Renew Your Mind

Stories so often are told about journeys... This week I have been reminded of Dorothy's famous comment as she looked around her at the strange land of Oz- "We're not in Kansas anymore!" Why are these stories of travel so compelling, for both young and old? Our family are Trekkies, and I love the sound of Jean-Luc Picard's voice at the start of each episode inviting us to "boldly go where no-one has gone before". Is it because the challenges of the unknown, the unfamiliar, the unexpected, force us to develop courage, resilience and creativity?  Is it something to do with character- a sometimes neglected part of being a human being, pushed out of our schedules by our focus on doing rather than being? Journeys of any kind will require us to do new things- whether that's defusing a Clingon argument or throwing water over a witch- but the more important growth happens when we reflect on how we do these new things. Now that we find ourselves travell

Psalm 121 v.8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. So far the going has been harder than the coming. We have lived in The Netherlands for 8 years, and had to say goodbye to people and places that have been very special for us. As we cleared the house and sold our furniture, we remembered the happy times we spent there as a family. As we worshipped together with our spiritual family in church for the last time, we looked back on years of blessing, challenge, friendship and significance. In all the goodbyes, it is good to know that the Lord was there, watching over us. And now as we come to our new home, we know He is still watching. When our children were small, we would sometimes go into their rooms at night when they were asleep and watch over them.... It is good to know that my Heavenly Father watches over me in the same way- that whatever this new adventure throws at us, He whispers gently "It's OK, I'm here".