I'm sat on the sofa of my flat, spinning around worries about the shift of work I start at 2pm this afternoon. I don't enjoy late shifts and I'm not actually sure I'm any good at the job I have recently moved to. And I worry what the consequences of that will be. Will I be fired? Will I have to leave and forever be explaining why there is a short term job on my CV? How will I pay the rent if either of the first two happen?
However, in light of what I have just written in my previous post, I felt that I should write all the areas in which I am greatly blessed, so I focus on what I have than about what I don't have and can't obtain by worrying.
A wonderful wife whose love never stops amazing me.
A dedicated family, both immediate and now extended who are supportive and just great to be around.
A great set of friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin,bringing with them many hours of laughter and inspiration.
An inspirational church family, not just located to one church or denomination, but who challenge and push me to be more Christlike in the way I approach everyday life.
I feel that I have gone down this road on a blog before, but I think there is nothing wrong in sometimes writing up again what is true- that I have so much to be thankful for, that should take up more of my time than worrying about what I am not, or do not have.
I am blessed.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A Tonic For Compassion Fatigue
There's so much hurt on the news at the moment as we see the suffering of people in Burma and China in the wake of devastating natural disasters.
Combine that with our own headlines about credit crunches and inflation and the temptation is there to feather our own nests rather than make a sacrifice to help people we will never meet. One of the youth work sessions I have been commissioned to write this term is on apathy and how seeing people in need and not responding is a sin.
It's in the midst of this that I received a letter from the family of the child I sponsor yesterday, and their closing statement was to boldly state that they love me for the support I give to them. And that's only a few pounds a month which makes a massive difference to a family I may never meet. To hear of their gratitude and love for me when my support equates to a letter a month and a few less treats in the shopping basket is truly humbling.
Whereas we may never know the names of the people in Burma or China who are helped by our generosity, it literally could be the difference between them living and dying. We literally can be heroes to these people even if we are not there among the ruins of their cities.
There's a current billboard poster for Oxfam near my house at the moment that says:
'Get rich quick. Give'.
I can imagine a carpenter from Nazareth sharing the same sentiments.
Combine that with our own headlines about credit crunches and inflation and the temptation is there to feather our own nests rather than make a sacrifice to help people we will never meet. One of the youth work sessions I have been commissioned to write this term is on apathy and how seeing people in need and not responding is a sin.
It's in the midst of this that I received a letter from the family of the child I sponsor yesterday, and their closing statement was to boldly state that they love me for the support I give to them. And that's only a few pounds a month which makes a massive difference to a family I may never meet. To hear of their gratitude and love for me when my support equates to a letter a month and a few less treats in the shopping basket is truly humbling.
Whereas we may never know the names of the people in Burma or China who are helped by our generosity, it literally could be the difference between them living and dying. We literally can be heroes to these people even if we are not there among the ruins of their cities.
There's a current billboard poster for Oxfam near my house at the moment that says:
'Get rich quick. Give'.
I can imagine a carpenter from Nazareth sharing the same sentiments.
Monday, May 12, 2008
April 27th-May 2nd 2008
A car full of balloons.
Lunch at a motorway services.
Achtung Baby.
Steep slopes.
Aggressive seagulls.
Wide Open Spaces.
Birdsong.
Violet Hill.
The middle of nowhere.
Eden.
Sea view
Cup of tea at a motorway service station.
Home.
A new life.
Lunch at a motorway services.
Achtung Baby.
Steep slopes.
Aggressive seagulls.
Wide Open Spaces.
Birdsong.
Violet Hill.
The middle of nowhere.
Eden.
Sea view
Cup of tea at a motorway service station.
Home.
A new life.
Let There Be Hope
I've noticed a lot of cynicism around me lately.
Rachel and I got married two weeks ago and are still very much enjoying married life.
However, the cynicism I've become aware of isn't between us, but on behalf of those acknowledging our happiness. The cynicism is typically accompanied by such encouraging gems as:
'Let's see if you're this happy in forty years'
'You'll soon learn what married life is all about'
Now, I'm a realist and fully accept that our newlywed euphoria is a current thing, and in years to come there will be challenges to our life and love for each other. And I am not naive enough to believe that these will not be diffcult and testing times.
However, my request to those who have given us such advice so far, and may do in the coming weeks is this- please, please offer us hope.
If you want to give us advice on marriage, make it practical advice like our friend Tad who suggests that arguments are done on the sofa with a cup of tea.
But please don't reflect negative ideas on us just because the British culture does not like to celebrate good things, nor believe they can last when good things do emerge.
Let's believe that love can last in a world that sees it as a seasonal, disposable thing.
Let's offer hope, not cynicism to those just starting out on the journey.
Let us newlyweds rekindle what it was like for you all those years ago and let us remind you all of that you once hoped for, and still can.
Let there be hope.
Rachel and I got married two weeks ago and are still very much enjoying married life.
However, the cynicism I've become aware of isn't between us, but on behalf of those acknowledging our happiness. The cynicism is typically accompanied by such encouraging gems as:
'Let's see if you're this happy in forty years'
'You'll soon learn what married life is all about'
Now, I'm a realist and fully accept that our newlywed euphoria is a current thing, and in years to come there will be challenges to our life and love for each other. And I am not naive enough to believe that these will not be diffcult and testing times.
However, my request to those who have given us such advice so far, and may do in the coming weeks is this- please, please offer us hope.
If you want to give us advice on marriage, make it practical advice like our friend Tad who suggests that arguments are done on the sofa with a cup of tea.
But please don't reflect negative ideas on us just because the British culture does not like to celebrate good things, nor believe they can last when good things do emerge.
Let's believe that love can last in a world that sees it as a seasonal, disposable thing.
Let's offer hope, not cynicism to those just starting out on the journey.
Let us newlyweds rekindle what it was like for you all those years ago and let us remind you all of that you once hoped for, and still can.
Let there be hope.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
