Today I have spent my first birthday for several years in the UK and the first for many with my parents and sister. Now I’m sat in my sister’s living room writing this post having had the most wonderful birthday. This morning saw a first for Zoe, Sian and me, with a trip to Sherwood Forest! More about that in a later post though.
This afternoon we went round to my Mum & Dad’s and spent sometime there before my sister and her family came round with a birthday cake, which was a lovely surprise!
All in all I had a wonderful day which was all the better because I spent it together with my family. It’s easy to forget sometimes how much I miss not having my wider family around us in Latvia. I didn’t really struggle when we left England coming up for 5 years ago. However, days like these make you realise what it is you are missing. Sian has had a great time playing with her 3 older cousins and Zoe & I have had the chance to share with Miriam, my sister!
Sometimes we take so much for granted and it’s important to get a reminder of that every so often!
Well I’ve finished in the office for the day and that means it’s time for our Summer Holiday! Starting on Sunday we are off on a 3 week trip to England to visit family and friends. I’ve already put a few books aside to read and as it’s my birthday while we’re away I’ll be getting a few more!
Like I said we’re leaving Sunday and will be travelling up to Lincoln to spend time with my family for a few days. I was working out yesterday that I think the last time I spent any part of my birthday with my parents or my sister is about 16 years ago so it’ll be almost a new experience for me!
Then its off to visit friends and Zoe’s family for the rest of the holiday!
I will be away from a computer for most of the holiday but I still aim to get a few things up on line while I’m away!
One thing I would ask for anyone who reads this is to keep Zoe & I in mind on 22nd June at 12:20 BST! I have a meeting that is going to go some way to shaping my future direction and we would both be very grateful for your prayers then. When I’m back on the 26th I’ll fill you in more!
Last night on the ArmyBarmy Blog Stephen Court made a great post listing the fact that there are opportunities for young people sprouting up all over the map! He then goes on to challenge young people to take the plunge, get themselves discipled and then get out into the world and make a difference!
I think this is great! In fact I even did one of them when I lived in the UK (although at 26 I was probably not that young anymore!)
However, what is there for those for whom the boat of youth has long since left the harbour? What is there for people my age and above who suddenly realise that they’ve missed out on something for fifteen, twenty, forty plus years of adulthood? Why for once can’t the radical stuff be aimed at people other than young people?
The solution for us always seems to be restricted to 3 options:
- Go into officership
- Give up our successful (or not so successful) careers and move ‘onto the frontlines’!
- A combination of some or all the above!
The amount of material produced by the various Mission Teams, Battle Schools etc must be the size of a small mountain by now. Why can’t people distil this material and produce some sort of online library where people can be taught the same things as the youth are being taught?
Or am I missing the point? Is it only the young people we want to drive this Army forward or can the oldies join in too?
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