Get Busy Living...

Some friends of mine got me 'The Worst Case Scenario Survival Calendar' for Christmas.

It's sat in front of my PC and kept me entertained for eight months so far with it's random selection of miraculous survival stories and useful advise on how to avoid certain doom in various different scenarios (my favourite recently was how to escape being attacked by killer bees. Tip No.1-Run away....there were other tips, but couldn't get past the humour of the first hint- who really needs to be told to run from killer bees?)

I've mused on this calendar today (and that it took eight months to come up with this thought...) How often are our lives about merely surviving? About getting from one pay day to the next, paying the bills and just about getting by.

I think about Jesus' words in John 10:10 where he says 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full'.

And I wonder-do I take those words as seriously as I should?

The answer to that question is usually negative and prompts me to do something about it.

I need to step out of the survival mindset and accept that knowing Jesus is the only way to have a bigger perspective and remind me that there is more than just exisiting available to me.

With him, I can thrive.

I can truly live.

The Finish Line

I think the finish line's a good place to start.

Take a deep breath.

Take in all that you could want.

The great thing about blogging is that occassionally I get to big up my favourite bands. The above lyrics come from the track 'The Finish Line' by Snow Patrol on their recent 'Eyes Open' album. (I'm expecting free records from Polydor for giving that album a free plug). I'm off to see them play in a couple of weeks and very much looking forward to it. I do my homework when I'm going to see a band-listening to the back catalogue and new albums to make sure I'm singing along to the right lyrics. Only because over the years i've suffered from standing next to strangers ruining the gig experience by (usually drunkenly) badly singing the wrong lyrics. Anyway, I came across the lyrical genius recounted above because it struck a personal chord with me and where I'm at these days.

It's an exhilarating yet terrifying thought. That there's a possibility of new start at the end of something.

There's finish lines coming up in a lot of areas in my life. But I'm not going to let those finish lines defeat me.

Instead, I'm going to take a deep breath...

We Could Be Heroes

I may not have mentioned this, but I topped off the festivities of Chris and Louise's wedding by watching Lord of The Rings: The Return Of The King (again) when I returned to the house where I was staying last weekend. I know, I'm a geek, but that's not exactly news is it?

Anyway, for a fantasy tale, the film contains moments of profound insight and inspiration which echo and expose the 'real' world. I was especially struck by the scene where Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin have returned to the Shire after their long adventure. Bearing in mind that Aragorn insists that these four 'bow to no-one' in honour of their efforts to save Middle Earth, the four hobbits sit virtually anonymous in their local pub, with the world going on around them, blissfully unaware of the heroes in their midst and the sacrifices they have made for others.

I commented to Mark that I'm becoming more convinced that the real heroes in this world are the unsung heroes. Our culture makes heroes and idols out of pop groups, movie stars, reality television contestants and generally any one who stands up on a platform in public.

But on a day like today we must recognise how shallow that is.

Surely the real heroes are those who work tirelessly behind the scenes for what they believe. Whether those figures are the security and police who worked without praise to stop thousands being killed in terorrist attacks today, the medical teams who save lives day in day out in cash strapped hospitals, or those who give their time to help the hurt and the needy wherever they may be.

We need heroes. We could be heroes. We just need to choose to follow a path of selflessness rather than choosing what's easy and benefits ourselves first and foremost.

The path that my Saviour chose.

All The Dreams You Never Thought You'd Lose

I'm a light sleeper these days, so I don't really dream.

Well, if I do, I don't remember the dreams vividly enough in the morning for them to make any difference.

Is that why I find it so hard to think about having dreams, hopes and plans for my life?

Or have I allowed the same attitude to creep in when I'm conscious as when I'm asleep. A condition that allows dreams to come and go, but never bothers to maintain a tight enough grip on them to follow them through.

Dreaming involves risk. That the dream might not come true. That this dream might get wrecked by someone you loved and trusted. But that could just my personal experience.

It's certainly not that for everybody.

My friends Louise and Chris got married on Saturday. During the speeches we learned that Louise had dreamt the details of bridesmaids and all the other wedding stuff that matters to girls some months before the wedding, and, if I remember, some months before even becoming engaged.

I'm proud to have friends who can show me what it's like to dream.

Friends who show me what it looks like to grasp onto their dreams to make sure that they don't disappear.

Friends who take risks for love.

I gave the new Mr & Mrs Thomas a card that said 'live your dreams' on it.

Somehow, I don't think that is something that they are going to struggle to do together.

Maybe one day I'll learn.

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

Had a long hard day today.

Heavy situations and long hours at work.

Heavy envelopes and abundant paperwork from solicitors about my divorce when I arrived home from work.

I sigh. Thankfully, I manage to grasp an important perspective.

I'm blessed with special people in my life, people who love me for who I am regardless of the circumstances I currently find myself in.

It's these people I know will model God's love for me by being there for me time and time again.

I think of these individuals and my night breaks and fills up with bright colours.

You know who you are.

I'm glad to have you in my life.