commuting chronicles [episode 2: arrival]

A mother waits patiently on the station platform with a squirming toddler in her arms, holding tightly to keep the child safe. Carriage doors spring open and the father leaps out and rushes towards them, all animated and encompassing limbs. The child's legs kick vigorously as it squeals with delight in the moment of reunion.

All the joy in their faces.

Not emotionally intense in the sense of a military family reunion. Blindingly ordinary and every day. Just a simple, unpretentious snapshot as I pass by quickly by on my way home. 

Yet one that resonates deep in my heart today.

Utterly, unconditional Love

#3goodthings [26 May 2013]

20 May
stunning scenery & wildlife on BBC Hebrides
peanut m&m's
crabbies ginger beer

++++

21 May
my brother's first day of chemotherapy done
daughter sharing her difficulties with us, thankful she feels able to do this
God giving extra grace through an unexpected earworm

25 May - we had a great evening at our dinner for six with:
beautiful and artistically presented food
very tasty food
lots of story, sharing and great company

++++

26 May
how God is calling us with compassion when he calls our name twice
our pastor's first Sunday back after his sabbatical
brilliant sharing from the heart by our volunteer Youth worker



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commuting chronicles [episode 1: lost in translation]

On a journey this week a Frenchman was rather anxious as to where he should be getting off the train. He asked a fellow passenger in broken English enough to form the question 'Does this train go to Wigan?' Having understood the positive answer he settled happily back in his seat.

Shortly after the train guard arrived to check our tickets and all of a sudden the Frenchman started saying what sounded like 'orally' over and over to the guard. The more he said it, the more the guard was scratching his head. The Frenchman rummaged in his bag for some email printouts which he showed the guard and eventually the French franc and the Mancunian penny dropped.

Turns out the Frenchman was now confused as to whether he should get off the train at Wigan or Leigh (Or-a-lly.) There is no train station at Leigh, so Wigan the first call was right after all!

It made me chuckle inwardly pretty much all the way home... 

****

Update:

Chatting the following week with a work colleague who ended up helping with interpretation and getting the guy into a taxi at the right place it turns out that

• the Frenchman was actually German (language is not my strong point)
• German-man was trying to get to Orrell (not Wigan or Leigh) 

But it was good to chat with another work colleague who I had not met before and we had even more of a chuckle..

commuting chronicles [pilot episode: brief encounters]

I am currently spending at roughly two hours per day on trains or lurking at stations waiting for trains, which equates to almost one whole day per week. I have always enjoyed watching people and imagining things (probably completely off-beam at times.) 

So this might be an occasional blogpost on these brief encounters (or I may run out of steam, or the contract may come to an end, who knows?)

view [5 minute friday]

Joining with the community that is Five Minute Friday with the lovely Lisa Jo Baker. Writing not for comments or traffic or anyone else’s agenda. But for pure love of the written word. For joy at the sound of syllables, sentences and paragraphs all strung together by the voice of the speaker.

Five minutes on VIEW

++++

I knew this week would be difficult before it started. 

My brother started chemotherapy for cancer on Tuesday and even with praying there is still the unknown, the concern for how things would go. Poison being pumped into his body and unknown after effects. This is still ongoing, just the beginning of a challenging few months of unpleasant side effects to necessitate healing, however that comes.

The weight of sharing news with others to let them know. Also the welcome company of those who have been walking alongside in prayer so far.

On the Tuesday on the way into work I passed a rain drenched hedge on the walk to the station

Then on the way into work I was stuck with an earworm of a song which we sang in church on Sunday ‘Draw me close to You.’ It is a song that I can usually take or leave because I feel sometimes it is a little too emotive; that bit in the chorus where many people raise their hands together 'You’re all I want, You’re all I’ve ever needed.'

Help me know You are near

Try as hard as I might I couldn’t stop the words going round my head. The earworm would not be dismissed.

OK God you are wanting me to know you are near.

Thanks!

****

Later that evening our daughter came home to tell us she has not been well for a while but that she is now on medication. She will also be graduating a little later than her peers due to what has happened.

It was just that extra weight of sorrow and heart pain of the day that I was not expecting. But the words of that song which I am usually ambivalent about was the safety net of His everlasting arms.

Sent ahead of time and in a way that I was not expecting (He has a sense of humour too)

He knows the whole view before me 

And the grace didn't spoil it

END

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near