Short observations and fragments from the margins.
**The Badgers ** To imagine a community garden, and people growing food together, and nobody being lonely, and the earth becoming a little more like heaven -…
Poemsbrueggemann · dream · Faith · imagination · kingdom of god · prophetic-imagination
**Amsterdam to London with Bart ** Bart is 98. His cells are leaving "in droves," but he's still signing card numbers to a man across the aisle, helping him…
The type of bright sunshine which gives grass an extra sort of lurid dimensionality is the same sort of sunshine which has been pouring through the attic…
PoemsFaith · joy · poetry · sorrow · swifts
Recent job applications have inspired me to view my everyday a little differently... Key Achievements In just one week: I have promoted my tram ticket from…
Joy can be disarming. I've just been reading a book about trauma-informed teaching, and it introduced me to the PACE model: Playfulness, Acceptance…
Learningscreativity · fun · joy · play · playfulness
A remix of the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the parkrunners, for theirs is the Saturday morning. Blessed are those who start, for they will surely finish…
Poemsbeatitudues · parkrun
On the Wednesday of our week in Iona, we went on a pilgrimage walk around the Island led magnificently by Meg and Martin Wroe. We read extracts from 'Around a…
Poemshaiku · Iona · pigrimage
It has been a dusty few weeks. The decrepit heating system in our house got replaced and a light film of murkiness descended in its wake, alongside holes…
Poemsash wednesday · dust · Lent · poetry
Psalm The psalm is a salt shaker. Elevates our being, the sorry comic farce of it, Into praise of God. - The psalm is a salt shaker. Spatters our bitter…
"The church’s contribution has to consist... in its showing forth of a different myth - the truth of creation’s relation with the Creator and especially the…
Climatecreation · environmental theology · grace · sacrament · sacred
One of the things which has been mentioned to me often by a particular generation of Christians, is an action which happened as part of the Jubilee 2000…
Faithadvent · fruit of the spirit · longing · power · renewal · Spirit
Where there is no vision, the people perish. This proverb was quoted by Claire Perry, the ex-COP President fired at the beginning of 2020, in her resignation…
Climateclimate breakdown · climate change · climate crisis · climate justice · dreams · environment · peace · reconcilation · violence · vision
Sharing these words from Naomi. The thought I've been dwelling on this week is the idea of not having 'a spirituality borne of functionality'. So often my…
stories we tell about who we are, tethered to now, they sing of tomorrow their being is here, telling of there. As far as word association goes, 'future' is…
Learningsdreams · future · hope · narrative · story · vision
Lord, We are afraid to admit culpability because we are worried we will be held accountable. We are afraid to repent because we are worried we will have to…
Once upon a time, a people lived in fear. In all the world they lived in, they sought for Love drawn near. They knew that Love was full and true, was certain…
In the past two days, 800+ people have died in the UK from Covid19. Their funerals will be attended only by immediate family members. Many more deaths are…
Poemsdeath · grief · loss · sorrow
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our…
Faithchange · future · kingdom · pandemic · uncertainty · vision
Bad poetry seems to be the order of the week friends (sorry). A continuing theme of the last few years has been realising life's indeterminacy and navigating…
Poemsbelief · change · doubt · grief · loss · poetry · unbelief · uncertainty
Recognition of worthiness unites wisdom and worship. This past week I've been thinking about this connection, and about holding together authority with…
PoemsFaith · poetry · Wisdom · worship
Maybe it's the nights getting colder, and the feeling of setting out home in the dark - but I've been thinking a lot about holding onto light this week. "Let…
Faithadvent · creation · dark · Faith · light
...you'll keep getting what you're getting"
Learningsbravery · change · miriam swaffield
Our choices are important, but they are not foreclosing of what is most important.
Learningschoices · counterfactuals · freedom
nothing is wasted in nature or in love.
Poemsbirthday · Christian Aid · laura gilpin · life · poem · poetry
Some quick scribblings from a recent experience. Dedicated to Rachel Held Evans who showed me the beauty of broken unbelief. Let me hear it for a church built…
Faithbelief · brokenness · church · Faith · unbelief
I have been thinking about Home ever since I got asked in the Praxis One course to complete the sentence 'I want the story of my life to be the story of…
Scripturehome · life · psalm 23 · shelter · the story of someone who · walk
I stand outside the barred church doors/ hammering with my fists/ while around me/ the world dies.
Powerbonhoeffer · brokenness · change · confession · conflict · courage · evil · gideon heugh · Lent · poverty · reflection · reflections · wake up
On Saturday I was part of another Extinction Rebellion action called 'Blood of Our Children'. Outside Downing Street, we dressed in black, and protesters…
Climatecca · christian climate action · climate breakdown · climate change · extinction rebellion · justice · protest · xr
I have been thinking a lot about the words of Behrouz Boochani in 'No Friends But The Mountains'
Powerasylum · Boochani · human rights · humanity · morality · politics · public debate · public discussion
the pulse of hope/ the echo of our name/ and the bread in our teeth/ a cup on our lips / and breathing at our side
Faithawaiting · communion · eucharist · kingdom come · lord's prayer · prayer · sacrament · wine
The puzzle of 7.7 billion brake pedals and 7.7 billion accelerator pedals - anyone got any answers?
Climate2018 · boycotts · change · climate breakdown · climate change · collective decision-making · ethics · morality · politics · power
Grace, as demonstrated in salvation and sanctification, is a beautiful paradox. And this is the paradox: on the one hand we’re involved, and on the…
Faithgrace
This week I have enjoyed the autumn light as I cycle back from work, had the joy of seeing Siân in Coventry, and have been trying to find my feet in the midst…
Yearsbusyness · change · identity · justice · progress · responsibility
it is very difficult to fight with someone who is not proud.
