Monday 4th December

Well yet another week has past! Still not quite myself although improving. The days all seem to blur into one splodge of time! Perhaps if I were blogging every day like Sally instead of once a week it might help define the days, who knows? I haven't been very good at filling in my journal either, it hasn't slipped completely but I was doing it every day.

I have been praying the morning office, using various versions: Methodist worship book, BCP, and Common Worship. I have recently started a 4 weekly cylce of morning prayer from
The Divine Office, sometimes called 'The (Roman) Breviary. I like the language, I like the fact that it is relativley easy to follow the instructions - I do like idiot proof instructions!! I am also lucky to have a friend who has also commited to do the morning prayer from this and although I doubt whether this happens at the same time, It has helped not to feel as though I'm praying alone, particulalry on the days when prayer is more difficult. Of course there is comfort from knowing that somewhere in the world an unknown number of people are also praying the same words.

I was back at work yesterday and led worship in the morning. After some prayer with the steward on duty, I felt able to continue, having first thought that I might struggle. It helped that during the prayers I began to realise that: this is worship, it is for God, it is not about me, it is about praising and glorifying Him and to hear His word.

I preached about being in the wilderness, one of the congregation, said it was comforting to know that I was human, (i'm not sure what she thought I was!!!) but I understood her sentiment, as she followed by saying, it is really helpful when someone has struugled with something and preaches from the heart. I too then can take comfort from the fact that God is in what I do, and perhaps more comforting to know that other people can see that especially when I'm having trouble seeing it myself.


I worked at the prison today, a reasonably tough day, a couple of tough pastoral situations were difficult to deal with. I did have moments with glimmers of hapiness interspersed. One of the inmates I see every monday is reading his way through the classics in the library, so we had an interesting conversation about George Elliot. I helped another guy with his maths homework, that was when I remebered how to do it, It's been a while. And I taught another how to pray the Rosary, he had been given a roseary and a leaflet telling him how to use them. He took a while but eventually admitted that he couldn't read. We went twice round the roseary and he seemed to pick it up Ok. I've never had to teach anyone the Lord's prayer before, we have this kind of expectation that people know it! Although in one of my churches we have it printed on cards in the back of the chair in front in case people need them, so perhaps we are realising that some of this language we take for granted isn't known by the majority anymore!

Still trying to balance work and rest so I can be fully operational as soon as possible. Everyone's thoughts and prayers have really been appreciated.