12th DDO interview

Had my latest DDO interview today. Again, a positive one with much food for thought, reflection and prayer at the end of it.

Things are now starting to move forward a little. The DDO has concluded that I am now ready for the next step - so will will be taking that forward in the next week or so.

I thought that I would be anxious about this, but it just seems that the relaxed, settled feelings that I have been blessed with, have continued. A gift for one, who is by nature a worrier and frets at things, when they do not move on quickly enough.

The next step will be a Diocesan Panel, but with some more paperwork to go through before that stage. After that? I'm not pre-empting anything. God wants me to wait on him, and I am content with that.

The Church system seems to many to be slow, convoluted, demanding, challenging and outdated. I tended to agree with that when I first entered the process. Now my view has changed. Being on this journey has allowed me the time and space for a reflective, prayerful, spiritual journey of growth and development as a Christian, which will leave me better placed in discipleship, whatever the outcome of the process.

Such a gift is not to be sneered at. It deserves to be accepted as a gift, freely given by God, to test us, to strengthen and to support us. If we do, the outcome will always be a better person, ready for whatever God might intend for us in the future.

Thanks be to God for all of his Gifts in my life.