Just re-read my previous post about the wedding. And, although slightly embarrassed at how gushing I seem to come across in that post, the memories are still fresh and are continuing to make me smile.
In the interests of keeping it real on here though, must explain a little bit about how it feels to be smacked back to reality.
At the wedding reception on Saturday, a bunch of us were all dancing around to Embrace's 'World At Your Feet'. A World Cup song it may be, but for those moments on a perfect day, the world really was our oyster and anything, absolutely anything, was possible for us all.
Monday and Tuesday have seen a marked change in mood. The world has been far from at my feet and seems to be weighing up whether to get right in my face or just try and crush me on my back. The realities of work stress and sudden worries about ill health to members of my close family seem to have been able to swiftly undo all the good that the weekend provided...
So that reminded me of Ecclesiastes. Many people find it an Old Testament book to avoid. After all, who wants their morning quiet time to remind them that 'everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind'?
But I like Ecclesiates (or Qohelet, if I am to impose an heir of superiority from the fact that I studied theology for my degree). Most all all, I like the fact that despite all the absurdities, seasons and problems of life that he identifies, he ultimately chooses to grasp onto the reality of God.
Anyone can hold onto the reality of God after red letter days like Saturday. But if I am going to truly have ''faith that is sure of what we I hope for and certain of what we do not see'' as I read out from Hebrews 11 at the wedding, then that also means following the example of Qohelet and not abandoning God in the face of life's absurdities, but taking a step of faith and trusting in the unseen, no matter what season of life we find ourselves in.
And yes, sometimes this step of faith means we have to cling on for dear life in the face of life's difficulties.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The One With Amanda's Thunder
Red letter days don't seem to come around very often so when they do, the best thing to do is celebrate them!
I've been away this weekend at the wedding of my friends Amanda and Alex.
Friends is perhaps too general a term. Amanda has been my friend and put up with me through thick and thin for nearly thirteen years. And (it may appear to be a cliche, but I don't use it often) she really is the closest thing to a sister that I have.
So it was all set up to be a good day and it did not disappoint! Alex and Amanda invited me to take part in the service and let me loose in front of all their guests to do a Bible reading. I was a bundle of nerves beforehand not wanting to do a bad job. However, the chance to stand in front of them both just after they had got married was well worth all the clammy palms and shaky hands that I was having to deal with during the build up. Seeing the broad smiles on their faces was truly special, though I quickly realised that sustained eye contact would cause me to choke up, never a good start when you are supposed to be reading!
Very quickly I came to realise that many of my most favourite people in the universe were in attendance and how often do you encounter that? Not nearly often enough.
But thanks Mark, Jo, Tanya, Louise, Chris, Richard, Jen, Rachel, Pete, Beth, Ben, Dee (and the many others that I've no doubt just offended by not including them, always a danger when you start listing things) for you're part in the day, it was great to see you all.
My point in all this? Firstly, the renewed awareness that I am humbled and privileged indeed to have great friends. The challenge of this is to make sure that I don't just appreciate them on the great days, but remind them of h0w much esteem I hold them in on a regular, if not daily, basis, (which goes for all the others I love who were not in attendance as well).
Secondly...well, it was probably the best wedding party I experienced which, for the hardcore, ended around 1am or just after. But the party did end although we wished it wouldn't. To put a spiritual perspective on stuff though, there is the reminder that, as we sang in church and read in Revelation 19:7-9, that there will one day be a wedding party that never ends.
I'll see you there, if you've responded to your invite that is...
Mr & Mrs Pickering, I love you.
I've been away this weekend at the wedding of my friends Amanda and Alex.
Friends is perhaps too general a term. Amanda has been my friend and put up with me through thick and thin for nearly thirteen years. And (it may appear to be a cliche, but I don't use it often) she really is the closest thing to a sister that I have.
So it was all set up to be a good day and it did not disappoint! Alex and Amanda invited me to take part in the service and let me loose in front of all their guests to do a Bible reading. I was a bundle of nerves beforehand not wanting to do a bad job. However, the chance to stand in front of them both just after they had got married was well worth all the clammy palms and shaky hands that I was having to deal with during the build up. Seeing the broad smiles on their faces was truly special, though I quickly realised that sustained eye contact would cause me to choke up, never a good start when you are supposed to be reading!
Very quickly I came to realise that many of my most favourite people in the universe were in attendance and how often do you encounter that? Not nearly often enough.
But thanks Mark, Jo, Tanya, Louise, Chris, Richard, Jen, Rachel, Pete, Beth, Ben, Dee (and the many others that I've no doubt just offended by not including them, always a danger when you start listing things) for you're part in the day, it was great to see you all.
My point in all this? Firstly, the renewed awareness that I am humbled and privileged indeed to have great friends. The challenge of this is to make sure that I don't just appreciate them on the great days, but remind them of h0w much esteem I hold them in on a regular, if not daily, basis, (which goes for all the others I love who were not in attendance as well).
