Month: <span>May 2005</span>

It was an interesting threesome, no foursome. Two guys, a girl and a baby. Really mmm… how to put it? Aussie. Slang- their words really down to earth, with the occasionaly four letter one thrown in. Talking loudly and natrually on the train. So unlike most snobby, self concerned others. Rough kind of people – maybe not stacks of education. I couldn’t work out who was the dad at first. It’s so completely bizzare to see a guy going all ‘soft’ over showing a tracksuit they bought for ‘her’. The friend was holding her (the baby) – just looked really at ease. The baby can’t have been quite 1yr, on his lap perfectly content. A curious mix of, ‘We don’t have a clue what parenting is all about, we’re new to this.’ and the ingrained ability to care.
Despite the language, the rough and ready, dole bludger appearance (which is kind of judgemental… but how do you explain?) I think it was a better situation for the kid than an overprotective, sanitised, fantatical, ‘knowledgeable’ couple.
Oh I doubt they were married. I felt sorry for the kid at first – think of environment, but I changed my mind. She was happy.

God, I’m sorry. I jump to conclusions on first apperances. You are the only one that should judge – who has the right to. Help me to see people for who they really are, the way you see past each of my mistakes. Show me God how you see others and teach me to look at them the same way.

So people use blogs and dump up fairly irrelevant results of quizzes, (OK I confess, sometimes they are interesting), but they really don’t tell you very much of the person unless you’ve seen the questions that have given them their score – Oh yes you can follow the link given and do the quiz yourself… But this often involves signing up to something you will frequent that once and continue receiving spam for every other time that you don’t visit.

I was wondering how you could ‘tell a bit more about yourself’ (just random facts/quirks etc.) in a more unique way, and although I hardly think this will let you know much more about me. I’m going to try it to satisfy my own curiosity… This is some of what I think about when I spend my 3hrs of Thursday public transport without book or music (a rare and frustrating occurrence).

The five senses…
Hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell…

Hearing

The notables:

Music – clearly obvious. I don’t know many if any who don’t like music to an extent, except for my 10 year old self. I built up for myself a ‘I don’t like music’ persona for some stupid reason or other. My guess is that it was a comment on some music my sister liked and I decided to get stubborn and not like it. I really did go through a phase where I was extremely selective and overtly against it. I did like Classical music (don’t laugh) and I still do – although I rarely listen to it.

More on music… Handel’s Messiah is the one piece of music I would love to see performed live – along with my ‘Hobbit’ reading tradition (every Christmas Eve), I often fail to mention the accompaniment (being the afore mentioned).

To quote a friend about music, “I love any music with a good beat”… I love the clever use of piano. I like harmonies – unusual ones. i.e. I stopped hanging around to hear Kaya (on Xfactor) once they left, waste of time kind of television anyway.

Despite these particular ‘likes’, I don’t think that my entire music collection really demands them. I think I was about 13 or 14 before I ever owned a CD, I now own more than my 3 sisters (put together might be stretching it, but it would be close).

Hearing… I love the sounds certain words/phrases make. Be it ‘flirting with words’ as my head sometimes refers to it. Exploring unusual combinations (which I ‘hear’ in my head)…. Had to get it in somewhere. I also like clever song lyrics that twist words to mean different things despite saying the same thing.

Rain on a tin roof… No, make that rain full stop. A common favourite. The best way to go to bed is with that sound.

Laughter… If it’s not ‘nice’, it’s funny because it sounds so terrible.

A lone trumpet 🙂

Pet hearing hates:
-Sister’s singing (Laura or Hannah) not all the time, but particularly when they are doing it purposely to annoy you.
-My dog, when I’m sitting on the veranda trying to do something other than giving him full attention.
-Wirebush on carpet, similar cringe factor to nails on a blackboard.
-Gold 104.3 it is a rare moment when this is pleasant.
-Parties with loud music/ the ‘doof doof’ variety. I’d rather be able to have a conversation without screaming, thanks.
-Certain Connex trams with high pitched squeals, it gets close to unbearable after 10 minutes and will undoubtably last the other 70.

And the best, (although in select situations) is…

Silence.

and a few other ‘hearing’ facts just for the sake of it:

I occasionally – but not for a long time, have had my ears ringing, this is understandably frustrating… used to have trouble with ear infections when I was younger, maybe a byproduct.

I have heard an earthquake before it happened.

… The strangest being was waking up in the middle of the night and hearing this weird yell… Completely isolated, quite scary. I’ve never worked out if it was a dream or an actual someone.

hmm this has taken longer than intended.
stopping now.

It’s interesting God, how I mention a slow down – thinking this is what I so desperately need/want and I find myself sitting here with nothing particularly urgent to do. It’s good, no not to be continually passive, but to take a little time to reflect on your greatness. To be still.

Book review… 1000wrds (or there abouts). written in a cram session. One sitting to read the book, one and .005 to write it. Had to include 400wrds + about a chapter/concept. Probably not the worlds greatest review but it is done.

I failed an Old Testament mini test today. That would have to be a first, come close before. Mind you they only count 3 of the 4 (or is it 4 of the 5?). I’ve passed the others… so not studying does show afterall, although I just made stupid obvious mistakes. Better do OK on the next one. Don’t mind really (kind of surprised that I don’t mind :P) might be because the subject is just plain boring.
stupid me 🙂 at least read the questions properly next time.

