There's a saying that runs, 'lex orandi, lex credendi', sometimes to which is added, 'lex vivendi'.  I don't know Latin, but it means something along the lines of 'what I pray informs what I believe, which informs how I live'.  To put it another way: liturgy informs theology which shapes practice.

Or, as one of my college tutors back in the day put it:

The hymns/songs we sing shape what we believe, which affects our values and actions.

Since I came across the idea, I have been pretty much convinced it's valid... however we read the Bible, and whatever we hear in sermons, it's the songs and hymns that stick in our memories, and so impact our thinking, believing and living.

Often I will choose hymns/songs that are aspirational - that express the hope that inspires us, even when the reality has a long way to go.

Two of our 'favourites' are 'All are welcome', and, 'For everyone born a place at the Table'.

What I sing - what we sing - shapes what I/we believe and how I/we live out our faith.

In recent months, we have been joined by numerous new folk, from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences, and it's wonderful.

New children in Sunday School. More nationalities than ever. An overall decrease in our average age, at the same time as a noticeable increase in our average attendance.

And still we will sing these songs. Because as they become more fully our experience, we realise how far we still have to go.

And still we will sometimes get it wrong.

But, by God's amazing grace, we are learning and growing, and becoming more of what we are called to be.

Everyone knows I have workaholic tendencies.  Everyone knows I am not the best at taking holidays, and rarely achieve my nine free Sundays (I think I got to eight last year!).  So, at the end of last year, I decided to take myself in hand, and be much more intentional about looking after myself.

With that in mind, I have just booked my first three 'free' Sundays for this year, and a short break to Rome to coincide with one of them.  I've never been to Italy, and everyone seems to love Rome...

I am also in conversations with the various friends I go away with to fix dates for our jaunts, and am planning to have another retreat in Wales this autumn.

Sometimes I learn very slowly... but at least I am making progress in looking after myself, and that has to be a 'good thing'.

Hard frost in Kelvingrove Park, just one of the places I passed through on my (almost ten mile!) walk today. There is no doubt that rural scenes of snow-capped mountains, or forests in snowy landscapes are beautiful.  But there is also a beauty unique to cities, and Glasgow is no exception.

This morning I chose to walk into town along the banks of the Kelvin (as far as I could), a lovely meandering stroll through parkland of the sort that could be pretty much anywhere.  Dog-walkers, baby-walkers, joggers and the occasional cyclist, enjoying the crisp brightness of the day, surrounded by trees.  Quite a contrast with the Clyde, which I followed on my way back, broad, straight, urban, even industrial, complete with mildly annoying dead-ends if you cross to the south side of the river.  More joggers and cyclists, no dogs, few babies, but a smattering of tourists en route to the Science Centre or Riverside Museum.

I was struck afresh by the variety that exists on my doorstep, of similarities with walks I have loved in other places at other times, of what is unique to this place and even this walk.

A beautiful day in which to delight in the natural beauty of water and trees, and in the ingenuity and creativity of human endeavour.  A reminder, were one needed, of just how very blessed I am.