Stones

"...a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them..."

Ecclesiastes 3:5a (New International Version - UK)

Walking The Fine Line

There’s a fine line between supporting and ‘fixing’. 

Take, for example, the way I act now towards my children. Both of mine are now fully grown, and each have lives of their own. However, they still reach out to Dad for help from time to time. As they should! And I'm always there to help. To support. 

However, I'm not there to fix. Just like when you teach them to ride a bike, I've had to learn when to pull my hand away and when to keep it there. 

What I can do is help them find the wisdom, even the strength to figure out what happens now. This is the line between fixing and supporting. 

And, do you know what? That line is there for many different types of relationships, not just between parent and child. 

Things I Worry About

On the Topic of Assumptions

Be Kind

“Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

Z is for ZZZ on time

Key to a good mental attitude is a regular sleep pattern. It's something that I haven't always followed, to my detriment. Ten years of being a Street Pastor (however much I enjoyed it) really upset my body clock for a few days afterwards! 

Right now I like to prepare for sleep with a set routine:

• I like to start and quieten down during the early evening. I really don't appreciate events that go on and on without a set end time!
• I try to go to bed at the same time every night (I am an early bird, so I like to be in bed between 9 and 10pm)
• I will turn off my mobile phone each night (so I don't get disturbed by notifications or even phone calls in the middle of the night. And yes, it used to regularly happen!)
• I will leave a cold drink by my bed to sip if I wake up in the night. That gets me back to sleep quickly.
• I try to get up at the same time every morning (see above - I'm usually up and about between 5 and 6am). 
• I don't use an alarm clock - I find that this sleep pattern means I don't need one. If I need to be somewhere important I will set a reminder on my phone however 99% of the time I'm already up and waiting for it to go off!
• I used to wake up to a talk radio station but the comments by the radio presenter used to get me in such a foul mood that it was quickly removed from my routine. One less thing to carry if I go away!
• When I wake up, I like a cup of coffee or two a good couple of hours before breakfast.

This seems to work for me. What works for you?

Y is for Yes

I want to say yes to the Lord of my life,
Say yes to His will and design.
I want to say yes to His plan for my life,
And no to ambitions of mine.
I want to say yes to the Lord of my life,
My will to His will to align.

Yes to Your will, and Your will alone.
Yes to Your plans and no to my own.
Take all I have Lord, I cannot give less;
Here is my answer- it's yes.  

(from 'I Want To Say Yes', lyrics by General John Gowans)

X is for Xenophobia

I've blogged about Xenophobia before. 

It's a handy X-word for a task like this.

Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. The topic goes further and deeper than just racism...

It was good to see The Salvation Army asking its members about this topic at the Congress. All are welcome at our churches or centres - and should be. 

W is for Work-Life Balance

The pressure of an increasingly demanding work culture is one of the biggest challenges to society’s mental health.

Tricky, then, when your work is for your own church. And people will still contact you after hours "just for a quick chat"... 

V is for Victory

In the name of Jesus,
in the name of Jesus,
We have the victory.
In the name of Jesus,
in the name of Jesus,
Demons will have to flee.

Who can tell what God can do?
Who can tell of His love for you?
In the name of Jesus, Jesus,
We have the victory.
(lyrics: David J Evans)