Leaving the harbour

So last night I went to 'Connect', our spouses group at college, for the last time. I've seen a lot of people leaving at the end of their time here, but we've been here longer than most. Being in the community at theological college is a strange experience in some ways - we all come here leaving friends and families, leaving churches, leaving our support networks behind for a brief period before moving on to life in ministry. I've always talked about being 'in the bubble' as, although we have settled in Bristol and loved being here, we have never quite put down roots outside of the college itself. Life has been on hold in some ways.

Of course, that can be a good thing, for a time at least. We have been in a safe, sheltered place. We have had natural support from the people around us who came with the same motivation and the same wants, needs, anxieties. We arrived with one baby and have since had a second and so have been through all of the stress and sleeplessness that that entails, as well as all the joys and blessings! It has been a time of rest and repair, but that in itself isn't always easy. Spiritually I have been through a period of overhaul where I have felt dismantled, stripped and sanded down which has not been comfortable, but I can only trust that God has put me back together and made me seaworthy again, and that I've gained something through the process.

So, it's back to the open sea. I'm sad to leave friends and join the diaspora of graduating Trinity families, and I'm a little apprehensive about the changes to come, but I'm also excited about leaving the harbour, wondering where God will take us next. Whatever else, ours will be 'no ordinary life'!

Running the race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)

After years of avoiding most forms of exercise, and of certainly thinking I was not suited to any, I started running around this time last year, and found to my surprise that I enjoyed it. Initially I began training to run 5K and ran in three 'Race for Life' 5K races last summer. After that I began training for the Bristol 10K, which I ran a couple of weeks ago with a team of friends. I have now signed up (perhaps against my better judgement) to run the Bristol Half in September. I have set this blog up in part to record my progress throughout this training period.

But there is another race I am running... it's an endurance race, set to last a lifetime! Interestingly I have found that running and exercise has not only helped me to physically shape up, but is helping me emotionally and spiritually too. I find that I am learning some valuable lessons in discipline and perseverance that will apply to other areas of my life if I am prepared to put in a bit of training. I am facing a lot of changes at the moment as my husband moves into church ministry and, as a family, we will be up and moving shortly and having to adjust to a whole new lifestyle. I shall try to record some reflections along the way.

Of course, alongside everything else, normal, domestic life carries on regardless, and my life as a mother and home-maker (urgh - yukky word!) takes up the most part of my time. Here too I want to strive to be better - to be the best that I can be, for my children, for my husband, for those I meet along the way, and for myself. It's a lifelong ambition, and I want to enjoy the chase!