Tag: inspiration

Flying

On By Pam SmithIn ChristianityLeave a comment

I love to do these colouring puzzles as I relax just before bed, and the one I did today is of Dumbo on a cliff edge with a feather in his trunk.

Why would I choose to share this one with you?

Well, look at his little face for a start. He is smiling even though he ought probably to be very afraid. He is an elephant – an animal not really known for their aerobatic ability – and being stood so close to the edge of the cliff should really be causing him some alarm. But he’s not afraid, he seems to be enjoying himself somewhat. And it’s all down to the feather in his trunk and his little friend in his cap.

It strikes me that sometimes in life, we too find ourselves at that cliff edge, facing a task we feel we are not equipped for. But like Dumbo here, we do have people and things in our lives that help us change fear into joy, and that encourage as to fly when we feel we can’t.

Feeling under-equipped, under-prepared, in peril or faced with a long drop, I wonder what your “feather”might be?

As a Christian, mine is the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. I know I’m supported by Him, and He gives me that lift and encouragement to step off that cliff edge now and again, and most times it works. In fact, come to think of it, when I’ve truly trusted in him, I have never fallen. The only times when I have fallen are when I drop my “feather” or when I stop listening to the one in the driving seat of my heart – Jesus.

Taking my cue from this cute Disney picture, I’m going to try and be more Dumbo tomorrow. How about you?

Love and light,

Pam x

Monday Musings

On By Pam SmithIn Blogging2 Comments

Today is Monday. Traditionally the worst day of the week as it is the furthest from the weekend, especially for those who work 9-5 during the week. But now that my working life is as different now as it could have been from 10 years ago, Mondays are actually more like my Wednesdays now because they are the midpoint between my “weekends” of Thursday/Friday where my ministry days usually quieten off. I don’t dread Mondays any more like I used to do, and I actually quite enjoy them now.

It’s Day 3 of the Olympics. And what a “different” Olympics it is too! No crowds to inspire and cheer on the competitors, it’s a year later than planned, and the BBC seem to have lost the plot altogether. I think we have become used to being spoiled with wall-to-wall coverage in recent years (thinking of Rio and London in particular), and I am usually spoiled for choice about what to watch. But this year, the BBC seem to have drawn some sort of barrel-scraping short straw and are showing just a few highlights (with lots and lots of talking heads) instead of full sessions of actual sport. I usually like to watch the gymnastics, diving, cycling and swimming, but because the BBC is the poor relation to Discovery+ and Eurosport this year, I can’t see the stuff I like to watch. It’s not as if I sit there for 18 hours a day watching the telly or anything, but it’s nice to have it on in the background as I work. However, the poor effort that the BBC is churning out this year is not even worth that. The constant talking is driving me crackers, and the constantly panning and moving camerawork in the studio gives me seasickness. So it’s a no from me BBC, sorry.

Sticking with the Olympics, I’ve been struck by two teams in particular for their sheer grit and determination to compete at all; the ROC (the Russian Olympic Committee) and the Refugee Team. The Russian team is competing under strict rules to prove that they are not part of the widespread doping that the country of Russia is accused of for their athletes, gymnasts and swimmers etc. They have had to sacrifice a lot in order to compete, which in itself is inspiring, but that they are doing so and thriving in their dislocation is a sign of hope to all who find themselves outside their usual boundaries. Which brings me to the other team, the Refugee Team. These people are competing together under the same flag because they cannot compete for their “home” country. There are so many reasons why that is not possible, and they have had to battle so many trials and tribulations just to survive, let alone compete. But like the Russians, they are not simply surviving exile but are thriving in it too.

And finally, we are getting ready to go camping next week. Kevin has been fettling the caravan – and trust me, by “fettling” I actually mean “rebuilding”… The biggest job (apart from cleaning the exterior of its 2 year’s worth of green stuff) was to repair the floor. He actually had to replace a couple of sections because it was becoming very mushroomy, and he had to do a job that involved inserting some sort of resin/glue/sealant/gloop into the floor where the laminated layers had separated. He has put down some new carpet tiles, so not only is the floor now solid all over again, but it smells nice and fresh as well. We’ve washed the sleeping bags, weighed up what crockery and cooking stuff we need, and have emptied about 12 years worth of “stuff” that we have accumulated during the holidays we’ve had with the kids in the van. As there will be just two in our van (and mum and dad in theirs), we don’t need all the plates and bowls etc that we have been carrying round with us all these years. We usually have both kids with us, plus an assortment of friends, boyfriends, cousins, nieces and nephews, but as there’s just us four this year, we don’t need it all. I don’t know whether to be sad or relieved…. or both?? Our caravan is little more than a shed on wheels, but we have had some super times in it over the years, and next week, I’m looking forward to spending some quiet time in it drinking tea and doing the crossword in the rain. Bliss!!

I hope you’ve had a magnificent Monday.

Grace and peace,

Pam x

Don’t Underestimate God

On By Pam SmithIn Christianity3 Comments

I’m finding it hard to wait at the minute – waiting for the pandemic to be over, waiting to be ordained, waiting to “get on with things”, waiting for my big birthday, waiting for a holiday, waiting for…lots of stuff.

This from Toby Mac today has helped me realise that there is value in the waiting, especially because I know God is always at work. I might not realise it just at the minute, but I know that the waiting won’t be in vain.

What are you waiting for? How are you finding it? Drop me a line and let’s wait together.

Grace and peace

Pam x

Actions in Love

On By Pam SmithIn ChristianityLeave a comment

It is week 4 in our current sermon series at church tomorrow, and we’re looking at ministering God’s grace in our day to day lives. What it ultimately boils down to is what this from 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “let all that you do be done in love”.

It’s not always easy to do that, because we are human beings after all, and it’s not unusual to come across people that annoy us, or who have fundamentally different views to ours.

But for many people, life isn’t easy and most people are carrying wounds and burdens that we couldn’t even imagine. And so, even though it’s hard, if we do everything in the name of the source of all love we won’t go far wrong.

Grace and peace,

Pam x

Deadline!

On By Pam SmithIn BloggingLeave a comment

I have two assignments due in tomorrow at noon, and I’m up against it to get them both over the finishing line. These are the final two assignments in this stage of my ordination training and I don’t know whether I’m glad, sad, or mad to see the back of them. I’ve loved doing the reading, loved doing the notes, but absolutely HATED the writing part. I’m praying the Holy Spirit carries me over tonight, coz I certainly can’t do this in my own strength.

See you on the other side!

Love and light,

Pamster x