Posts from 2024

Weaving Memories and Building Ties  I sat with two of my brothers recently and went through some boxes of old photos from my parents’ estate. My Mum and Dad both passed away some years ago and we are getting ready to create a digital library of snaps and stories for the coming generations. Camera tech was pretty naf back in the day and a lot of the old black and white and colour images are blurry and faded. We found some ‘goodies’ however…

A discussion with my flatmate:Me: I could just drop out at the end of this year Alex: Mon you wouldn’t be dropping out you would be graduating!Me: Oh yeah…  I am currently in the final semester of my undergraduate degree at UC and I am working out the plan for the next year. I have an exciting, awful, annoying, deliberating worm inside my head that decides to speak up when I have assignments I should be focussed on instead… I am tossing and turning…

“The preaching of Peter and Paul and all the witnesses of the Risen Jesus says that two basic things are demanded of us. First: we must acknowledge our own share in what the cross is and represents; we must learn to see ourselves as caught up in a world where the innocent are scapegoated and killed and where we are all unwilling, to a greater or lesser degree, to face unwelcome truths about ourselves. We must learn to see that…

I had an adventure this week, travelling on a small plane to Blenheim.  There were just six of us on board, and the roar of the engine meant that it wasn’t possible to speak to one another.  It was a clear afternoon.  I sat back, zoned out and watched the ground disappear from under me.  The Canterbury plains became a haphazard patchwork of small squares, and I could see where the braided rivers touched the sea.  It reminded me of…

Hello lovely Ilamites,I’ve been working here in our office at 51 Ilam road today and thinking about what to write for the musing this week. As I think back over these last few weeks at Ilam I wanted to write a musing in praise of all our volunteers. As a church we have heaps of opportunities for people to volunteer – most churches would crash in a heaps without them and Ilam Baptist is no exception. There are heaps of…

The Ploughshare Prayer. Rachelle introduced us all to this beautiful prayer in last Sunday’s service. A nasty dose of shingles meant I unfortunately missed the service and song. I played it later however after Steph shared it with me. The all-embracing love it voices moved me to tears. The lyrics unexpectedly gathered up pieces of my story, and my present life. I felt seen, understood, held and hopeful. I prayed that this Love might continue to help us ‘break open…

The Ploughshare Prayer. Rachelle introduced us all to this beautiful prayer in last Sunday’s service. A nasty dose of shingles meant I unfortunately missed the service and song. I played it later however after Steph shared it with me. The all-embracing love it voices moved me to tears. The lyrics unexpectedly gathered up pieces of my story, and my present life. I felt seen, understood, held and hopeful. I prayed that this Love might continue to help us ‘break open…

On Sunday we sang the lyrics“I am alive because, You are alive in me… ”Sometimes songs we sing on Sunday stay with me during the week. This one had fresh meaning as I sang.I had just returned from a solo trip to the hills around Takapo, chasing deer. It struck me that there was a parallel between the song’s lyrics and what I experience on such occasions.I am alive… I am never as aware of my aliveness than when on…

On Sunday we sang the lyrics“I am alive because, You are alive in me… ”Sometimes songs we sing on Sunday stay with me during the week. This one had fresh meaning as I sang.I had just returned from a solo trip to the hills around Takapo, chasing deer. It struck me that there was a parallel between the song’s lyrics and what I experience on such occasions.I am alive… I am never as aware of my aliveness than when on…

This morning, I caught the bus into the city as I had a breakfast meeting in town.  A young guy boarded the bus and sat down next to me.  We ended up striking up a conversation and finding quite a few points in common- our conversation ranged from comparing notes about work, Winter holidays and travel.  What could have been a boring bus ride turned out to be an enjoyable and entertaining journey.As I was waiting for my bus home,…

I’ve been working at the hospital for 2 years now. One thing I notice is that I feel more aware of the seasons as I look out over Hagley Park each day. There is such beauty in every season from the architectural shapes of the branches in Winter; the daffodil carpet in Spring; the lush green of the leaves in Summer and the golden Autumn colours. And then the hills and mountains surrounding us – as I move around the…

Colour My World Imagine you’re standing in the studio of aspiring young artist Vincent. Something doesn’t seem quite right. Where there should be colour and creativity there is nothing but dull grey… You explore the studio, searching for clues that you hope will help Vincent recover the spark and the passion he once had for his art. Slowly, frustratingly at times, you pursue hunches, uncover clues, crack codes, open locks and solve puzzles. Each new step brings exciting new tints…