Testosterone Towers stays at home - Day 72

Talk about extremes...
In the Towers today residents have been:

1. Doing some work at the new house.
2. Supporting a socially-distant loved-one who is grieving. 
3. Catching stuff that is thrown at us from all directions.
4. Deciding if we need to hold on to it, or pass it on.
5. Early-morning swimming in the local lake.
6. Keeping on top of social media who are reporting the corps fundraising effort.
7. Delivering stuff and visiting church members.
8. Having a little cry, then moving on.
9. Collecting and delivering the weekly food donations.
9. Taking a few moments to catch my breath.

I don't share this information so you'll know how busy we are.
Long lists of duties of the day don't impress me.
It's more that life seems so turbulent at the moment.
It felt fragile at first, but now it feels a bit like a tornado,
and I can't believe that I'm the only one.

Many people face difficulties of all kinds, right now;
not necessarily covid-related, but certainly covid-affected.

It feels like we're losing so much of what makes humanity bearable from social-distancing;
the chats, 
the coffee and catch-ups, 
the gathering to mourn or rejoice, or just be together,
the hugs. 
Dear Lord, the hugs... 

So all together now take a deep breath in.
Hold it.
Then out.
Repeat several times until we feel differently.
Even if it's just a teeny bit.

In him we live.
And move,
And have our being.

Pausing to breathe won't make our difficulties go away.
But it will remind us that we are loved with every breath we take.
It's going to be ok.

Lots of love xx


His purpose was for the nations to seek after God
and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him
-though he is not far from any one of us. 
For in him we live and move and exist.

Acts 17:27-28



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 years of ministry

I hadn't realised it myself. I'm not very good with dates, and years, and anniversaries. But yesterday my Facebook Timeline was full of it. It's 20 years since we were commissioned and ordained. 28th May 1993 at The Royal Albert Hall, London. As I listened to 'Our Songs' The ones written for us, and for the occasion I became a bit nostalgic. As I looked at the video And saw my friends and colleagues I almost felt a pang of grief For the people we were The things we shared. But this is a letter to the 25 yr old girl I was then From the woman I am now "You made it! By the skin of your teeth at times but you got there in the end. And this ending Full of brass, and drums, and singing and laughter and drama and dance is just the beginning. In the years ahead you will know joy Real joy Laughing so hard no sound comes out. Friendships that are only in their infancy here Will become your anchor in the days ahead. And people that ...
Read more

Five Minute Friday: Song

Image
It's our Silver Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday. 25 years. I told someone the other day and she gasped, and said, "You don't look old enough" Which is absolutely the right response. We're having a few friends over next Friday night to celebrate. There will be food And dancing And fun And song. 'Our song' to be precise. As we met in the 80's, Our song is 'Solid' (Ashford and Simpson). It's the song we used to dance to at parties. It's the song that made us laugh. It's the song we always talk about when reminiscing. Our 25 years together hasn't been perfect You won't be surprised to hear that. There has been much joyful song. But sometimes the notes have turned dischordant. Sometimes we've sung in a minor key. More recently we have sung songs of lament. But to mis-quote Gloria Gaynor We have survived. We're still standing (Elton John) And we're still singing from the same hymn ...
Read more

STOP! Look and listen.

I helped at Nathan's Christmas Fair yesterday. It was packed with excited children and exhausted parents, so pretty much business as usual. Do you ever want to scream STOP at this time of year? Enough. Too much already. Mum, my sister and I sorted out Dad's things on Tuesday. As we filled the car with bags for the charity shop it felt so final. A person's life contained in a car-load. STOP. Enough. Too much already. Today has been a better day. The sun has shone. The sky turned a brilliant blue after the snow showers. And I had a lovely coffee with Chris at the Garden Centre. As we were driving back I remembered the Advent challenge I gave our congregation a few years back. It came from the carol, 'It came upon the midnight clear', And the challenge was to 'Hush the noise, ye men (and women) of strife And hear the angels sing.' Or, STOP. Look for the reality of His presence in the madness of Christmas. Listen for Him. His ange...
Read more