Here are three reasons I'm feeling frustrated and one reason I'm joyful anyway:
a) I'm frustrated at my car. It seemed to be running pretty well, but to be MOT-d seems to require new breaks, new battery, and several other new things. Also, getting about by public transport is freezing at this time of year. I know, several of you will tell me I'm just getting a taste of your normal life but I'm soft.
a) I'm frustrated at my car. It seemed to be running pretty well, but to be MOT-d seems to require new breaks, new battery, and several other new things. Also, getting about by public transport is freezing at this time of year. I know, several of you will tell me I'm just getting a taste of your normal life but I'm soft.
b) I'm frustrated with my computer. On Sunday Bethany was on the PC and a red flashing thing came on saying "your computer is at risk! Download Internet Protector 2011!" So - understandably - she clicked to download it, and it proved to be a destructive virus thing that stopped all sorts of other things working. I thought I'd backed up all the files, but obviously I did that wrong, because they're now lost, which makes the rest of my family understandably frustrated with me (though very gracious)...
c) I'm frustrated with my body. My legs have been unexpectedly collapsing from time to time (most recently at the open air nativity at Lathcoats Farm on Sunday) and I've been finding it difficult to stay awake (yes I did fall asleep in a sermon a while ago, I hope no one thought it was a comment on the preacher) and I snore like a train at night and have started making snoring noises in the day-time too... So I've been to a number of specialists, and they say It's obstructive sleep apnoea that means I'm not getting enough oxygen into my blood. ("Don't you find yourself forgetting things?" asked the specialist. "Yes" I said "but I think that's a character quality not a symptom"). The good news is that I can sleep wearing a contraption that ought to help, and I pick it up next Tuesday. I'll tell you how it goes. Meanwhile, I'm frustrated that I don't feel like I'm pulling my weight around the place. I'm a pretty bad patient...
d) But I'm joyful...
...when I see evidence of the gospel breaking down Galleywood people's natural tendency to be territorial, so that the members of different groups find ways to compromise and share
...when I get so many positive comments about communion as I did on Sunday - including from people who only a few months ago found the way we've changed the serving of communion very difficult indeed
...when I see unexpected sunshine striking the remains of the snow
...when the reality of Christmas strikes me like sunshine. Without computer access or car, I've been able to spend more time thinking about God as a baby. I recommend it to you.
Meanwhile, I'll see you at the weekend - 1662 morning prayer at 9.30, nativity and puppet plays at 10.30, carols at 11.30, carol-singing at the Horse and Groom Pub at 12.15, and a candle-lit carol service at 5.30.
fondly,
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