Learningsdebate · disagreement · discussions · fight · james · politics
I am now a Londoner. Of sorts ( - the week-old kind). I already feel at home thanks to lodging in a house where there are lots of people drifting in and out…
Scripturechange · Luke · luke 5 · moving · obedience
The greatest has come - to serve and love and share life with the least. The author has written Himself into the story.
Faith2017 · advent · creation · death · expectancy · Faith · glory · hope · jesus · messiah · shepherds · winter
A little look back at the last couple of months...
Years2017 · commandments · hope · love · matthew 22 · michaelmas term · university · winter
A look back over a term of thinking on the fruits of the spirit.
ScriptureFaith · fruit of the spirit · Galatians · goodness · reflections
I had quince jelly on toast today
Poems2017 · creation · friendship · glory · grateful · gratitude · lifestyle · nature · personal · poetry · silence · summer · thankful · thankfulness · thoughts · wonder
At the cottage in Hereford.
Journeys2017 · cottage · Freya · friendship · Hereford · holiday · lifestyle · summer · travel · Wales
The fire that killed 79 over a month ago now is still on my mind.
Power2017 · brokenness · death · death toll · disaster · fire · grenfell · London · poetry · politics · poor · reflections · summer · tragedy
A small update!
Years2017 · intern · internship · lifestyle · student · student blog · summer · tiredness · working
Photos from my last term of second year!
Years2017 · Cambridge · Easter term · friendship · Hebrews · newnham · student · summer · university
How incredible is it that we are all united in having the most beautiful patterns marking our skin - and yet these patterns are all unique?!
Years2017 · Cambridge · creation · fingerprints · fitzwilliam museum · studying · thank you · thankfulness · university
Time in the morning is good time.
Faith2017 · birds · C.S. Lewis · Faith · lifestyle · morning · morning routine · spring · Spurgeon
being not doing
Scripture2017 · beautitudes · being not doing · clutter · empty space · empty spaces · kingdom of god · matthew · university
A little nugget of wisdom from Siân.
Faith2017 · Cambridge · Faith · logic · philosophy · philosophy student · reflections · spring · work
Our faith is built on the character we know God to have. Our faith lays a hold on the faithfulness of God.
Faith2017 · book · book review · Faith · faithfulness · Hudson Taylor · James Hudson Taylor · mark · provision · spring
A pause for a thank you!
Years2017 · blog · blogging · journalling · lifestyle · nostalgia · personal · reflection · reflections · spring · student blog · thank you
It's Easter Sunday! Hallelujah!
Scripture2017 · easter · easter sunday · Faith · forgiveness · good friday · hope · I AM · injustice · jesus · John · Lent · rejoice · resurrection · spring · transformation
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may boldly apply the truth of Christ and love as he loved.
Faith2017 · Christ · Faith · jesus · justice · peace · prayer · restless discomfort · spring · tears
"We are being renewed day by day" 2 Corinthians 4:16
Years2017 · Cambridge · friendship · halfway · Lent term · newnham · second year · spring · term · university · winter
Hoping that I might one day find myself at a point where my life is reflective of the truth that God is my only need. That day will be as the arrival of spring.
Years2017 · Faith · growth · reflections · spring · thoughts
A whole lot to be thankful for at the halfway point.
Years2017 · Cambridge · Lent · Lent term · newnham · second year · university · winter
Words I inadvertently composed in my head as I've been working today. I pray that the beauty of this grace, of this invitation to be one of God's people, is not lost on you today.
Scripture2017 · Christian Union · CICCU · Faith · living water · Revelation · revelations · university
Here for the next time I need them.
Faith2017 · discipleship · Faith · jesus · unashamed · winter · words
Another term closer to finishing my degree. What a term it has been!
Years2016 · autumn · Cambridge · friendship · michaelmas term · newnham · second year · term · university
Stream-of-consciousness from 2.55pm today.
Poems1 Corinthians · 2016 · autumn · busy · Faith · permanence · personal · poem · poetry · prose · reflections · rest · thoughts · today
On the morning of Trump's election, I feel loss. But amidst this loss, I lift my eyes to the Lord and remember that all is not lost.
Power2016 · autumn · election · Faith · politics · Psalms
Hello November. Hello cold mornings, steamy windows and 7am walks.
Scripture2016 · autumn · Cambridge · Psalms · walking · wellies
There are two kinds of tiredness: weariness and a lack of peace. And today, I got up and realised I was tired in the whole sense of the world. So I decided to cycle down to Granchester Meadows and take a little walk.
Years2016 · autumn · Granchester · nature · walking
Reality doesn't fit into neat boxes and doesn't go the way you'd expect, and that's so hugely apparent in Christianity. It's a religion that you couldn't have guessed. The universe it offers us, the King it gives us, isn't the one we'd make up for ourselves.
Scripture2016 · Acts · autumn · Faith · unexpected
We never 'graduate' from grace.
Faith2016 · autumn · church · Faith · grace · HT · Newton · Wilberforce · worship
The truth that the gospel proclaims is the truth by which my joy is made complete
Scripture2016 · autumn · bible · Faith · gospels · joy
From John 13. He was both King and servant - and neither of those titles are reserved to working hours. Love is a full-time occupation, after all. Love in the big things, God on the Earth and God on the cross, but also love in the washing of feet in the basin.
Scripture2016 · autumn · bible · Faith · gladly · gospels · humility · jesus · John · joy · prose · thoughts · washing feet
An update on what I'm currently up to.
Journeys2016 · friendship · new experiences · nihon · summer · university
What happened when I went into a tattoo parlour for the first time.
Yearsfriends · new experiences · permanence · tattoo
A great night out with a great friend in a great place.
Yearsdrinks · friends · friendship · Manchester · new places