Secondly...well, it was probably the best wedding party I experienced which, for the hardcore, ended around 1am or just after. But the party did end although we wished it wouldn't. To put a spiritual perspective on stuff though, there is the reminder that, as we sang in church and read in Revelation 19:7-9, that there will one day be a wedding party that never ends.
I'll see you there, if you've responded to your invite that is...
Mr & Mrs Pickering, I love you.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Top Five Records
So, those of you paying attention at the back will have noticed the presence of High Fidelity in my fave movies and books bit, and it's been a running theme for people to challenge just how sad I am by throwing obscure top fives in my direction.
Anyway, my friend Rachel has come up with the 'everest' of top fives. The task? Pick the top five songs that best express your personality.
After much mulling, I came up with this list. And, seeing as this is a place for me to be honest before the whole world, here's my selection, and my attempts to justify their inclusion
1. Coldplay- Fix You (kind of a new record but the sentiment reflects my sense of trying to fix every single situation I come across)
2.Embrace- The Good Will Come Out (like to think that my personality has that kind of grit-your-teeth, get on with and look towards a better day type vibe to it that this song has)
3. Radiohead-Creep (struggled with including this one-seems a bit cliched but sadly I'm prone to bouts of feeling like a creep, a weirdo and that I don't belong)
4. Echobelly- Great Things (cos a lot of my activism and work is fuelled by that fact I want to achieve stuff that's long lasting and great!)
5. Bob Dylan- Most of The Time (most of Bob's recent stuff isn't as well known as the early stuff, but this song is really good. Personality wise I relate to this, trying to get on with things, saying I'm alright and healed from past hurts, when really it's only most of the time that I'm OK and some days really hurt. A bit deep, but felt I needed to justify the inclusion of this song all the more!)
So there. Anyone else care to chip in?
Anyway, my friend Rachel has come up with the 'everest' of top fives. The task? Pick the top five songs that best express your personality.
After much mulling, I came up with this list. And, seeing as this is a place for me to be honest before the whole world, here's my selection, and my attempts to justify their inclusion
1. Coldplay- Fix You (kind of a new record but the sentiment reflects my sense of trying to fix every single situation I come across)
2.Embrace- The Good Will Come Out (like to think that my personality has that kind of grit-your-teeth, get on with and look towards a better day type vibe to it that this song has)
3. Radiohead-Creep (struggled with including this one-seems a bit cliched but sadly I'm prone to bouts of feeling like a creep, a weirdo and that I don't belong)
4. Echobelly- Great Things (cos a lot of my activism and work is fuelled by that fact I want to achieve stuff that's long lasting and great!)
5. Bob Dylan- Most of The Time (most of Bob's recent stuff isn't as well known as the early stuff, but this song is really good. Personality wise I relate to this, trying to get on with things, saying I'm alright and healed from past hurts, when really it's only most of the time that I'm OK and some days really hurt. A bit deep, but felt I needed to justify the inclusion of this song all the more!)
So there. Anyone else care to chip in?
There's Something Inspired Going On Here...
Well probably not. But I'm trying to grab attention in this whole blog world thing, so I'm sure you can forgive me for a little overstatement on the first post.
Why the sudden interest in starting a blog? And what do I have to say of any interest anyway? Both very good questions, if I do say so myself.
I guess the answer to the second question will become apparant after a few weeks of me typing random thoughts-we'll soon see if there is anything interesting that I have to say. But I've seen a few of these about from various characters I've encountered over the years and thought 'if they can do it, it must be easy!'. Not strictly true, but I was amazed how reading the thoughts of others was thought provoking and inspiring.
And to quote Orlando Bloom in Ridley Scott's 'Kingdom of Heaven' -'what man is a man who does not make the world better?' And if I can make the world better by inspiring someone with a positive mesage, or making friends and/or strangers laugh at my stupidity, well, guess that will be good too.
Thanks for playing the game and reading this far.
Check back soon
Paul
Why the sudden interest in starting a blog? And what do I have to say of any interest anyway? Both very good questions, if I do say so myself.
I guess the answer to the second question will become apparant after a few weeks of me typing random thoughts-we'll soon see if there is anything interesting that I have to say. But I've seen a few of these about from various characters I've encountered over the years and thought 'if they can do it, it must be easy!'. Not strictly true, but I was amazed how reading the thoughts of others was thought provoking and inspiring.
And to quote Orlando Bloom in Ridley Scott's 'Kingdom of Heaven' -'what man is a man who does not make the world better?' And if I can make the world better by inspiring someone with a positive mesage, or making friends and/or strangers laugh at my stupidity, well, guess that will be good too.
Thanks for playing the game and reading this far.
Check back soon
Paul
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