The game of choice this year has been Pandemic, a cooperative board game where all players join together to defeat viruses outbreaks across the world. I don’t know what made us think of this, but there we are. Pandemic is a notoriously difficult cooperative game…
I am not fully decided whether it is the pandemic or the predicted economic and employment turmoil that I am most concerned about.
In Acts 9 we read of Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, and his sudden and unexpected experience of being rendered blind. Done to him, it plunged him into darkness and removed from him every confidence, certainty, and comfort that he was previously used to, and made him dependent upon others.
I remember press coverage of a “private” conversation between world leaders at a G8 summit a few years back where our (then) prime minister complained about the lack of thinking time and the relentless unceasing mill of meetings and decisions. There was no opportunity to pause or reflect or to gather evidence before setting events in motion, and as the leaders talked they each revealed a longing for space to reflect and consider.
If you’re starting to struggle, you’re not alone. I’ve been grappling this week with feeling sad at the ministries and gatherings that have dropped away because they can’t meet, and trying to summon up the energy to make some calls to colleagues. I suspect I’m not alone in wanting things to hurry up in a return to “normal”.
As a parent, it is blatantly obvious that September heralds a new season. The return of children to school brings with it some much needed relief for diary management, the anxiety of whether our children will settle in well to their new classes and schools and the administrative challenge of how the drop-off and pick-up arrangements will actually work. Is it possible to be in two places at once?
The opening talk at the UCAN conference has caused quite a problem. Based on the profound book "The Starfish and the Spirit", I found my jaw dropping at many of its insights and its revelatory explanations of how God created the church to function.
Breath-taking simplicity, profound consequences, but only attainable through miraculous intervention. Impossible to see happen except in rare circumstances?
It’s Friday – the one day in my diary with no meetings! Most of the clergy are off today, and I’m working from home – free from the noise, buzz and people that fill the church office every other day. I’ve had a mad week and there’s still a long list of tasks to be done before Saturday brings a well-earned rest. First on the list is the UCAN newsletter article. It’s now 11:40 and I’m only just getting going. Being at home doesn’t shield me from interruptions! So far this morning, the emails have been pinging, my phone has been ringing and Microsoft Teams has been doing what only Microsoft Teams can do. Not only that but being at home means washing to hang up … and cats demanding cuddles. So much for a quiet day! Click here to read this full article
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