I’m watching on television the coverage of the finals of the women’s canoe slalom at the Paris Olympics. The race is very exciting because the twelve finalists individually steer their canoes down the artificial white-water course, through a course of gates in the fastest time possible. They need to take care not to incur penalties for missing or touching the gates. The person with the fastest time and least number of penalties wins. As the competitors start their run down the water course, their supporters are cheering on the side lines, urging them on to do their best. The suspense builds as each canoeist gets closer to the finishing line.…

Life can change in an instant. Circumstances come our way, happen to us that can have a dynamic affect upon where our lives are going. Think of a few years ago when COVID hit our countries. Dynamic change. Think of now, wars on the borders of many of our countries where we live, financial instability in the countries we live in, domestic abuse is going rife, sexual exploitation of women, minors……., people who cause fights, killings out of anger, unforgiveness…… Sometimes watching the news can feel like asking the question – is there anything good left in the world? Then my mind, heart and spirit go to thoughts of God.…

In Matthew Chapter 7 verse 12 it states: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” Matt 7:12 NRSV As I read this, I just received an email from someone who had made an error and was blaming me for their problem. Humanly you don’t feel like taking the blame. You feel frustrated and you really want to tell them so, and that they are the problem! Especially when in the email they seem to be demanding you to fix the issue which they say you are to blame for. But Jesus tells us to live above this way of thinking, this way of acting.…

As I was watching late at night (due to the time difference in England) some of the tennis matches that were happening in Wimbledon, I got to thinking… A player who normally does not miss certain “easy” shots was hitting many into the net or overplaying them over the boundary lines. Because of this the player was struggling to win the games. Then a commentator said something that made more sense. As the tennis matches at Wimbledon are played on grass and as the rounds progress from in the first round 128 players down to 64 players then 32 players etc. etc. to the final winner, the grass gets worn.…

I can tell I have changed. Changed for the better. Just simple everyday chores or how I react to circumstances in my life on a daily basis. Bruce and I have just arrived home after a hectic 3 weeks away “doing Ministry”. The last few days travelling were long hours, lots of delays in departure times of aeroplanes, extended flying times due to weather, winds and turbulence. YUK! It was only in the final hour or so after 19 hours of flying from one side of America to the other where I felt I had hit my wall.  And that was just on one of the days. We still had…