On Saturday night I had a really early party to celebrate my 21st birthday, which is actually in July, when I will be in Uganda. A few friends came round for a BBQ and much banter – had such a lovely evening with these guys – I really do have the best friends in the world! You guys rock!
Had fun with the Polaroid:
I finally caved… I’ve joined Twitter!
Check out this great video explaining twitter:
Follow me on Twitter.
I have a love/hate relationship with the homeland. Read Hols post for more. I’ll probably post more thoughts on it soon too. I’m back in N. Ireland to work for a few weeks. Came back late Sunday night (on a boat full of rowdy/drunk football fans after the Old Firm match), worked Monday, and spent Monday evening in Portstewart with Claire. Was awed by this beautiful sunset…
The Lighthouse
Mitchell Lane
10:30am – 5pm
I’ll be there… will you?
Check out this great video from Radiohead:
HT: Brandon
I went to a book signing in the Lighthouse today by Stefan Sagmeister, an internationally renowned graphic designer. Sagmeister created the opening event for the Six Cities Design Festival last year, and has designed work for musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Pat Metheny.
[Left] The cover for the Rolling Stones album, Bridges To Babylon, designed by Stefan Sagmeister.
He’s just released a new book, titled Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far. It’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve held in my hands! It’s got such an innovative design, all the chapters in separate parts and contained in a cardboard box. I even found a little diary entry on the inside of the container box!
It’s a series of maxims from his personal journal, which he transformed into typographic works. Some pretty cool little maxims…
“Having guts always works out for me.”
“Trying to Look good limits my life.”
“Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.”
“Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.”
It was great to meet Sagmeister, to have a short chat and get my book signed. I’m really looking forward to reading through the rest of the book!
I was reading an article on family over at the Wrecked For The Ordinary website when I came across this quote again:
But back in Jesus’ age, just as in our own, family is one of the most significant barriers to potential risk-takers who would leave everything for the way of the cross. This might explain why Jesus has some hard things to say about our earthly ties… These earthly allegiances create a myopia that stands in the way of God’s vision and justice, which are larger than tribe, clan or nation.
[Shane Claiborne – The Irresistible Revolution]
Such a timely reminder.
I’ve been thinking about time a lot lately, and about how we always claim we never have enough. I was listen to a podcast recently that got me pondering this again. We love to define ourselves by what we do: student, pastor, dentist, administrator, artist, accountant…. on and on it goes.
As a society, we work longer and harder than ever before. Gotta get that presentation finished; need to do just a little bit more revision; can’t take a break now… Have we forgotten how to rest?
Over the past 5 months God has been breaking me down. Since I left university in January (hmm, not sure I ever officially blogged that… oh well!), I’ve just been pottering about, haven’t been working or anything. I knew initially that I needed to take some time off, to rest, to relax, to just be. I went traveling for a month (the States and England). But since I got back, I’ve been job hunting, unsuccessfully. It’s funny how much a lack of work has affected my mood at times. I’m trying to learn that I am not defined by what I do, really learn it, and not just give verbal ascent to the idea.
I’m struck by these words from Henri Nouwen:
When we enter into solitude to be with God alone, we quickly discover how dependent we are. Without the many distractions of our daily lives, we feel anxious and tense. When nobody speaks to us, calls on us, or needs our help, we start feeling like nobodies. Then we begin wondering whether we are useful, valuable, and significant. Our tendency is to leave this fearful solitude quickly and get busy again to reassure ourselves that we are ‘somebodies’. But this is a temptation, because what makes us somebodies is not other people’s responses to us but God’s eternal love for us.
I’m learning to play again. I have crayons on my desk. I stopped at the park on the way home and played on the swings for a while. I’m going for long walks. I’m trying to train my gaze again, to make it larger than ever before. And it’s hard. It takes so much effort, I feel like I’m relearning all the things I did in primary school and dreaming about those things again – the things I somehow was taught that I wasn’t good at or were only for children. I’m searching again for things that are life-giving and restorative for me, that I may be fully present with others and with myself.
Your shout: What things are life-giving and relaxing for you?
Today I headed out to try a new coffee house I’ve noticed a few times here in Glasgow’s Westend, name withheld just in case!
I walked past this place a few times heading into city centre, windows covered up to build suspense. The few words on the windows and the signage had all intrigued me, as it purported to be a place ‘where pixels meet people’ (True). I was intrigued, and so I’ve been meaning to call in since it opened a few weeks back.
I went in this afternoon with a book, hoping to grab a coffee and take in the surroundings. It was mid-afternoon, about 3pm. There were maybe half a dozen other people in too, eating and drinking. There were 4 staff working behind the counter. Definitely not under-staffed! I ordered my americano and plumped myself into a comfy seat, expecting a coffee shortly.
20 minutes later, slightly agitated, I went up to the counter to ask for my coffee… I’d already been approached at my seat once by a staff member asking me to pay… slightly odd I thought, but not really an issue, so I promptly paid, clearly still not having a coffee in my hands. When my coffee finally arrived, it was reasonable coffee, but the cup was roasting! I had to leave it sitting for a while so the cup could cool down… I get the whole hot cup thing, from my foray as a barista – there’s a cup-warming facility on almost all espresso machines, so that cups are slightly heated when serving coffee, it keeps the coffee warm for longer. This was taking the mic though… I couldn’t physically hold the cup or put it to my lips to drink from it was so hot!
I was really disappointed by this place… kinda weird atmosphere, was very quiet, small cups, hot cups, relatively expensive, poor service… I won’t be back.
Tell me about your coffee shop disappointments…?
Ally just sent me a link to this, Compassion’s next bloggers trip:
November 2–7, 2008 Compassion International will take a group of bloggers to see their ministry to over 40,000 children in the Dominican Republic. Known for its resort-speckled beaches, there’s another side to this Caribbean nation unknown to most vacationers. Our bloggers will visit a city dump where families scavenge for food and clothing. They’ll tour a neighborhood where drugs are trafficked and children live beside open sewers. And bloggers will also see firsthand how Compassion International and child sponsors are bringing hope to children living in these places by releasing them from poverty in Jesus’ name.
Currently, I don’t sponsor a child with any organisation. Somehow I convinced myself that as a student/unemployed person I can’t really afford to… but I have a distinct feeling I will be starting soon. How many times do I go out for a coffee in the week? I could give up two coffees a week, or Sunday lunch out, and instead put a kid through school? Give a kid a chance to hear about Jesus? I don’t really need that coffee…
This summer I’m volunteering in Uganda with Fields of Life, who among other things provide child sponsorship. I’m excited, as I get to live out some of my dreams, while doing something worthwhile. I get to take photographs, and the charity gets new images for promotion. I love the reciprocal nature of it… somehow my pictures make a difference. I was inspired by the Uganda Compassion Bloggers, hearing firsthand stories of how Compassion/sponsorship/Jesus is making a difference in peoples lives.
It’s the nature of the Gospel. God tells stories. God invites us to be storytellers.
And I can’t wait to be part of it in Uganda, in less than 6 weeks time.
To find out more:
Sponsor a child through Compassion UK
Sponsor a child/get involved with Fields Of Life
Read more about Compassion Bloggers.
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