A Plan

So I went to my first concert/gig inside a building! (yeah I know that sounds crazy but so far I've only seem live acts either in a tent or in a field....)

I went to see Owl City with my Boyfriend and some mates. To be honest my weekend was going to be a bit hectic, it was supposed to snow, my hand hurt..... and as much as I wanted to spend time with amazing people I can honestly say (sorry Dan) that Friday morning I was having second thoughts about travelling across and then back into Conwy for the food feast.

But I loved. I always would. I can even forgive having to catch a train.

I can see you all now thinking "awww thats a nice/sickening/dull story where is she going with this...?"


Well I will tell you. In one of the Youth Groups I help with instead of going for choose a bible passage think of an activity, we go for pick an activity and Bx has to get the bible into it! Its kind of a fun game, luckily next week is empires which is a lot easier than ninjas and chocolate.

But isn't that what we sometimes do with our lives we pick our activities and work the bible into as an after thought.

Thats actually not where I'm going with this.

You may have noticed I have been neglecting the blogging lately again - sorry - and lately I've been missing the reflection on contemporary society and scripture mixed together.


Then it hit me - Owl City, or rather the amazing lyrics would probably make a beautiful series for a youth group or to tie in some biblical reflections....  yes you can see where I'm going.

At least once a month, if not more I hope to be blogging, and to get me back into the swing of it I shall be reflecting on the Lyrics of Owl City and and the Christ Faith.... I'm excited. I hope you're not to terrified.

Last Train Home

If there was ever a thing to lead you to writing on your blog after an absence anything involving a train journey is usually it.

Its that extra time to contemplate with very little distraction as your mind wonders away from the book/newspaper/work you could or should have been reading as the country side rolls past your window. Furthermore for those of us whose daily commute doesn't involve trains it means that there is a purpose behind the distraction of the train we are traversing on.

I am not a train traveller in slightest, the mere thoughts of catching one train no changes drives fear in to the very core of my being.... I sound like I'm being dramatic but often me catching one train no changes drives fear into the hearts of many people. I can count the number of train journeys (excluding returns and not taking into account number of trains mind as I have now discovered how to change trains) on my lovely two hands.

There was the first time I ever caught a train... which believe it or not is not the disaster story most people will think of if they know me. Apparently I have been on a steam engine in my early childhood. I actually dont remember. I do remember going to stare at the flying scotsmen as it came into a local station but thats it.

So the first journey I ever took on the train (by myself and that I remember) was to be a disaster from start to finish. In fact the epic failure of this journey is to long to repeat the story for those of you still reading.

Since that time my outlook on travelling by train has been grim. I had no car over the Christmas of my first term at Uni, therefore I had to take the train home - I was lucky this was the last train home before snow halted most service.

Then there was the incident with my declined Indian Visa in Manchester (because I came from Norfolk) meaning a train journey to Birmingham was required.

And the time I was on Crutches and couldnt drive so visit Norfolk (via the National Gun Show in Newark) on a train.

You can see why trains still hold this negative element.

However this last 30 days I have travelled on many trains. I went to Faith and Order Network Conference (on which my thought can be found on a previous posts entitled Faith and Order or Reflections on #fando.) I caught all the train succesfully (with much help from Paul Parker and a new local presbyter. I caught all the train successfully (with much help from Paul Parker and a new local presbyter. Then I travelled to Cliff by train for a brief visit to find a parachute and to chat with many people. 

My last train journey was probably the most epic I have ever taken with six trains over two days three of which had Manchester Piccadilly and Euston in the title! I went for a new workers introduction day with the methodist church. This was an exciting day that helped me to be on the only new one working. 

But whilst I was sat upon my last train home from London I was thinking about the Lost Prophets song Last Train Home with the lyrics:

"But there's still tomorrow
Forget the sorrow
And I can be on the last train home"

I can honestly say there are very few people or reasons that I would probably ever catch the last train home. But the first two lines are a different matter. Whilst starting in my new job and every other new thing there are always ups and downs from the beginning. Sometimes you get the really bad days and think maybe I should give up, but tomorrow is a new day and I am daily comforted by the anchor of Hope I find in Christ. By the time I had caught four of the five trains to London and home again the hope that I would get home was the very thing that kept me going. I make that my daily prayer that one day I will go home to Christ but not until the journey is done. I rejoice in the hope that I shall know Christ now and forever. I have Hope.

'Hope anchors the soul' - Hebrews 6:19