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Smooth Paths & Rocky Roads: In the Life’s Journey we climb high mountains, negotiate hazards, find unexpected surprises round the next bend… travelling with a serenity through the sunshine, frowning through the fog or smiling through the storm… …Nearly 350 years ago John Bunyan wrote ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. The hero, Christian, has a Life Journey thatContinue reading “The Journey of my Life”

Yesterday morning I reflected on ‘Life’s a day’ – the daybreak of birth, early morning of childhood, day-time of adulthood, evening of old age, night-time of death… I quoted the old hymn ‘Lord of all Hopefulness’. I could have referred to ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens Lord with me abide…Continue reading “The Time of my Life”

In this old hymn life’s a day… Lord of all hopefulness…Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. I’ve memories of the start of my ‘day’. I’ve spent most of my life working with children in their ‘early morning’; I still knowContinue reading “Lord of all Hopfulness”

Last night we enjoyed ‘Norah’s Ark’, an excellent new play written by our friend John. Set in Lowestoft it tells Norah’s story… Young Norah sees the devastation caused by the 1953 floods… adult Norah experiences the 2013 floods… throughout her life she has a recurring dream about a future flood… Norah builds an ark inContinue reading “I’m Still Standing”

Our friend Ann and her son Daniel were on local BBC news last night… Daniel, who’s 17, is profoundly deaf; he’s always used British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate. Since he was 12 he’s been campaigning for BSL to become a GCSE subject; it’s unfair that he can’t take a formal qualification in his ownContinue reading “Turning the Hopeless to Hopeful”

Yesterday, King Charles, at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, was presented with a crown, sceptre and giant sword to mark his Coronation. In a service of thanksgiving and dedication, he made a promise to Scotland to serve as King. Meanwhile, outside the cathedral, republican protestors with ‘Not My King’ placards were active and vocal. ItContinue reading “Divided Unity”

Walking in Norfolk woods we saw a number of ladies wearing red hats and purple clothing. I’d seen similarly dressed ladies in Lowestoft drinking tea. As I understand it… ‘The Red Hat Society’ (RHS) is an international group for women, aged 50+… they wear red hats and purple clothes to their meetings and events… foundedContinue reading “Red Hats and Goatskin Caps”

At church on Sunday Esther said: ‘It’s absolutely fine to intellectually know that I need to be still in the storm and that God is my help and refuge, but what does that mean on Wednesday when something particularly stressful happens…?’ Esther went on to answer her question excellently. I mused further… I grew upContinue reading “Know it. Feel it. Do it.”

Celebrating Achievements Abi was the proud parent last week when son Ben graduated. Ben has been in Durham for three years studying, maturing, achieving…. Abi shared the celebrations and posted this picture. Many, many friends wrote their congratulations, delighted for Ben, Abi and the family. ‘Congratulations Ben on your achievement… that’s amazing…. You’re awesome…’ WeContinue reading “Congratulations and Celebrations”

All God’s creatures got a place in the choirSome sing low, some sing higher,Some sing out loud on the telephone wires,And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got I’m returning to ‘Place in the Choir’. It’s so simple yet so profound. It’s about including everybody in church… or life generally. It’sContinue reading “A Place in the Choir (again!)”