It felt like a good end to Christian Aid Week this morning.  The red thread prayers adapted from the 'stations' suggested by Christian Aid seemed to go OK, and the video about Theodore Davidovic was excellent.

I have posted off our signed petition and red threads to Christian Aid, who will in turn pass them on the Prime Minister - whoever that may be by then!

A good, positive, Church meeting followed, so all in all, a good day!

Tomorrow we are having our Christian Aid Focused service.  I have found the resources this year to be especially helpful and creative, and am looking forward to sharing with our folk.

Christian Aid week is 60 years old - and I realise that I've been supporting it in various ways for about forty.  In the 1970s we were even sent out to deliver/collect envelopes by our RE teacher (if memory has not got too confused, he certainly sent us out with envelopes for charity).  Over the years I have shaken tins, baked cakes, bought cakes, counted money, attended (and miss) Christian Aid "Education Evenings", signed petitions and probably more.

In a world where intolerance and fear seem to be increasing, the work of Christian Aid and other similar organisations is more important than ever.  So I hope we can give generously tomorrow and help support this vital work.

I am often surprised (and equally appalled) at the lack of basic knowledge that too many ministers have about ordering worship.  Directed by others to this link, I was encouraged and discouraged in equal measure.  Encouraged because it's good stuff.  Discouraged because I've known this since I was a child.  Thankfully I grew up in, and have served in, churches who understand what the work of worship is.  Too many, it seems, do not.

This week, inspired by the JPIT session at the BUGB-BMS Assembly, I've been playing around with optical illusions (they will appear in my submission to our church magazine and I am using some this afternoon with our Friendship group).

I've had fun, and been challenged to think about what I see, what I perceive, how I influence what others see, and how they influence what I see.

So, a bit of a spoiler post really.  But what does it say, and how do you read it...? Perception as well as intention are factors here.  Enjoy the image, and be assured you are always welcome to my corner of Blogland!

In the last week or so, I've read four novels and a sort-of-theology book.

I've also begun the 'Couch to 5k' exercise programme in an attempt to learn to run.  Two days in and so far so good, even if it is quite hard work to run for 60 seconds at a time when it's uphill!

What I'm noticing, overall, is that I feel more energised, that my brain can process ideas more swiftly and (hopefully) more effectively.  I was tempted to describe it as being a bit like 'sleeping beauty' waking up, but perhaps that's a bit too far-fetched.

All of this is very encouraging, and feels remarkably good after the better part of seven years with a brain like treacle. 

I am loving reading again - and feel as if I have almost seven years worth of catching up to do, so maybe I will get on to those theology books that have lain unopened in the meantime!

Exercise-wise, it's just a challenge to do something new, to stretch myself a bit and, if I'm totally honest, to burn the calories more swiftly so that I have more day to do other things!!

Not everything is perfect by any means - my memory is still deficient and probably always will be now, but I feel much better in and about myself, which is what matters. 

So, thank you to God, to the people who have borne with me all this time... and so glad that I stuck at it and did as I was told all these years, as it's finally paying off.