselves up before then. Hmmm
After Caernarfon Castle, we were off to ride an old steam driven incline train up to the summit of Snowdon. It reminded me a lot of Pike’s peak in Colorado without the wildlife except the sheep. Wales have sheep and a lot of them. They are white dots all over the landscape. Very beautiful hills and valleys!

View from Snowdon. The Seagul is a long way up.

We headed back home to Gwynfryn after another awesome pub dinner and drinks.

Our 6th day fell on a Sunday so naturally a traditional roast dinner is in order so headed to Llandudno for a great meal. I had lamb of course but the roast pork or beef looked just as good. The promenade at Llandudno is spectacular along the semi circular beach front. Alice in wonderland author lived and wrote masterpiece there. We went on to the Great Orme on another steep path train to the summit. What an great site to see.

Day 7, we sadly said goodbye to Great hosts Monica and colin and granddaughter Libby (3 years old serving us with big smiles) at Gwynfryn in Conwy headed back to England. We shall always remember our steps into Wales and look forward to when we return. Would you like to meet us there?
T

Dreamers in Wales

As we leave England and enter Wales over a spectacular bridge over the river Severn, I am anxious to see more of the beautiful countryside. Before I jump into stories of castles, water falls, caves and more local pubs, I have a question. Have ever wanted to own your own castle or even build your own village? One person’s dream when becomes a reality can be a gift for generations later. Let me start with Adeline Patti. As a young girl she lived behind a stage watching her parents perform so it is little wonder she would follow. Crag-y-Nos Castle (English: Rock of the Night), is a Victorian-Gothic country house in Powys, Wales. it is not a castle but close in my eyes and those of Madam Patti. She lived at Crag Y Nos Castle at the turn of the last century. She entertained her guest with lavish parties and theatrical performances along with her gifted singing voice.
Today, Crag y nos is great for Weddings, haunted house feeling and dog lovers as hotel friendly to dogs. We enjoyed it as a stopping point to explore caves at the national showcaves of Wales and the awesome waterfalls. The hiking up and into the caves then down to the falls are not for everyone but enjoyed by many.

From our stay at crag y nos, we continued on to Conwy stopping at Barmouth for awesome beaches then to Portmeirion which brings me to the second dreamer.
Clough Williams-Ellis, built Portmeirion Village after dreaming for more than thirty years. He decided that one day he would choose a site and build a group of buildings for his own satisfaction. He became a successful Architec and achieved his dream. He purchased a private peninsula off the Snowdonia coast. You may remember the famous beach from the 1960s TV show called the “Prisoner”.

Remember the huge ball chasing number 6 along the sand flats. “I am not a number.” The residents were assigned numbers instead of names and their every movement is followed by monitoring systems and security forces. If someone tried to escape, the white balloon called Rover would capture them. Patrick McGoohan was No. 6 who battled No. 2 and an unseen leader, No. 1. Brilliant!

Finally, we ended our 3rd Day in Wales at Conwy. Stay tuned for more awesome adventures.

One step into Wales

As I write this post, I am thinking how wonderful life can be. We can live in chaos or live in peace. The older I get the more at peace I feel. I am learning to take it one step at a time. This post begins a journey through Wales. It may take a few posts to describe the adventure but worth it I think. Read on but first a prelude.

Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” He is the father of Taoism usually translated as the Way as the Tao. All about unity and opposites or Yin and Yang; action and non-action; light and dark; hot and cold; etc.

We started from Fareham for our annual trip with friends to new adventures. In previous years. We have been to Ireland, Scotland, Narrow Boating through English canals near and through Birmingham. Wales was our destination this year. No preconceived notions of what we would find but was pleasantly surprised. The people were friendly and the pub food was awesome. Use your imagination on the pub beverage but lots of choices. Lol
Our first stop was Bristol to tour a very old steel constructed ship called the. SS Great Britan. SS stands for steam ship by the way. it was a marvelous specimen of engineering designed by Brunel. Who was an extraordinary engineer. His designs also included the suspension bridge over the Avon. His ship’s design included first screwropeller which became the standard for proceeding iron ships. It sailed many times to Australia and America before a damaged mast ended her career. She was relocated back to her construction dock after 127 years of service in 1970 and now on permanent display for generations to see. You can check out pictures on my Facebook page.
We went on to see the suspension bridge over the Avon from the observation point. There was even a cave to get to the lower observation point. This was an awesome adventure even before we made it to Wales.
We arrived at Crag-y-nos castle after a superb pub lunch just before the castle called the Ancient Briton. Highly recommend the pub! Day 2 started with breakfast among dog owners at the castle but that will be later to explain.
T