33 and 1

I flew in to Boston on business last Monday to the tragic news that 33 people had died at a college in Virginia when a gunman killed students and lecturers, ending with taking his own life. My American colleagues were in shock and the TV channels seemed to show nothing else all the while I was there.

Aside from again asking questions about America's ridiculous gun laws, I'm not sure asking questions about why it happened will get us very far. A twisted mind has led to many innocent victims and grieving families.

I got back to the UK to the news that an old friend had died. Ian Wilkie was only 62 and died of a brain tumor. He was the pastor that had married me and Roh years earlier. Always full of life, with a real energy, he will be missed.

33 and 1. Many more of course, every moment of the day. We all of us face death. For some there will be some warning, for others, it will be sudden. We pray for those who grieve, and we prepare ourselves for that journey as best we can.

Henry Venn, an Anglican minister in the 1700's, was told by his doctor that he was going to die and had only a few days to live. He was so excited at the prospect of going to be with his Lord, that the adrenalin that pumped around his system kept him alive for another three months! May we all be able to anticipate that day and say with St Paul 'death where is your sting?'

We grieve with the families of the 33 and the 1. And we look forward to a day where there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more needless killing.

7 - 1

It was my birthday yesterday and my football team decided to lay on a treat for me....

For United to win 7-1 against Roma in the quarter finals of the European Cup was quite something. Some of their play was breathtaking. The 6 'one-touch' passes that led to Alan Smith's goal were so good I don't have the right superlative for them!

Not a bad way to start another year. I hope and pray my own approach to each day this year will be the same as the Manchester United players last night- committed, purposeful, full of energy, and successful.

Mountains and valleys

One of my favourite films is ‘Chariots of Fire’, the story of the 1920 Olympics in Paris, and of two runners in particular- Harold Abrahams and Eric Lidell. Lidell’s story revolves around his refusal to run on a Sunday and then going on to win gold in another event.

Abrahams story is one of a struggle within himself, overcoming many obstacles and winning the gold in the sprint. One of the most poignant moments is when the athletes return home to London off the boat train. There’s a great celebration at the station, but Abrahams waits on the train. Only when the crowd is gone does he come out onto the platform and into the arms of his waiting girlfriend.

It’s often the way, that when we have been on the mountaintop, a valley follows. That was Abrahams experience, and possibly ours too. So we need to be prepared for ‘lows’ as well as ‘highs’. The most prepared of us will be ready, having enjoyed the mountain, being prepared for the ‘real world’ we must live in.

No one could take Abrahams medal away from him. He won it. Let’s hold on to our mountaintop moments and use them to live our daily lives, whatever height we may seem to be at, at the time.

Another stone

I have another stone. It sits on a shelf near my bed. At first it was a reminder for prayer. Now it is a reminder to thank God.

The stone was taken from a muddy site on the edge of Parnwell in Peterborough. Today that site houses a building with an auditorium for 1800 people and numerous additional rooms.

When I took the stone, it was in prayer that the building would be built, that there would be enough finance for it. Now, whenever I look at it, it is with thanks to God for a miracle.

The building is KingsGate, belonging to Peterborough Community Church. You can see the pictures on

www.pcc-uk.org

Stones and mountains

We've just had the patio done at the back of the house. Before the guys came to lay the new paving, I took out four stones that I'd placed near the back door, so they wouldn't be lost. Each of them hold a story.

One is a stone from the top of Cadair Idris in Wales. I climbed it with our twins and my brother in law. What an achievement it was, and what an amazing view from the top!

The second looks just like a broken heart. It was taken from a beach in Wales where I was having a bit of a chat with God, after quite a hard time. I felt the stone summed up how I was feeling and I left the broken heart with God that day. The other two stones are from South Africa and Australia, from business visits to those countries. Each represents a stone 'placed' before God. A physical reminder of prayers prayed, issues fought for.

Samuel does something similar when Israel beat the Philistines in a battle described in the Bible:

"Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it 'Ebenezer' (Rock of Help), saying, 'This marks the place where God helped us.' "

Each of my stones marks a special moment, a moment where God helped me. A physical reminder of a battle fought in prayer, of a mountain climbed.

Different worlds

I've been out to India about 8 times now over the last 10 years or so. Despite getting used to the different culture to an extent, it is still a struggle to come to terms with such a different world.

I remember the first time I went, one of my work colleagues commented that I was no use back at work for a month or so! It really is that different. I take a team with me each time I go, knowing it will affect each one greatly. They really will not be the same again, such is the culture shock.

So even after all these years, I come back to a well paid job in the business world and wonder whether I should even be doing this sort of work when there is such need elsewhere.

I'm grateful for my job, my family, the relative affluence of the country I live in. But I can't forget the needs I see in India. And while I may not be able to change the whole world, I aim to keep changing India one life at a time.

What time is it in your world?

On getting back from India last weekend, I let my watch adjust itself. You see, I have one of these rather clever watches- it has a link to a Satellite signal so it will always go back to the right time in the UK after a trip away. Or so I thought.

My watch is also an alarm clock. I set it as normal on Sunday for a 6.00am Monday wake up in order to get the 7.00 train to London. Sure enough, the alarm went off, I got up washed, dressed and headed out to the station.

I thought it was a bit funny that our neighbours Chris and Marion were not awake as the light is usually on as I pass their house. And there seemed to be a lot less cars on the road too. And where were all the passengers at the station?! It was at this point I looked at the station clock. Five to six in the morning! But my watch showed five to seven!

Needless to say, I was in rather early to work and had a bit of a long day. My watch is still adjusting an hour ahead. I've had to turn off the satalite link bit. Maybe the Satellite has been blown up or something?! Conspiracy theory time!

This is what the Bible says:

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life."

So fleeting in fact that I'm an hour ahead of myself!