Someone said to me after this morning's service, that ministers have a tendency to think they're God... not in the arrogant, above contradiction, my-word-is-law kind of way, but in the impossibly high and unrealisitc expectations they place upon themselves... we allow other people to be fallible but expect ourselves to be perfect.

I think these are wise and helpful words... and I will try to be a teeny bit kinder to myself!  I'm not God, just a very naughty girl.... :-)

Today in our service we had one scriptural parable and three others...

The parable of the tenants in the vineyard, rebranded as 'the parable of the landlord who refused to give up'

The Parable of the Candle

Light a candle and see how it dispels the darkness, its tiny flame visible over vast distances, bringing sight to those around.  But draw too close to the flame, the source of light, and all is dark.

The Parable of the Charity Fun Run

Young and old, fit and flabby, some fast, some slow, some the full distance, some only part... each one with a shared goal, each one rewarded with the same medal

The Parable of the Ski-ing Lesson (borrowed/adapted from Lesley Riddoch)

The novice skier stood at the top of the slop and pushed off.  As she gained pace, she saw in her path a small child... transfixed by that she wished to avoid, she hurtled faster and closer... only when the child moved to one side was disaster averted.

[This one came inits original form with an explanation: don't focus on the thing you want to avoid; focus on the thing you want to achieve]

After yesterday's hear on sleeve stuff, a couple of photos of lovely flowers given to me by folk at church today.  Lots of words of encouragment and a few hugs... I hope that admission of fallibility and clay feet frees other people to feel safe to take risks with each other.

Thanks especially to M for the sunflowers x