Filter by month
At the risk of making you feel jealous, I am penning this article sitting under the shade of a tree on a beach, looking out at the azure, Caribbean sea, and sipping a rum punch--courtesy of the Royal Barbados Yacht Club. As I question myself as to how I am here in this beautiful setting, it is all down to our daughter living here on the Island of Barbados.
As I begin to write this I am in my 6th week here at Emmanuel church as the new Communications and Ministry Support Officer. These weeks have flown by and I already feel part of the furniture (in a good way). My first day started in prayer and with thoughts of who I had left behind after 17 years but, I had such a warm welcome from everyone here that I went home smiling and feeling loved.
One thing I’ve been aware of lately is the number of people within ECB who are really suffering. There are family problems, health problems, work problems, financial issues, the list is endless. The truth is life is often full of difficulty, and one of the fundamental questions people ask is ‘Why me?’.I suppose the answer is ‘Why not you?’.
I was the earliest I’ve ever been to a meeting this week. One month early in fact!
I could tell something wasn’t right by the surprised look on the unsuspecting host’s face as she an-swered the door! Now, the miscommunication may not have been all my fault (Hhuhum Mr Pardoe…), but I’m not one to blame.
It’s been one of those weeks. Perhaps you’ve had one too? One of those weeks where everything happens at once and it takes all your energy to keep your head (and everyone else’s) above water.
This is a Russian story that I was told with a moral that I like. A peasant was walking along in the dead of winter and came across a half-frozen bird. He picked it up and came across a newly laid and steaming cowpat. He tucked the bird in the pat up to its neck and went on his way. The bird began to warm up and coming back to life began to sing.