From Alastair Campbell in Paid to Care?: Creativity in pastoral care requires more than merely being a back-up or ancillary service to the ‘real’ professionals. It entails offering something new, something which may be sparked by the friction which a theological understanding of human nature offers. And that’s why an immersion in theology is the best … Continue reading »
We’ve just come back from a lovely weekend visiting friends and unexpectedly seeing some other old friends. How lovely to be away from everything for forty-eight hours, to enjoy the end of Peter’s half-term together, and to take a short break from the various tasks which are jostling for my attention! (Tesco hotel vouchers are … Continue reading »
I’ve been reflecting a bit lately on the nature of leadership in the church. I feel hopelessly clueless about this most of the time, actually. Perhaps it’s because I fell abruptly into senior leadership of a church long before I ever expected. Perhaps it’s because, other than some great mentoring early on as I developed … Continue reading »
Fridays are for joy. They are for learning to live life in the slow lane. For exploring what it feels like to have a blank diary page once a week. For being able to spend time just sitting with God, not feeling like there is something else that I should be doing. For writing and … Continue reading »
LML. From the land of texting and Facebook statuses, yet another acronym. This time courtesy of my soon-to-be 13 year old brother. To my delight, one of his friends had to comment on said status, asking what LML stands for. So I’m not totally uncool for not knowing. But it means LoveMyLife. I felt a … Continue reading »
Today I just needed to write something. It won’t be a long piece because I am half-brain dead, it seems, after nearly ten hours at college! But it feels like it has been too long since I blogged; I have been building up so much that I want to reflect upon, to react to, to … Continue reading »
This is a picture of the shelf above my research desk. You might think it a bit random but I can tell you that this sign is a great encouragement to me! In case the poor quality of the camera on my mobile phone is hindering your ability to read the inscription, this is what … Continue reading »
I’ve posted about this before. In fact, there is a series of posts from me on the subject because I have this problem with books. It’s a bit like a child who overloads their plate with food at a party. They promptly take a bite from every item before feeling overfaced by the quantity of … Continue reading »
Well, here I am, having done not only this research induction but also one week at my research desk. (One week being, in real terms, two days because I am part-time everything and full-time nothing!) The water-walking has begun in earnest and it has been a strange week. The worst day, without doubt, was Tuesday. … Continue reading »
Journalling is one of those habits which most supports my faith development. I do so love to reread the records of God’s faithfulness to me. It’s like having your own book of psalms of remembrance! As I go back over my entries, I relive the pain, I remember the desperate prayers and I enter again … Continue reading »
