On the 30th October 2005 this blog was born.  It was a time before social media platforms really took off, and when several ministers and theologians I knew created online reflective spaces to share ideas.

Twenty years on many, maybe most, of those blogs are long gone, their writers either having moved to social media platforms, or having abandoned this form of communication.  For me, having been drawn into personal and professional use of social media spaces has had an adverse effect on my practice of blogging, especially since the pandemic of 2020.  Yet, here I still am, and here you faithful, generous, gracious and kind followers still are.

I am advance posting this, partly so that I don't forget, to ensure that come the day, this milestone is marked.

So whether you have followed for 20 years, 20 posts or 20 minutes, THANK YOU for reading this stuff. 
Whether you comment, email or lurk, THANK YOU for pondering this stuff
Wherever and whoever you are, THANK YOU for being the unique, precious and wonderful people you are.

Will this blog make it another milestone birthday?  Who knows, for nothing is ever promised.  But, to borrow an oft quoted quote, 'for what has been, thank you, for what's to come, yes'.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!       

Last week I was at an event for Transitional Ministers where we share ideas and offer peer support.  It's a good thing, and I appreciate the wisdom and insight of my colleagues.  One of the resources that was recommended was the book photographed above, which I managed to pick up second hand.

On Monday I spent about two and a half hours skim-reading the book and making notes, which I then shared with the group.  That others found the notes helpful is a bonus, because for me the real joy was discovering that I could do this... ever since my chemo back in 2010, I have had long-term mild cognitive effects including days when I can't focus to read, as well as difficulty retaining information/memory loss. As the international expert at a conference I once chaired on this topic noted, it's often the most high-functioning people with the best coping strategies who are most aware of this... For fifteen years I have operated successfully even with this reality, and have accepted it as the status quo, but maybe, just maybe, I have rediscovered an ability I thought I'd lost for good... and if not, well it was good to be able to do it on Monday!

This morning I gathered in the last of the tomatoes that have been growing - largely neglected it has to be said - at the bottom of my garden. The bowl shows those gathered over around three weeks, as the glorious September sunshine ripened more than I could readily eat, and will hopefully help to the green ones added today.

I also conducted the annual test of the 'buddleia indestructibility hypothesis' that claims you can prune them really hard and they will grow back even bigger next year... it has always worked thus far, but presumably one year it won't... time will tell.  And then there was the 'pruning the landlady's rose bush without killing it' challenge... last year this not only succeeded, but led to greater flowering, but next year... again, time will tell.

Many, many years ago I preached on John 15 (the vine image) and idea that fruitful branches are pruned hard in order that they might flourish in another season.  Today I've been reminded of my own sermon, of the reality that pruning is risky, and harvests not guaranteed... but somewhere in it all the gardener-cum-vinedresser is active, whether to gather late ripening fruit, to hack off 'runners' and 'suckers', to prune the branches, pull up weeds, (all things I did this morning) and in it all to name the hope that another year will bring new, beautiful and fruitful growth .

Today  was marking some essays - the very first time ever, which felt quite daunting.

In one of the essays was a quotation that clearly had words missing, so I dug out my copy of the book form the shelf, and checked it... that made me feel strangely grown up and like a proper teacher person.  The essay itself was fine, so it wasn't a big deal, and at least the reference itself was complete.

Small things, pleasing my minuscule brain, or some such.  At least I am now a little less anxious about marking formal academic stuff that needs a score not just pass/fail.

Today was my turn to lead worship at college.  Strangely, the Lectionary landed at some of my favourite/most significant Bible passages (Jacob at the Jabbok, and Paul's Charge to Timothy), so it was a great excuse to pull out some of my favourite artefacts for the table as a 'centre-piece' as well as singing some hymns I really love.

This one, to the tune 'Scarlet Ribbons' was new to me, but seemed really fitting for the context...

Bring your questions, bring your feelings,
bring the things you think you’ve learned.
Here, with God, let’s search for meaning,
in encounter with God’s Word.
By these texts and their retelling,
heard through all we bring today,
may God grant fresh understanding
of the role we’re called to play.

John Campbell © 2016 Kevin Mayhew Ltd

I enjoyed leading today, and received some positive feedback from people who were there, which is always encouraging.