In 2010, 2011 and 2012, I changed my blog colour scheme to pink for October, a nod to breast cancer awareness month.  This year I consciously did not.  Mostly because I was detecting loud and clear that some people were fed up of hearing about it, and some thought I really should be 'over it' by now, after all, three years on I am alive and well.

I think it was the right call not to 'do' the pink thing, and not to bore people rigid with cancer stuff, but it's not something I will ever entirely 'get over'.

This year, October has seen me contribute, by invitation, to three other websites in various ways...

To BMS Catalyst Live, on Mission of the Minds

To Breast Cancer Care, on body image after cancer

To SmallVOICE, as part of their 1000 words series

One specifically theological, one specifically cancer related, one in which the two intertwined... I think somehow in that unusual trio of online contributions is expressed something of where I am now, and how my life is panning out.  I don't need to 'do' pink to demonstrate that the experiences of 2010/11 (and the ongoing long-term side effects) are important in shaping my life and my thinking.  The spaces and places to share that are many and varied - from a slightly greater empathy with those I serve, to a specialist conference in New Zealand, to supporting and encouraging others who walk the path 'behind' me.

It does bother me when people opt out of cancer screening, of any sort.  It does annoy me when the print and broadcast media speak of 'all clears'  and 'cures' when the professionals will only ever speak of 'remission'.  And I do want to do what I can to hasten the day when, as a teeny tiny hint of eschatological hope, there will be no more cancer.

But I won't make you endure pink

And I'll try not to nag or bore

And I will live life to the full, in all the ways I can, for as long as I can

Deal?

I mentioned in a post last week that I had been involved in an innovative project using photos as a starting point for conversations.  Well now that the outcome of that is 'live' I'll say a little more about it.

I was invited to be the '1000 Words' guest for the October SmallVOICE podcast of GRF Christian radio (link in the sidebar under "things that make you go hmmm..."  It was an interesting and enjoyable, if slightly stressful evening (rather a lot of soul baring by my standards) but the interviewer and editor have done a great job in making something of what I shared.  It is slightly weird to hear myself say 'um' so many times as my worship leading is largley 'um' free; also whoever taught me to ennunciate consonants should be mighty pleased with themself!

The SmallVOICE podcast has a link to here which has a link to there, so we can go round in circles as long as we wish!

A very interesting 15 min section on truth and trustworthyness in relation to the news media makes a useful conversation partner with my piece, which is partly about authenticity and openness.  Finding the right balance is challenging, and it was good to reflect further upon this.  Serendipity or whatever, I found myself makig connections as I listened.

You can listen to the podcast here; my bit is at about 24 mins 30 seconds in and lasts roughly 8 minutes. 

As here, so there, I use my first name only - it's not rocket science to track me down if you want to, but there are people and churches to protect, at least a little bit, and this is how I choose to do it (you can decide if that's honest or truthful!)