Doubt that the Sun doth Shine...
but never doubt I love thee...
The weather in Scotland doesn't seem to think there's much of a reason to celebrate at the beginning of this brand new Year. A year of possibility! Indeed, a year of probability! Due to my distinct lack of mathematical knowledge, I don't really know how chances work, but I delight in saying that I know that God is 100% likely to prove faithful this year!
I spent Christmas with some of the most fantastic people in the world - who are fast becoming family in Edinburgh. Still afraid to give my heart away again (and again) but they're drawing me in... I can't help loving them!
[The only thing which marred Christmas was a certain shopping trip which failed rather miserably. Jenny P. and I went to the Bear Factory in Leith, hoping to surprise Bailey with a new bow tie for Christmas. They didn't have any! And when I broke the news to Bailey, I knew he was disappointed, though he tried not to show it. Then he brightened up and said "At least my Jess-tie is tartan!," (He calls it a Jess-tie because I cut and made it out of Jess's old pyjama bottoms) "And I'm a Scottish Bear, you know!" This said in his gruff English accent. "Really," said I, "I thought you were born in Surrey!" "Yes, well," he replied hurriedly, "I was doing some research - the Internet really is wonderful - and I discovered I have a great great aunt by marriage on my mother's side who was born in Nova Scotia, and they're all descended from the Scots over there, you know." Thereupon I was seized with jealousy. "You're Scottish and I'm not!" I cried, and rushed out of the room.]
On Boxing Day, I headed down to London, a very large, sooty, and noisy place down in England, and reunited with and met some really rather clean looking people, none the worse for soot. The joy of chatting and praying with Shirl, the pride of seeing her explosive performance as Mrs Sowerberry in Oliver!, the inspiration of sharing photos and stories from Europe with Heather, the intimacy we experienced in the crowd crush at Westminster at New Year (with each other and half of London)! The blessing of seeing my parents and sister - who were visiting Epsom, the very great pain of saying good bye until who-knows-when.
Shirley took me to see "The Lion King", which I have no sufficient vocabulary to describe. Our jaws hung open and tears streamed from our eyes.
I am now returned unto Edinburgh, and moved into a great flat for a wee while, at least. It's on the top floor of a graceful Georgian building in New Town. I have a very funny room with no windows and a skylight in the ceiling. The rain beats down on it and I think of spring. I've never really experienced the joy of spring because I've never really experienced Winter with a capital W (though Grahamstown in July has its moments...) Spring must be GLORIOUS. I read in the newspaper that they have calculated, taking into account such things as the weather, the effects of overspending and overeating at Christmas, and I think it was something like the empty shelves after the Sales - they have calculated that the 23rd of January will be Britain's most unhappy day. Bah humbug to that! Happy people, unite! Storm the forts of sadness! Leave no stone unturned! We shall find the beauty and the gladness of life! We shall fight on the beaches! We shall never surrender!
And so I sit and squeak, smiling to myself because I am a squeaky wee thing facing Real Life once again. I smile because I know Someone who's bigger than Real Life - a God who's with me as I run into the wind and see more mountains ahead. Storm the forts of sadness!!
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!" Phillipians 3 v13b -14
The weather in Scotland doesn't seem to think there's much of a reason to celebrate at the beginning of this brand new Year. A year of possibility! Indeed, a year of probability! Due to my distinct lack of mathematical knowledge, I don't really know how chances work, but I delight in saying that I know that God is 100% likely to prove faithful this year!
I spent Christmas with some of the most fantastic people in the world - who are fast becoming family in Edinburgh. Still afraid to give my heart away again (and again) but they're drawing me in... I can't help loving them!
[The only thing which marred Christmas was a certain shopping trip which failed rather miserably. Jenny P. and I went to the Bear Factory in Leith, hoping to surprise Bailey with a new bow tie for Christmas. They didn't have any! And when I broke the news to Bailey, I knew he was disappointed, though he tried not to show it. Then he brightened up and said "At least my Jess-tie is tartan!," (He calls it a Jess-tie because I cut and made it out of Jess's old pyjama bottoms) "And I'm a Scottish Bear, you know!" This said in his gruff English accent. "Really," said I, "I thought you were born in Surrey!" "Yes, well," he replied hurriedly, "I was doing some research - the Internet really is wonderful - and I discovered I have a great great aunt by marriage on my mother's side who was born in Nova Scotia, and they're all descended from the Scots over there, you know." Thereupon I was seized with jealousy. "You're Scottish and I'm not!" I cried, and rushed out of the room.]
On Boxing Day, I headed down to London, a very large, sooty, and noisy place down in England, and reunited with and met some really rather clean looking people, none the worse for soot. The joy of chatting and praying with Shirl, the pride of seeing her explosive performance as Mrs Sowerberry in Oliver!, the inspiration of sharing photos and stories from Europe with Heather, the intimacy we experienced in the crowd crush at Westminster at New Year (with each other and half of London)! The blessing of seeing my parents and sister - who were visiting Epsom, the very great pain of saying good bye until who-knows-when.
Shirley took me to see "The Lion King", which I have no sufficient vocabulary to describe. Our jaws hung open and tears streamed from our eyes.
I am now returned unto Edinburgh, and moved into a great flat for a wee while, at least. It's on the top floor of a graceful Georgian building in New Town. I have a very funny room with no windows and a skylight in the ceiling. The rain beats down on it and I think of spring. I've never really experienced the joy of spring because I've never really experienced Winter with a capital W (though Grahamstown in July has its moments...) Spring must be GLORIOUS. I read in the newspaper that they have calculated, taking into account such things as the weather, the effects of overspending and overeating at Christmas, and I think it was something like the empty shelves after the Sales - they have calculated that the 23rd of January will be Britain's most unhappy day. Bah humbug to that! Happy people, unite! Storm the forts of sadness! Leave no stone unturned! We shall find the beauty and the gladness of life! We shall fight on the beaches! We shall never surrender!
And so I sit and squeak, smiling to myself because I am a squeaky wee thing facing Real Life once again. I smile because I know Someone who's bigger than Real Life - a God who's with me as I run into the wind and see more mountains ahead. Storm the forts of sadness!!
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!" Phillipians 3 v13b -14
posted by Unknown @ 11:41 am
0 comments
