Xmas evening reflections from Albany Western Australia

(photo of the jetty at Middleton Beach Ellen Cove Albany)

It's Christmas evening, the end of a long day spent with family and friends. I am in my home town of Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia, 4.5 hours drive from Perth.

Early this morning I walked along the white sands of Middleton Beach, which I reckon is one of Western Australia's finest beaches

Tonight I have been reading poetry, Mahmoud Darwish and Rumi, where I read these words:

"In generosity and helping others, be like a river.
In compassion and grace, be like the sun.
In concealing others faults, be like the night.
In anger and fury, be like the dead.
In modesty and humility, be like the earth.
In tolerance, be like the sea.
Either appear as you are, or be as you appear
It is certain that an atom of goodness on the path of faith is never lost
Open your heart, and you will hear the lutes of the Angels
After despair, many hopes flourish.
Just as after darkness, thousands of suns open and start to shine
Before death takes what has been given to you,
you must give away everything you can give”

Rumi (13^th century mystic and poet)