...but a Place Between Places, a Place of its OwnWe started our Lent course at our Thursday evening Bible study/fellowship/discussion group: Table Talk, this week, and we're looking at the idea of pilgrimage (with the Churches Together in Britain & Ireland 2016 Lent course). The first of these sessions is entitled The Open Road.
It begins by addressing the fact that the road - the journey, the pilgrimage - is a place in and of itself. I think we often view the road as purely instrumental; it is a means to get to the next destination or the path we simply have to follow in order to reach the next stage in our lives. And for me, I find I get quite impatient with the road; I set my heart on the next destination and I just want to be there already! Being in my 3rd and final year of my degree, I think I'm feeling this a lot more at the moment as well - everyone is starting to think about what happens after Uni and I'm trying to work out what it is my future might hold. So much so that this whole year becomes merely instrumental - it's just a stepping stone which I have to jump over in order to make it to the other side. And I really struggle with that, because I hate doing things when I can't see why I'm doing them. I just don't see the point! But one of the other students in our group talked about when she used to go on family walks, and the whole point of them was the journey, though in her younger years she could never understand why anybody would want to go on a circular journey!!! And I remember, even now when we go on a walk, take the dogs out around the country park and back or something - there is no destination, only a journey. And there is so much to experience and see and know and do on that road; so much stillness and peace, and excitement and adventure, and being and belonging. What if I can bring that into my current journey? What if I can seek out that stillness and that peace; not constantly searching for the next stepping stone or the next deadline, but resting at the feet of God and giving myself time to work out where I am and what is around me. What if I can discover the excitement and the adventure of living life TO THE FULL; not being run down by the humdrum and mundane tasks I need to complete on a daily basis, but knowing that God has a plan for me in the 'NOW' - one which is full of joy and power and love. And what if I can find my own being and belonging; not feeling lost or distracted or stressed, or as if I can barely keep up with the world speeding past beside me - for I am the one speeding past and if I could just be still, perhaps then I would no longer be afraid to find who I am and where I belong; in the still, strong arms of God. Week 1: The Open Road - © CTBI 2016 And if you are in Cambridge, come and join us for the remainder of our Lent Course at Table Talk!
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I just wanted to give a really quick update on how our #EnoughStuff project is going! Over the Christmas Boom, we made it to around £2500 on our JustGiving page, thanks to numerous different people around the country selflessly offering their gifts, that people would give to make a home for children half a world away! Then for my birthday, in January, I held a 'Birthday Ball' for my 21st in the church hall at my church in Cambridge, asking guests and family and friends to donate instead of of give me anything. We managed to add around £550 to the JustGiving page and the total from all donations (including JustGiving, cheques and cash given on and around the day) was £975.91 (+ a few anonymous amount donations!). This is just incredible! All of you who donated are wonderful, generous, special people, and I am so grateful to all of you! So THANK YOU. I am incredibly grateful to all of you, and know that your money will make a massive difference. Our #EnoughStuff JustGiving page has now reached a total of £3530! That is GREAT! And also only one of the modes people are raising money for this project all the time. But that is still a long way off our £20,000 target on JustGiving. If you or someone you are close to have an upcoming birthday, or anniversary, or anything at all (any excuse for a party, right? ;-D) - consider mentioning this project and that really, we probably do have #EnoughStuff!
And please, whatever you can give or can't give; please keep this project in your prayers. That the current house would not be sold until we have an alternative ready and that all the logistics like finding and buying land, building materials and so on will all force into place in a timely manner. AMEN. |
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AuthorI'm a recent Cambridge Theology graduate now studying for a Masters in Biblical Studies and blogging about all sorts of things! I'm interested in faith, Church, theology, social action, the great outdoors and being creative, and all of those things - along with many more - come through in my posts!
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