I have a leak

I have a problem with water.

For some reason I cannot fully determine I have a recurrent puddle on the floor of what we call the ‘boot room’ (the little room by the back door where we leave shoes and other outdoor things) at my house. 

The only water that is meant to be in the room is in the heating system and the radiator and pipes are dry. There is no staining on the ceiling and no marks on the walls. All I can think is that there has been a lot of rain in the last few days and the drain by the wall there might be blocked (in fact I am off to see if I can unblock it shortly).

If it is then water will seep. That is what water does.

As I have been pondering about how difficult it is to find sources of leaks, though, because water seeps I have reflected that there are other things that seep in our lives. Jesus talked about the kind of things that come out of our hearts (anger, malice, etc…) and that people would know that we were His followers if we loved each other. We have seep-y hearts I think.

I suppose I am wondering if I only notice water-puddles or whether I am alert to the more spiritual ones too?

Cycling with boys

Last weekend I cycled 60 miles with my son and some of his friends.

I observe that reactions to this are sharply divided. Most people react with a “Wow, that’s a long way” response, particularly for the boys. Some, however, who are into cycling smile and comment that this sounds like a good starter by way of cycling trips.

We took it easy, stopping regularly and eating plenty of chocolate and I have to say it was a very pleasant couple of days without serious incident. What was lovely was seeing the character of the boys come through.

My main reflection, though, is that it is amazing what you can achieve if you just keep going. None of us are fit cyclists. When we set out it felt like the journey was going to be endless and might not be achievable. However, we just kept going. We didn’t rush, we tried not to grumble when another hill came, and the miles passed.

It is amazing what we, even the smallest of us, can achieve when we are willing to give it a go and just keep going.

Rhythms

OK, I admit it. I feel bad, even though there is no real reason I should. I have just noticed that it is almost two weeks since I last posted a blog and that is not very good. I have, though, been amazed at the number of different people who have said that they have been reading and I feel bit off that I have allowed the posts to slip.

What is interesting me more, though, is why they have slipped.

When I was abroad I had a rhythm for each day, to be honest because ‘being on sabbatical’ was the only thing I had to do. This meant that I got a lot written on the various projects that I have been considering and each day I wrote a reflection arising from that day. Back in the UK two things have changed. One is that I have been building the poustinia and the other is that I have been spending time with the family.

Building anything is unpredictable. It is possible to write for a two-hour block and the go to chapel, write a blog or go for a walk. It is not possible to stop with a wall half fixed upright or roof-felt half stuck down because, if you do, it is highly likely that you will need to redo everything you have done when you return due to wind and weather. Thus other things get pressed.

Time with the family has been wonderful. I hate being away from them. However what this means at the moment is that no two days are the same. I am spending 5 days a week away from home, and they join me at the weekends (so that we get most of the week together), but that means that one day I will be all alone with one rhythm, the next I have a journey, the next I am at home the next another journey, the next I am excited about them arriving and so on… It is lovely, but hard to settle into anything.

Why this reflection? I suppose it has made me realise again how important it is to find and use the rhythms of life. Sometimes they will be provided for us, sometimes we have to make them, and sometimes we have to muddle through without. They are a blessing to be cherished though.