We never know what influence we have on people's lives, and may not fully know until we reach eternity.

A word from a long lost friend reminded me of that today, and of one of the first poems that I wrote over 20 years ago.
I thought I would submit it as perhaps a challenge to us all that if we want to be a blessing it has to be on His terms not ours.

Lord make me blessing.

Lord make me a blessing in all I do and say,
I want to be what You were as You walked the narrow way.
For everywhere You went in every love filled day
You touched and healed, and helped each one
That in Your presence stayed
Lord You were a blessing to the woman at the well,
To Your disciple Peter who before Your trial fell.
To the lepers who were outcasts, to the beggars and the lame,
Lord You were a blessing, please make me the same.

Lord make me a blessing especially in my home,
But send me only nice folk to share my jam and scone.
For Lord I’d really be put out if at my door there came
A dirty, smelly, longhaired lout who stood there in his shame.
Lord make me a blessing to everyone I meet,
While I do my shopping and I’m walking in the street,
But Lord You really can’t expect for me to help that drunk
Who’s fallen off his seat and in the gutter sunk.
He’s there a victim of himself, there’s no one else to blame,
But Lord make me a blessing as I go out in Your Name.

Lord make me a blessing as I go up to my school,
I would be a light for You, and there I’d be a fool.
But Lord don’t ask that I should speak about my life in You.
Nor ask me turn the other cheek, or leave revenge to You.
To do that is too hard Lord, that’s just not playing the game,
But Lord make me a blessing at school just the same.
Lord make me a blessing as I go about my work,
To those You put into my path may Lord I never shirk,
Just let me work with Christians where we all believe the same,
Lord make me a blessing, as I speak out in your name.

Lord make me a blessing in all I do and say.
I want to be what You were as You walked the narrow way.
I want to be a blessing in my work, home, and school and walk,
But Lord my prayer so often is a lot of empty talk.
“My children if a blessing to me you want to be,
Count not the cost of loss of face if Christ your friends would see.
Because My walk is lonely, My cross so hard to bear,
And few there are who wish to be a blessing where
I would lead, and say just when and what to say,
Or who to see, and help, and share the burdens of their day.
I ask of you just one thing, and that is when you pray
Lord make me a blessing, say, I obey”.

Well, in the words of Victor Meldrew from One Foot in the Grave, "I simply don't believe it!!"

Here we are just starting the school summer holidays, enjoying these wonderful hot days, and lo and behold in today's Guernsey Press is an advert reminding people to submit their Christmas lunch menus for publication.



Come on, give us a break! What's wrong with simply enjoying now. Why have we got to be reminded that there are only five shopping months to Christmas, (I know it should be --- shopping days, but to be honest I couldn't be bothered to work it out), I refuse to be made to think about it.

The trouble is, the fact that I am even writing about it means that I am thinking about it, see, the powers that be have got me beat.

Isn't it the same with other things though?
Ask a 20 something how much are they putting aside for their pension, and you get a look of disbelief, as if to say why on earth would I want to be thinking of something like that at my age for goodness sake?

As I can count the years using only my hands, God willing, beforeI will be claiming mine, I guess it is further up my agenda of things to be considered than it was thirty years ago.

It does however serve as a reminder that the years do pass all too quickly, it also reminds me that there are probably more years behind me than in front, and begs the question what after this life?
Just as Christmas seems too far away for me to get excited about it, we too can think that the next life is too far away to give it any thought at the moment.

Something just to bear in mind though, we know Christmas will be on December 25th. We don't however know even what lies around the next corner.

My mother often quotes a little line that goes " Life at best is very brief, like the falling of a leaf".

Perhaps it is a good thing to be reminded that the Christmas menus will soon be published!

Saturday 22nd July 2006

We have just returned from what for us is the perfect summer afternoon occupation, relaxing on Fermain beach.
When the sun is out and the weekend is here you can almost guarantee where we will be.
In fact that dot on the beach just at the foot of the buttress is Judy in our favourite spot.

This afternoon the tide was coming in and was eventually only a couple of feet away from us on a steeply shelving beach.
Swimming in the crystal clear water, and making our way out among the boats that were moored just offshore, and turning to view the magnificent cliffs that rose up from the bay, it truly was heaven on earth.

Later, as I was lying on the beach listening to the waves gently breaking on the shore, the gulls calling and wheeling overhead, it was hard to believe that elsewhere in the world people were cowering in fear at the sound of gun and rocket fire.

Indeed on the Mediterranean coast where there should have been people doing the very thing we have been doing today, there are mothers grieving over children that have been killed, sons caught up in the conflict, and families that are fleeing their homes not knowing if they will ever return.

Yes the world is indeed a place of contrasts, even Fermain bay carries the evidence of previous conflict with fortifications from both the Napoleonic age and the second world war when our island was occupied by a hostile force.

Let us remember in our prayers those caught up in this current conflict, for whom peace seems a million miles away, where bloodshed is in the very streets where they live, and may we appreciate the tranquility we can find, and which if we are not vigilant can so easily be snatched away.

Thursday 21st July 2006

Well, this is a first for me!

Never submitted a blog before, but I would like to welcome you on what I trust will be an interesting journey.

I am a life long member of the Guernsey club.
What a wonderful place to live.

The longer I live on this emerald isle the more I appreciate its beauty. They say that familiarity breeds contempt but I am finding a deepening love for the quality of life that is ours here.

There are not many places in the world that you can: -

• step out of your office and within two minutes be on a beach swimming in your lunch hour!
• never be in a traffic jam in the rush hour for longer than 15 minutes.
• commute to work and never be further than 7 miles from home.
• have most of your family only minutes away.
• have stunning scenery, wildflowers, and wonderful wildlife within easy reach.
• have the choice of many beaches all with their individual character and beauty.

The list could be endless, and yet the sobering thought is that in the midst of such beauty and tranquility lay deep needs in people who are hurting.

In spite of full employment, and a very high standard of living, we have one of the highest divorce and suicide rates anywhere in Europe.

This teaches me to be constantly grateful for what I have, and also to be constantly aware of the needs of others around me. To do whatever is in my power to do, in extending the hand of fellowship and friendship to whoever is placed in my path.