Its been a long time since I sat down to write something here. Lets see if theres any flow to this or if its just me rambling for a page and a half. (Isn’t that what it usually is?)
I’m sitting on a train right now, I’m to see some of my favorite people in the world. My cousin and his wife (that still feels crazy to say) moved to Faversham after their wedding in August and I’m off to spend a couple of days there. Quite awesome.
It is the first venture in a string of massively exciting things happening over the next 4 months.
In 3 weeks, me and 4 friends are going to see one of my favourite bands, Paramore, play at the O2 arena. Can’t wait for that.
Then 2011 starts…(can you believe 2010’s gone so fast?)
It will start in rather epic fashion for myself and a mate from my course, Ben.
He’s taken on a habit of Impulse buying, items include, but are not limited to, iPads, Cameras, and holidays. So he phones me and leaves a message on Friday night, asking if I’d be interested in a holiday. I was in a busy pub and didn’t catch the whole message so we spoke about it on Saturday…he’d already booked and paid for a 7 night all inclusive package to Tunisia for the 2 of us, assuming I’d be up for it. Which I definitely was.
So I’ll be travelling back from Manchester on the 1st of January, to fly to Monastir, Tunisia on the 2nd. I intend to play golf and swim a lot.
AND THEN…see it doesn’t end there.
Another semi-impulsive “Andy will be up for this, I’ll buy him a ticket” event, though this time from Jamie…3 of us (+ Ben again) are going to Barcelona in Feb to watch Barca play Bilbao at the Nou Camp. I cant start to imagine how amazing that will be.
Yeah. Massively exciting few months for me. Interspersed with essays, field work (ugh) and lectures.
This is my last year with CYM/St Dunstans now. Again, I cant believe how fast it’s gone. I’m getting asked the same question my almost everyone these days…”What are you doing when you’ve finished?”
All I’ve been able to say is “…take a break?” and this is pretty high up on my to do list when I’ve graduated. I would love a solid few weeks off without thinking about meetings/planning etc.
And after that?
‘Here I am, Send me”
About a year and a half ago, a friend said this phrase (I guess that’s what you’d call it) in conversation, and it really stuck in my mind. So much so that since then it has kind of been engraved on my heart, as the way I want to live.
The idea of letting go of “I want this” or “I want to go there” for my future and simply opening your self to God and saying “I am yours, I’ll work wherever, doing whatever you want me to.”
It’s now tattooed on my left arm (sorry mum). I get some interesting remarks about my tattoos now. Especially when I visit new churches/meet new people. I’m often introduced as the ‘youth worker’ and I think some people are a little taken a back when they see them, at least if they don’t understand them. Tattoo’s have quite a bad rep really. However, I love mine. All of them.
I’ve talked in previous blogs about passion, or lack there-of in the church, and I love it when people say “what does that mean?’ pointing an awkward finger at one of my arms. It gives me a chance to tell someone, Christian or not, of the impact Grace has had on my life, or why its so important for me that God IS the beginning and the end.
I’ve deviated from somewhere…In fairness this blog has absolutely no coherent pattern or goal. It’s been so long since I’ve written anything that I’m literally just typing stuff.
I’m about to get off this train though now, so I’ll leave it there for this one. I’ll try and come back soon with some actual meaningful stuff…maybe. If you still check this page for new stuff, bless you for dealing with the rabble that is my mind on caffeine.
Peace & Grace and all that comes with it.
Andy
