“It’s a slow burn grief. There is not a week goes by that you don’t experience some sort of grief.” Andy reflects on the past five years since his wife Julie was diagnosed with early onset dementia. “I’m a farm boy, before I went into ministry I was a tradie. We don’t cry. We’re tough. We pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. None of … Continue reading A choice to love
“I don’t see transitions as being gentle, ongoing, slightly rocky bush trails. I see them as being difficult. You are going to get bruised and battered. But when you get to the top, you are going to be proud of that. And it will sting for a bit, but what a reminder of what you’ve achieved.” Katie reflects on her love of mountain hiking as … Continue reading A hiker’s view of transitions
Some of our best-known story lines portray a character returning home after a period of absence. Depending on our story, the main protagonist returns from a protracted absence to confront circumstances that cannot be ignored and that only she or he can face. Moses is one such character in the Bible, returning to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery. You could probably think … Continue reading A Returning Transition
What is the cost of growing up? This may not be the question we normally ask when thinking about our progression to adulthood. Yet I have observed that a child’s identity and worldview are primarily shaped by their family of origin. Even the tiny mannerisms that escape our faces have their origins in the people who nurtured us in our earliest years. So, whether we … Continue reading The cost of growing up
A few days ago my grandson, Felix Gabriel Xiaoyu was born. Celebrating Life It is wonderful being a granddad all over again. The delight of welcoming someone into your family is special. Holding him for the first time is even more special. Here is life in all its potential. In this little bundle that only weighs about 2.8 kilos (a little over 6 pounds) I … Continue reading New Life
Doug’s story “I started running seriously about 20 years ago”, Doug explains. “Initially it was to spend time with my son Paul, who had developed a passion for running when he was 14.” Eventually Doug would be running long distances. Even though he had previously undergone a knee reconstruction, he became an endurance athlete, running in many long-distance events. “At the time of my peak … Continue reading The heart of a runner
A New Year’s Eve Reflection Looking back on the past year, I am very grateful for a lot of things. One of them is this cup. I love it. Every time I have an opportunity to make myself a drink, whether a coffee, a tea or a herbal drink, this is the cup! I love it for a couple of reasons. First, Sue, my wife … Continue reading What do you want to bury from 2020?
There is no better way of expressing how much you love something or someone than by the time you spend nurturing that love. Often, our time, just like our money, tells us where our hearts are captivated. Discovery Quite a few years ago, before Lara’s daughter Grace was born, she realised that her heart did not have any love for an administrative job she was … Continue reading A tale of swans and butterflies
Seasons of change bring anticipation with them. I’m no exception. Finishing one thing to begin another sparks anticipation. Better described than defined, anticipation is that first whiff of roasting coffee beans in the morning, the roar of the crowd when your team runs onto the field, the sound of your toddler breaking the bliss of sleep. Anticipation is a tiny theft of pleasure. A wreckless … Continue reading anticipation
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