This is advance posted to appear at the time I'm due to check in at the hospital.

I guess I've come a long way from the person who no way would let anyone see her head without hair.  You may be able to detect the slight 'halo' effect where it is starting to grow back (some still falling out).

The last week or so especially has seen my inbox and my doormat swamped with messages of support, and I have found my anxiety levels dropping as the day has drawn nearer.  I am overwhelmed by the number of people whose prayers are supporting me - many of whom know me only online or as a name - and feel both humbled and blessed by this.  THANK YOU my loyal readers for all your support over these past months.

I wondered about advance posting some bits and bobs - prayers, songs, Bible verses (out of context) - but decided against it.  Instead this corner of blogland will be silent for a while - at least a week whilst I am in hospital and maybe longer if I am feeling 'knocked about' afterwards.  But, as the line goes, 'I'll be back'... with tales of how it all went and what new things I've learned about myself or about God along the way.

Whatever you're up to in the meantime, don't work too hard, take care, have fun, laugh a lot, dance if only in your bedroom... and come back to 'see' me soon.

Blessings be yours in abundance.

The Lord is my rock, my rock and salvation, in God I trust, in God I trust.  (Taize, after Psalm 18:2)

HT Drayton Parslow for this. If you can cope with the synthesised voices, mispronunciations and dodgy inflexions, it's quite funny - and plenty more whence it came. Enjoy - it's preordained that you will ;-)

Today's the day!  As I'm awake so early this is real time posted rather than advance posted as I'd planned.

It is cold and wet just now in Glasgow (and dark of course) but already birds are singing and a new day is dawning bringing with it new hope...

FAB (whatever that means!)

For anyone in need of reassurance, Bonhoeffer's New Year Hymn/Prayer versified by F Pratt Green with Keith Clements...

 By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered 

And confidently waiting, come what may,

We know that God is with us night and morning,

And never fails to meet us each new day.

Yet are our hearts by their old foe tormented

Still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;

O give our frightened souls the sure salvation

For which, O Lord, you taught us to prepare.

And when the cup you give is filled to brimming

With bitter suffering, hard to understand,

We take it gladly, trusting though with trembling,

Out of so good and so beloved a hand.

If once again, in this mixed world, you give us

The joy we had, the brightness of your sun,

We shall recall what we have learned through sorrow,

And dedicate our lives to you alone.

Now as your silence deeply spreads around us,

Open our ears to hear your children raise

From all the world, from every nation round us,

 To you their universal hymn of praise.

Tune: Finlandia.

This post reminds me the 'catch phrase' of one of the 'spice girls' (ministers' spouses of the female variety) who has supported me over a number of years... one who is nominally 'of great price' if you know your scriptures.

We - the church - are in it for the long haul as salt and light, as prophets and priests, as pastors and evangelists.  Sometimes we cling on by our finger nails - and any person who claims otherwise is, I suspect, very new to this, very misguided or not very engaged.  Sometimes it is a sheer slog.  Sometimes it is scary.  Sometimes, as individuals, we have to let others do the 'keeping on' for us.  But keeping on keeping on, saving starfish one at a time, transforming the world one prayer at a time, growing in maturity one step at a time - that's what we are called to do.

Hang on in there.  Keep on keeping on.  Whatever the form of words...

And behold, I AM with you always, to the very end of the age.