I had a call last week from the DDO regarding a meeting to discuss/discern my vocation towards Ordained Ministry in the Church.
I had been in a great hurry for this in the past, but given the recent stuff going on in my life, felt that it was a little to soon, and it is postponed until after Easter.
I need to be ready, to feel ready and to feel prepared before I go down that route. I see the period of Lent as that preparation and with a weekly Lent Course, spiritual direction, working in the Parish, and other church related responsibilities, I am having a quite busy time.
But the nudge is there - and I am heeding it. God is calling, I am willing and nearly ready to answer.
Friday, 19 March 2010
Precious Time
Sometimes we forget how precious people and time we spend with them is. It is to late when they are gone to spend that time, and I have really got to value time spent together with friends and family.
Jen is off work for a while, she is still waiting for a call from the Hospital for surgery on the skull fracture, which is causing brain fluid to leak through her nostrils. Being NHS, it will not be done in the next day or so. But taking the chance to be together is really good, we have the time to do things together which we could not do while I was working and even after retirement, found difficult as she still works.
We went to Hever Castle yesterday, an attraction about 25 miles from where we live. It is commercialised to an extent, and everything is cordoned off, and it is all look, but don't touch. I found it quite frustrating - as it describes itself as interactive, but we noticed that those who borrowed the mobile handheld tour guides quickly ran out of battery power, half way around. No photography or video is permitted - I fail to understand why, perhaps as an encouragement to buy an expensive guide book!
The grounds however are beautiful and well worth a visit on their own account. Peaceful to walk through meadows, wooded areas and a maze, without the crowds you might get in peak season.
The delight for us however was on leaving the Castle, going to view St Peters Church at Hever, it is ancient, patently Church of England, and with many relics and associations with the Bullen (Bolyin in Anne) family and latterly the Astor Family. We found it peaceful and the stained glass window in the Chancel with the sun shining through it was stunning. Jen who is not overawed by churches found it quite beautiful, and a reminder of her childhood and CofE upbringing in Charlton and Blackheath in SE London.
Due to Jen's illness, we have not been able to really go out somewhere together for several months and I found the time together with lots of photographs as a commemoration, means that these precious times are preserved for memory and posterity (and our grand children).
Jen is off work for a while, she is still waiting for a call from the Hospital for surgery on the skull fracture, which is causing brain fluid to leak through her nostrils. Being NHS, it will not be done in the next day or so. But taking the chance to be together is really good, we have the time to do things together which we could not do while I was working and even after retirement, found difficult as she still works.
We went to Hever Castle yesterday, an attraction about 25 miles from where we live. It is commercialised to an extent, and everything is cordoned off, and it is all look, but don't touch. I found it quite frustrating - as it describes itself as interactive, but we noticed that those who borrowed the mobile handheld tour guides quickly ran out of battery power, half way around. No photography or video is permitted - I fail to understand why, perhaps as an encouragement to buy an expensive guide book!
The grounds however are beautiful and well worth a visit on their own account. Peaceful to walk through meadows, wooded areas and a maze, without the crowds you might get in peak season.
The delight for us however was on leaving the Castle, going to view St Peters Church at Hever, it is ancient, patently Church of England, and with many relics and associations with the Bullen (Bolyin in Anne) family and latterly the Astor Family. We found it peaceful and the stained glass window in the Chancel with the sun shining through it was stunning. Jen who is not overawed by churches found it quite beautiful, and a reminder of her childhood and CofE upbringing in Charlton and Blackheath in SE London.
Due to Jen's illness, we have not been able to really go out somewhere together for several months and I found the time together with lots of photographs as a commemoration, means that these precious times are preserved for memory and posterity (and our grand children).
Friday, 12 March 2010
Back to Work
I went with Jen to work today - she was under some pressure and asked if I could help with some stuff that was urgently needed to be completed to a deadline. Other staff are off either on leave or sick, so spare capacity was zero.
I must admit, that I was reluctant - retirement has meant the freedom of how I get up, slop around, dress or study at home. Even on those days for my Parish Attachments or Church activities, I am relaxed and casual.
But, I agreed and got up in the old routine and we went to work together, I have perhaps become a little insular in the last few months, as I thought that the workplace was crowded with desks, computers, notice boards and all sorts of IT & Office Machinery. No laptop and freedom to move around with it and to work where I want.
But I was made most welcome, some of the people I had known before, having worked there 25 years ago - others were new to me. It felt strange getting back into a working environment, using networked systems and email (by proxy for Jen) to achieve the target.
I had forgotten how slow a Wide Area Network, using bespoke applications can be, and how frustrating it can be when a report is run and comes up with Zero as the Parameters were not set properly. In the end the aim was achieved and the information produced, collated and emailed to the impatient recipient.
Having been out of the workplace since last August - I have got out of the work habit and perhaps that is to the good - freedom of choice and the financial security to allow it is not given to many, and I realise how fortunate I am to have it.
I had thought about part-time employment, but there is little prospect of that in the current climate - and I am perhaps grateful for that. My quality of life is so much better without the daily travel, work routine and grind that is being on a treadmill with responsibilities for management, funding, people, health and safety and so many other things.
My responsibility is now for my family, perhaps myself and to where God is calling me and willing me to be - working with or in the Church in some form of ministry. God is Great.
I must admit, that I was reluctant - retirement has meant the freedom of how I get up, slop around, dress or study at home. Even on those days for my Parish Attachments or Church activities, I am relaxed and casual.
But, I agreed and got up in the old routine and we went to work together, I have perhaps become a little insular in the last few months, as I thought that the workplace was crowded with desks, computers, notice boards and all sorts of IT & Office Machinery. No laptop and freedom to move around with it and to work where I want.
But I was made most welcome, some of the people I had known before, having worked there 25 years ago - others were new to me. It felt strange getting back into a working environment, using networked systems and email (by proxy for Jen) to achieve the target.
I had forgotten how slow a Wide Area Network, using bespoke applications can be, and how frustrating it can be when a report is run and comes up with Zero as the Parameters were not set properly. In the end the aim was achieved and the information produced, collated and emailed to the impatient recipient.
Having been out of the workplace since last August - I have got out of the work habit and perhaps that is to the good - freedom of choice and the financial security to allow it is not given to many, and I realise how fortunate I am to have it.
I had thought about part-time employment, but there is little prospect of that in the current climate - and I am perhaps grateful for that. My quality of life is so much better without the daily travel, work routine and grind that is being on a treadmill with responsibilities for management, funding, people, health and safety and so many other things.
My responsibility is now for my family, perhaps myself and to where God is calling me and willing me to be - working with or in the Church in some form of ministry. God is Great.
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