05 November, 2016

1 oeuvre (musique)

Ever since I discovered the complete recording of Tchaikovsky's Casse-Noisette (Nutcracker ballet music) in my early teens, I have associated this particular adagio movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnmbas-eOWI) with feelings of nostalgia.

Sometimes also with a longing to hold on to something that you know you need to let go of.
^

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It has been an emotional couple of days at college contemplating the loss of a large handful of friends who depart the College bubble indefinitely this month.

A loss for me because some of them will no longer be based anywhere near Sydney (Brisbane or Armidale for example) and, realistically, it's going to be so hard to keep regularly in touch, so different from seeing them every day or at least once a week.

A loss also even for those moving on into ministry (or returning to the workforce - or a bit of both) within the Sydney metro' region
- because although I love these people and feel they're such valued friends, life is so busy for all of us serving full-time or part-time here that you don't really get to stay connected as much unless you're labouring hard on both ends to maintain correspondence. (Also, unless they feel they have the time to keep up as much with me as I wish to with them - and since over half are introverts by nature this might well drain them of the energy they need for ministry.)


Time to go and read ACTS 20; my memory of that section tells me that could be helpful for Bible-based reflection...

...well, passages like this may resound a bit, anyway.
"Mais je ne fais pour moi-même aucun cas de ma vie, comme si elle m'était précieuse,
pourvu que j'accomplisse ma course avec joie, et le ministère que j'ai reçu du Seigneur Jésus,
d'annoncer la bonne nouvelle de la grâce de Dieu.
Et maintenant voici, je sais que vous ne verrez plus mon visage,
vous tous au milieu desquels j'ai passé en prêchant le royaume de Dieu."
ACTES 20,24-25


L/T.
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^ If watching the clip rather than just listening to Tchaikovsky's music - see how the girl wants to hold on to one, but how this is complicated by the other...