A Privilege

Privileges come in all shapes and sizes.  I've just had one.

This young man lives in Romania.  He was dependent on a wheelchair which meant that he relied on others to push him to wherever he wanted to be.

I was able to send him my spare trundle truck.  Where he goes now is his choice.  

Is there any greater privilege than to be able to give another human being a taste of freedom?

Cards

My monthly morning of making at Mandy's today!   I was rather tired and made only three cards but here you go.

The Sting in the Tail

I love small town life!  Many people would call Caistor (population 2600) a village but Caistorians are adamant that they live in a town.  

We have quite a lot of community events.  Last week was the scarecrow trail and open gardens, this week was the street party and 10k run, known as "The Sting in the Tail".  The "Sting" is the hill on which Caistor is built and which those poor runners have to get up right at the end of the run.  


Over 500 people took part this year, coming from towns and villages up to thirty miles away. Some brave souls run in fancy dress and our community also turns out to cheer them on.

 Most are rather more conventionally dressed but still cheered enthusiastically.

There are nice, "encouraging" signs around

And money is raised for local charities. 

Just for the record

I've just come back from my swimming session.  

Way back in March I could manage only 25 metres.  

Today I swam 200 metres.  

Whoo Hoo!

Claxby

I retired (again!) on 4th June.  Today I started working again.  Today I went to Claxby to preach and celebrate Holy Communion.  As you can see it's a pretty little church at one of the highest points on the Lincolnshire Wolds.  (Which never get very high.)  I'd taken a funeral service in a snow storm there many years ago (the only time that I have worn wellies to conduct worship) but apart from that it was a new church to me.

And I was made so welcome!  It would be easy to think that of course they're grateful - if I didn't go they couldn't have a communion service!  But it goes further than that.  These lovely people were sorry that their much-loved Rector has retired but they are enjoying seeing new faces, hearing new "takes" on the gospel and most of all knowing that no matter what changes they may see (or hear) God's love will always be constant and he has them in mind.

And I was reminded too that although specifics may change, God will always have plans for me too.