It is as I thought – a lovely house but needing some tweaking. So today we are stripping wallpaper and maybe getting started on some painting. Thankfully we have the help of our oldest son.
Today we get the keys for our new house. Now I can really have a look at where we are going to live!
Dana has gone away for a holiday whilst we do some decorating and cope with the removal. I have her step-Mum's permission to give you this extract: you will see why I am trying to persuade her to keep her own blog!
Poor Dana – she is not (as yet) a morning dog! R was up at 5 am this morning to get ready for travel to Bishopbriggs. Dana went out, had a quick wee and straight back to bed which is in the study. I got up at 6.30 am – she gave me a baleful look and reluctantly followed me to thekitchen, probably hoping for biscuits. Our routine is biscuits just before I leave for work so she was disappointed and went back to bed. 7. am is hen feeding time, this was of interest to her so she was quite happy to come with me, then again back to bed. She kept an eye on me, maybe hoping I would go back to my bed and she could stay in hers. But no such luck, by 7.30 am I was ready to leave for work. However this time she seemed to remember that biscuits would be in the offing and heaved herself off the bed and through the one in the Dog's Room, got her biscuits and was last seen standing at the door watching the car going away. You could just see the little speech balloon above her head which said – Thank goodness, peace and bed at last.
I came across a quote from Frederick Buechner, the writer, on Faith. It seems to fit with what I was saying yesterday…..
Faith is homesickness. Faith is a lump in the throat. Faith is less a position on than a movement toward, less a sure thing than a hunch. Faith is waiting. Faith is journeying through space and time.
And I would add…… Faith is exciting and faith is risk.
All right – I admit it. I have been reading The Da Vinci Code. Apparently the Vatican want to ban it and are worried that people will believe its theories and historical references. But surely if it sets people off on a quest for knowledge, then it cannot be all bad?
Anyway, I confess I have not been able to put it down, and I don't usually read thrillers. There is a movie in the pipeline starring Tom Hanks; as well as being a mult-talented actor, he usually manages to pick winners. Interesting to note that for people of faith, the claims of the book do not present a problem. Faith comes first and is not shaken by speculation.
I've thought of something else to look forward to regarding the move……Broadband.
All of it sudden it seems – there is little time to do all the things that need to be done prior to a removal. I have given up trying to weed out books, though that probably means we shall be buried under a mountain of them. The new house just does not have the space for all the bookshelves. Someone told me that the homes of newly retired people are invariably very cluttered. I had been hoping to avoid that, but it is getting too late to do much about that. We shall have to continue the process of decluttering from Dalmally.
I have been thinking about what I shall miss most, and what I am looking forward to the most. It is difficult to be objective, as by nature, I want to put the emphasis on the positive. Also, being off sick for many months has enabled me to adjust to a new rhythm and pace of life. But I already miss the challenge of preaching and the responsibility for finding effective ways to make worship a relevant part of life. In time, I hope to be involved in preaching in different congregations, but for now I need to recover and allow a gap between leaving this much loved place and finding a new way of life altogether.
What am I most looking forward to?
The gift of time, (If I'm spared and well as my granny said!) – time to enjoy hobbies, family, friends and new challenges……including time to write.
So I guess I must be feeling a whole load better.
Usually on budget day I am too busy to listen to the various speeches, so I rely on catching up at the evening news. However, today I could theoretically hover over the TV set and take in every word. Perversely I find myself thinking of other things to do. Now that I am about to become a pensioner I find myself being concerned about a whole new range of issues.
Oh no – don't say I am gearing up to be interested in politics after a lifetime of having to appear neutral. I never thought it right to use the privilege of the pulpit to expound party political likes and dislikes. After all, every congregation consists of individuals of all persuasions. Nonetheless, I always admired those preachers who stood up for justice, even when it meant opposing the party of power, as in South Africa for instance. Truth and justice are the keywords for me, the trouble is that when I look back over my life, my views have changed totally. I like to think I am not so extreme now. But then there are times when it is necessary to be extreme and to stand against the crowd.
Not a bad thought as we approach Holy Week.
Colleagues have kindly given me the opportunity to have major input into the content of my Farewell Service scheduled for Saturday. Now the temptation is to include all my favourite hymns. However that is probably too predictable. So what can I come up with?
Suggestions please in the comments box!
