Encounters With Joy

Monday, 22 October 2012

My heart is tender and its time to write again, Its been so long that I'm not sure what to share.

Possibly about my new house; often full to the brim with people and laughter, food and gin (!)
But equal parts lonely beyond belief as I job hunt by myself during the days and battle off a feeling of worthlessness as I sell myself on paper.

Or I could write about this place i've given myself too, full of litter, people, people always occupying the space day and night. Sometimes in a mellow and sometimes in an abrasive way.

I've been amazed at the openness here, a man who drives an ice-cream van gave me a cone for free just because I stopped for a chat and to ask him his name. then there's the man on my road who sings ABBA to me as I walk home from work because he once caught me singing Mamma Mia to myself...!

Its strange to be living somewhere intentionally,

I don't think I've ever done that before. Its not easy, I'm working hard to commit to it. As Autumn gets into its flow I have a deep aching feeling, remembering the adventure and promise of this time last year.

What I wouldn't give to run away to the Alps again.

Lord there is pain in this offering.

Every time I get a little bit too tempted he gently reminds me that me and him have things to do here. A life to shape, a community to transform. He longs for unity and healing in this place and I think I'm catching some of his heart.

My community is a saving grace, a family whose similarity is less in looks and more in the commonality of heart and dreams. We have a rhythm of eating praying and adventuring together. Its very beautiful.

Of course I tend to shake my head, put out my bottom lip and wobble rather at the enormity of it all. But then I reach up to him mainly in desperation, he is both the safe harbor and the wild storm,

and I will learn to trust him.

Some recent Autumnal pictures and some of Pitsmore:

Family Peaks Adventure....