Our Glass is Half Full

We had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and forgot that the main road out of the village had been closed for repairs. We diverted into a very narrow side lane, flanked on either side by tall Cornish hedges – these hedges are built of stone and soil and overgrown with hawthorn, wild flowers etc. We were [...]

Read Full Post »

The Choice

Am I sitting on the fence, Just looking at the view? Enjoying both sides, hedging my bets just in case? Am I sitting by the pool side watching the bathers have fun? Perhaps dipping in a toe, to show I’m taking part, but waiting for another day to take the plunge. They say this habit [...]

Read Full Post »

The Big Picture

My wife and I are part of a lovely encouraging art group in our village. Each year they decide upon a painting by a well known artist and produce a sort of large mural, for display at the annual art exhibition. The person who has the master copy, divides it up into tiny rectangles and [...]

Read Full Post »

Blossoming Through Difficulty

It’s almost June and I suppose I can now go out without a coat? That is if the old English saying “Ne’er cast a clout ‘ere May is out!” is true? I only recently discovered that this has nothing to do with the months of the year, but refers to the May blossom. It was [...]

Read Full Post »

Knocked Down But Not Out!

Our steep seaside garden abounds in foxgloves. Although there were fewer this year, they promised to be the best ever. Their tall erect spikes looked magnificent with their purple flowers. The blooms at the base were already well formed and as the name implies, you can fit your finger tip into their delicate freckled inner. [...]

Read Full Post »

Fling Wide the Gates!

I feel that this can apply to anyone, young or old, believer or not, newly-awakened or ‘mature:’ Call out to Him from the very depths of your being Call out as never before Turn from the old ways Let go of the old and yield to Him, surrender He is waiting for your response He [...]

Read Full Post »

He Told Me Everything I Ever Did!

The story of Jesus’s conversation with the “Woman at the Well” has always fascinated me. It is not only an account of how Jesus can meet with us at our point of need, but also a model of how we can relate to others and pass on the love of Christ that we have received. [...]

Read Full Post »

The Circle of God’s Love

There’s a form of wrestling – I think it originates in Japan, but there are similar sports in rural areas of Europe – where the opponents spar in a circle. The whole object is to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, while pushing your opponent outside the circle. The first to achieve this [...]

Read Full Post »

Whose Voice are We Listening to?

We have had so many intrusive calls from tele sales, that we signed up to a national scheme to stop them. It has really worked on the whole, but some still get through the net. The other day we had a call from an insurance company we hadn’t dealt with before. The salesman launched into [...]

Read Full Post »

Filling the Void

Our new dentist is the friendliest and most gentle of dentists we have ever met. At our last checkup I knew there was work to be done, as I was in some discomfort. As I entered his surgery, he greeted me with a smile, “How are you?” I knew he wasn’t just enquiring after my [...]

Read Full Post »