I'm not sure tapestries are woven, but never mind.

Last Sunday one of the metaphors I used was that of weaving.  One way to employ it is to see that every experience, every emotion is somehow woven into the pattern.

The last few days it has felt as if quite a few strands have been woven into my own tapestry, strands that arise precisely because of life events and choices made.

These last few weeks up to 'five years since diagnosis' are proving remarkably introspective one way and another, and I think the last few days have highlighted that...

• the privilege of being called in by a charity to conduct a wedding for someone with only a few days to live...
• ... which arose because someone I know works for that charity...
• ... and that someone knew I'd recently been asked to conduct a blessing for someone in similar circumstances

• a number of phone calls regarding my peer support  clients...
• ... to reschedule...
• ... to let me know one was unwell ...
• ... and to women at various stages of treatment, offering them a listening ear and an open heart...

• preparations to travel south to Blackpool to meet friends who have shared a common experience...
• ... and to remember friends whose lives were cut short

So many people whose paths have crossed, and continue to cross, my own.

So many lives interwoven for a reason and/or a season

So many ways in which I am enabled to make meaning of my experiences, weave new patterns, add new colours and textures...

So many ministry and (loosely) mission opportunities I'd never had imagined and would never have chosen...

Bit of a waffly post... but it makes sense to me!

Tomorrow I'll travel south to meet people I'd never have met had things been different, but who are now among my closest friends...

It's a lovely morning in Glasgow, with blue skies and bright sunshine.

The last few days have been rather on the busy side, and some of the stuff quite demanding emotionally/spiritually.  Today I am more or less on top of things again, have a draft of Sunday's service to check over this afternoon, the PowerPoint is done, the change-to-published-schedule creative activity is hopefully winging its way to me, and I can devote time later to some administrative/legal matters.

This morning I will poddle along to the Coffee Club - remembering to take my sunscreen, sunglasses and probably a sun hat too!  It will be good to slow down, to catch up, to listen and chat.  It will be good simply to take time to breathe after the busy and challenging days recently.

Oh, and remember, children, do not look directly into the sun, you will hurt your eyes!