The weirdest sensation would have to be hoisted on your own petard. Perhaps that’s too drastic a depiction. What I’m trying to describe is the sensation of holding forth virtuously, confident of your own ‘rightness’, only to find that you’ve made an error in judgement. Not a very pleasant place to be, believe me! The…
The Companion
I walked along. Alone. Weary. Worries pummelling me. Events I cannot control, Cannot predict. Tormenting me. Fears weighing, Draining me. Anxieties blisteringly beating down, Exhausting me. ‘Is this how life is to be, Lord?’ I cried in anguish. ‘No,’ He replied. ‘For did I not give you A companion?’ One who is A hiding place,…
Finding Peace
I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones or the fact that I’m now in my third trimester but recently, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and worried by all that the future holds. I think of all that is going to change in the new year and I’ve just been burdened by a sense of my…
Thoughts on Arriving Mid-Way
It’s Day 25 of the 50-Day Writing Challenge. I can’t believe I’m halfway there already. Seems like I just began writing a week ago! As I consider the last few weeks, I’m glad this writing challenge happened. While there were days I felt I had nothing unique to write about, somehow the challenge to push…
Making Room for Sincere Candidness
“Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favour rather than one who has a flattering tongue.” Proverbs 28:23 I’d read an article recently on giving honest criticism and felt it was an area I definitely needed to improve. I know that I prefer to have others think well of me, so my default…
On Rooting Out Discontentment
I’ve been thinking about contentment today. There is an entire worldview crammed into that single word. Roy Castle once asked, “Why don’t people think about what they have instead of what they haven’t?” And that got me wondering – why don’t I think about all that I have, instead of focusing on all that I…
Monday Morning Blues
Today has just been one of those days – you know those ones where you don’t feel any motivation to do the tasks you need to do. Where you mentally weigh all the options and finally decide that staying in bed for an extra half-hour of sleep is worth more than waking up. Where you…
Appreciating The Differences
After marriage, one generally discovers new aspects of one’s spouse. Some are positive, others negative, and still others darn right peculiar! The trick is to learn what to alter and what to leave alone. It’s a fine line, believe me! I have known MD for more than 10 years now, and been married to him…
A Timely Reminder
I experienced a strange sensation today. My daughter, who is currently nursing a terrible cold, was snuggling next to me as I lay on my bed. As I put my arms around her little body and hugged her close, my arms suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. It was so unusual it stopped me…
On Getting Out of the Boat
I have never been a fan of taking risks, of putting myself out there, open to ridicule or comment, to failure. I’d rather stay safe, hedge my bets, protect myself, my family, my interests. Yet the more I think about self-preservation, I realise what a rather mundane existence that is. It is based, and thrives,…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The Christmas decorations have been brought down from the loft, carols are playing all through the day, and I’ve been wondering what Christmassy decor I can buy without breaking the bank! No, I haven’t lost track of time, I know its still November. But to me that heralds the beginning of that most marvellous time…
Who Packed Your Parachute?
Charles Plumb was a navy pilot in Vietnam. After 75 missions his plane was destroyed and he parachuted into enemy territory. He survived six years in a communist prison. Now he lectures on his experiences. One day, a man came up to him and said, ‘You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters from the aircraft carrier…
Temper Tantrums and Other Foibles
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 Anger is such a strange emotion. Apart from all that it destroys in its path, it reveals something about oneself that is well-hidden. I’m realising that the actual triggers expose the deeper problems of the heart, the…
What Makes a Book Title Truly Odd?
“Glory be to God for dappled things…All things counter, original, spare, strange.” – Gerard Manley Hopkins Just when you thought I couldn’t find any more weird books in my collection, here’s another one to stump you! I find it ironic that this is a book about peculiar book titles. It’s called How To Avoid Huge…
The Waterfall
The image I saw was of a waterfall. A rushing, gushing, torrent of water, emerging from a narrow crevice. The water seemed never-ending. It flowed down the rock face – relentless, unceasing, steady. My life might seem like a rock – unyielding, hard, and cold. But there is a narrow crevice somewhere. A sliver of…
Another Oddity
Another interesting little book that I picked up at a second hand bookshop is called Sniglets. The tag line explains that a “snig’lit” is any word that doesn’t appear in the dictionary but should. After reading that fascinating title was it any wonder that I bought the book? This little volume is full of illustrations…
On Being Curiously Peculiar
Given my love for bookcases and old books, it naturally follows that I am ever so slightly obsessed with second hand bookshops. These unassuming, dingy spaces are veritable treasure troves. During my innumerable jaunts to such happening spots, I’ve stumbled across all kinds of books. If anything odd and unusual catches my attention, I invariably…
The Refresher Course
I have been a part of the Intercession team at my church for a while now. After a few years, as with any sort of work, once you know the ropes, there is a tendency to become complacent. To think you know most of it; so there’s nothing new. With the complacency comes a lukewarmness…
On Choosing Godly Wisdom…
It’s easy to compare; To assess and measure. To gauge one’s strengths Against another’s weaknesses. Not so easy to understand. To perceive the silent struggles. To make allowances For the atrocious behaviour. Why should I? The heart demands. Is not my way better? Am I not stronger? Why should I listen To more excuses? Why…
My Unchanging Constant
He was; Before I saw Him. When anger And Self-absorption Blinded me. He saw. Behind the smiles And the polite words. Behind the facade of good behaviour. He saw The real me. With all the envy, Selfishness, Pride. The lies, The flattery, The petty jealousies. Yet He choose me. Found me. Loved me. Restored me….
inkhorn 