I woke up yesterday morning to find that the storm in the night had blown down and broken one of our fence panels. We took it to the garage. Some of it’s rotten. It will need significant repair if it’s to survive another storm.
I read: ‘Thanks to the recent storms, my wheelie bin has to go on a speed awareness course.’
And: ‘The gale blew the roof off a cheese factory in France. There’s de brie everywhere’.
And Jesus’ story: ‘…a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had it’s foundation on the rock.’
Yesterday I was chatting to Chris. Chris and his wife have moved from Lowestoft to be closer to his son, Pete, and family. Pete has supported Chris, helping with the move, doing jobs around the house and in the garden. At a potentially stormy, stressful time Pete’s been a strength…
My wife Rachel helps at a Parent and Toddler group. Yesterday parents and children met at church; in the evening 17 parents went out for their Christmas meal… A group of women meeting together, providing strength for each other through life’s storms…
Meanwhile yesterday I went to our local Men’s Shed; in the evening we too had our Christmas meal… 26 older men with very different experiences of life who’ve got to know each other over a number of years…
Some conversations were humorous but inappropriate… light-hearted verbal abuse was given and received… Conversations included the need for anti-depressants, the sadness of bereavement, ongoing problems with grandchildren, house-bound wives – giving and receiving mutual support, strength through storms.
Musing on… my gratitude for family and friends who’ve provided strength through my storms… the importance of my faith, my foundation on the rock… the broken fence panel in the garage that needs mending.
malcolmsmusings.org 