—————-BOOK REVIEW——————-

Cooke, K (1994). Real Gorgeous: The truth about body and beauty. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin

Introduction

Kaz Cooke’s Real Gorgeous confronts self-esteem through a humorous, relevant look at the world of beauty. Unlike the majority of unappealing, purely informational books on self-image, Kaz Cooke presents a method of action and not just theory. She gives practical advice where her experience as a columnist aids in exploring the media influenced world of beauty. Her book offers further resources and provides young women with a wealth of useful information.

Real Gorgeous

The author’s intention of, “We need the facts which will make us RELAX, not the overwrought opinions that send us fleeing to stupid diets, insane over exercising and mirror-misery.” (p.ix) sets out a pattern of breaking the mould of information influenced by advertising and presents a secular view of healthy body image to the secular world.

From topics on – ‘Body shape’, ‘What is normal’ and ‘You are not your buttocks’, chapters focus on the facts yet impart practical knowledge to the reader. Kaz Cooke provides insight into how our perceptions of ourselves are influenced by the media and culture and tackles eating disorders in a direct yet sensitive manner. Real Gorgeous defines what is ‘normal’ and what is considered normal, shows up the realities of the modeling industry, gives tips about the myths and lies of ‘lotions and potions’, and outlines advice on establishing greater understanding of yourself and doing daily battle with the ‘body police’.

You are not your buttocks

Chapter six, ‘You are not your buttocks’ draws together what has been presented through the entirety of the book and takes a closer look at self-image and self-esteem. The author identifies that, “For a long time women’s self-esteem has been tied to their feelings about physical appearance.” (p.201), although this is no new observation, the candid presentation of responses to surveys and short anecdotes in the margin of the text enforce the reality being presented. The curious use of quoting segments of graffiti found in Australian Universities regarding ‘self’ and individual reflections provides authenticity to the writing and the reader is easily able to associate. Despite the realism of the situation from a secular perspective and there is an apparent but unknowing adhesion to the Christian perspective of being, “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:13-14).

In discussing the pressure to have bad body image, the author expresses her annoyance at advertisements, particularly those of the beauty industry and as she points out, “Thighs, hips and bums are not ‘stubborn’ any more than they are ‘confused’ or ‘happy. Body parts do not have personalities or feelings.” (p.203) Cooke dispels the attaining of a ‘perfect body’ as a myth and defines ‘body hatred’ as fashionable. There is immense truth in the author’s words and she has a clear perception of Australian/Western culture.

It was encouraging to find a book that considered the flipside of the ‘fat factor’ in a short segment on ‘being thin’. As the majority of books emphasise the issues that larger girls deal with. The problem of the questioning of femininity, presents again the dilemma of body shape. The author’s convinced position and contention of working with and being satisfied with what you have, does not contradict the biblical position on, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7) yet does nothing to emphasise the need to look inwardly.

“Body-image boosters” are provided with the author’s direction to, “Come back and read this section any time you feel bad about yourself.” (p.208). Proverbs 31:30-31 clearly defines beauty as fleeting and, “the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. Although coming from a secular position, and having neither the expectation nor requirement to focus on the spiritual/internal and despite effectively promoting tips for developing a healthy mental attitude to body image, the author completely fails to point out the actual triviality of external beauty.

The rest of Chapter Six addresses what the author calls, “the body police”, focusing on the judgments of others, the pressure upon girls and women’s physicality, their ‘figures’ and their faces. Kaz Cooke speaks about being, ‘trapped by the lies’. This greatly reflects the truth of, “man looking at the outward appearance” (1 Sam 16:7). However in combating those ‘lies’ the author presents a mental (and occasional spoken) method of giving the reader a list of comebacks to use when faced with a, ‘you’re fat’ (or similar) comment. This action although potentially helpful in principle, is questionable in its content and method. As Christians our worth needs to be found not in affirming our value in being comfortable in our body shape, but in understanding how God sees us for who we are. If we fully understand that we are created in His image, our worth will come from a deeper more secure source. Nevertheless, each method is about adapting a mental attitude and in this the author has hit on an effective means of beginning to address body-image issues.

Conclusion

Real Gorgeous has found a niche in the world of ‘self-image’ information. Accompanied by humorous cartoons and insights from ‘real women’, this book is easy to read, informative yet practical. Kaz Cooke’s intention of writing not just another book of theory but one about action appeals and is effective for its audience. Despite the need for Christians to find their initial worth in God and their ‘being comfortable with themselves’ as a byproduct, this is the presentation of truth from a secular author in a media choked society of lies and in that you cannot go far wrong.

It is interesting looking back over what I wrote yesterday… because I was still in a black hole of confusion after writing them, as if I slipped momentarily out of it and then unknowingly back.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

on last night: Thank you for listening, for God’s wisdom through you. I needed to hear that.

God, your peace trancends understanding.

Help me to stop scrutinzing where each individual part fits into my big picture. I can’t begin to say that I even know what that picture is.
Script my life, take away this desire to try and do it all myself. Slow my overthinking, my compulsive analysing. Slow me down.

Thank you for this stretching. You’ve got me, let me stay in the security of knowing that you’ll only take me as fast as I can go. You are constant.
Holy God, you’re my savior, you’re my complete.