Happy New Year

2023

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, ‘Who am I, O LordGod, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ....You know your servant. For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things. There is no one like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears....And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you. For you, O Lord, have blessed and are blessed for ever.’ from 1 Chronicles 17 (NRSVUK)

What follows is the final email sent to subscribers of my monthly newsletter; it’s going out on Wednesday December 28th.

Sending this in the gap between Christmas and New Year, thinking you might have time to read it! And yes - it is my very last email to you....

Looking Back and Looking Forward -

- a time to reasses, relinquish and reset

- celebrating some birthdays, including Amazing Grace

- and a farewell

What are you doing over the next few days? In the UK, Monday January 2nd, is a public holiday, and Scotland has Tuesday off as well!

Maybe there'll be a moment or two, either now or over the next few days, to do as King David did, and look back and then look forward as you sit in the Lord's Presence. David prayerfully noticed where the Lord blessed him in the past, and committed his future to God.

The New Year is often a time for resolutions - sometimes the same ones of yet again resolving to lose weight, get fit (ter), eat healthily, and so on. I've learned the hard way that making New Year Resolutions just sets me up to fail, and it's a burden I can do without.

Instead, I like to use the opportunity to look back and notice where the Lord has blessed, led and guided me, and thank Him for all He has done and given in the past twelve months. And then look forward into the coming year and commit it to Him, asking for Him to guide and lead me as I step into both what's known and what's unknown.

It can be that simple; with a fragrant coffee, my Bible, my journal and decent pen. In a warm, quiet place where I can curl up and enjoy the time of reflection. Preferably with a wonderful log fire too!

Or it could be a much more in-depth time, based on the Examen. I like the Q&A approach by Stephen W. Smith:

“The Great Annual Examen”. It’s a simple question and reflect exercise. You will work through questions that help reflect on the past year and anticipate the coming year. It’s called the “Examen” because in this exercise we take an examination of how we’ve “done” in life—on the journey and in different aspects. In some ways, many of us will admit that this past year has “undone” us. We’ve felt spent, done, or merely surviving, and, perhaps, barely surviving at that! However you reflect upon this past year, it’s my hope that you’ll have a GPS—a marker that will help you discern where you are, how you are, and where you want to go this next year." You can find it here.

A BIG BIRTHDAY!

There's one special big birthday to be celebrated on January 1st!

Looking back: ' I once was lost ... was blind .. Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come...'

Looking forward: 'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home'

It is thought that John Newton, former slave trader, now priest in charge of St Peter and St Paul Church in Olney, composed the hymn Amazing Grace to accompany his sermon to be preached on New Year's day January 1st 1773.

The much-loved hymn is therefore 250 years old on New Year's Day! More about the hymn and its birthday celebrations can be found here.

And there's another Big Birthday - my own!

Turning 70 this spring. It seems like a big milestone, and there are some exciting things planned to celebrate! Some friends and I are going to Lee Abbey for a retreat led by Jill Weber; I'm planning a loooong solo walk visiting cathedrals and churches in September (probably about 230 miles with friends hopefully joining me for a day every so often; Coventry/Oxford/Abingdon/Reading/Bath/Bristol. The keen-eyed will spot that it's all on canals and rivers!)

So it's a time to re-asses and I've spent some time over the past months thinking and praying about what the next decade will look like, as I give thanks for the blessings of the past decade. There have indeed been huge highs and enormous lows; the blessings have included YOU and these emails; running The Vine Retreat House for 5 years; publishing two more books; moving home to Bath and becoming a volunteer chaplain at Bath Abbey; developing a ministry of Spiritual Direction/Companion to a number of people including some in the USA and America as well as the UK (overseas ones might not have happened had it not been for Covid getting us all used to Zoom!)

RELINQUISHMENT has been a positive and life-giving word for me recently. It applies to many different areas of life and brings a freedom and lifts many burdens! Releases one from the oughts and shoulds and have-to's.

- I'm relinquishing the walking pilgrimages I've loved leading over the years, the Cotswolds, Cornwall, the Via Francigena in Italy. Cornwall in May was definitely the last Big Walk Pilgrimage. I wonder how many miles I've walked over the years, leading pilgrimages .....

- I'm relinquishing the writing - no more books! It's not the writing of them (I'm still scribbling!) it's the marketing and publicity that authors now have to do to sell the books; I absolutely loathe it, find it hard to promote myself and now don't need to do it anymore. Relief!

I still have signed copies of WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS and SCENT OF WATER available through the website so do order soon while they're still available. And a few vintage pre-loved copies of WOMEN BY DESIGN too.

- I'm relinquishing Social Media! Actually that's a huge relief. So my SPARKLE & GO DEEPER page will cease. I'll pop into Insta and FB occasionally, probably, to keep up with you all, but otherwise, SM will no longer be necessary. Phew! I've already closed my LinkedIN and Twitter accounts.

- I'm relinquishing these emails. It's been fun to write to you regularly and I've loved being in touch and loved hearing from many of you when you reply. It's been great to feature books by Christian authors and have giveaways for you. But I no longer need to write them nor do you need to read them! This is indeed the very last.

It's time to hand the baton on to other (younger!) inspiring people, and I know many of you read and follow other Christian writers and retreat leaders.

WHAT I WILL BE DOING

Because I don't intend to sit still and knit (I don't and can't do either!)

- Spiritual Direction/Companionship will continue both with those I already see, and with some new ones, I prayerfully hope. It's an opportunity to chat about your faith, reflect on what the Lord might be saying to you and where He might be leading you, and to encourage you to go deeper in your relationship with Him. It's available on Zoom or in person. So geography is no hindrance! Let me know if you might be interested to find out more. (And there's a bit more about it on my website: Have a look at what it offers. )

- McCabe Pilgrimages. I led a McCabe group to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau in September, and really appreciated and enjoyed the McCabe organisation. They offer pilgrimages of all kinds and types, and have invited me to lead more of their special holidays.

In MAY 2024 my husband and I are leading a trip to the churches of Asia Minor in Turkey. If you'd like details when they are available please hit reply and let me know and I'll add you to the list. It will probably include Cappadocia as well. It promises to be quite a trip!

I'm also talking with them about possibly leading a tour of South India including learning more about Amy Carmichael and her ministry and writings, as well as the ancient Christian influences there. Again, let me know if you might be interested in that. Details of current trips and others are on the McCabe website. My groups will be no more than 25, so let me know if you're interested.

- The website and its blog will continue and there might possibly be the occasional blog for you to read! Updates about the Pilgrimages will be there too. So keep an eye on that if you're interested in travelling with me to interesting places. When there is an article or news, I'll post the link on FB and Insta for you.

- Spending more time with personal commitments! Husband, family, travelling, volunteering at Bath Abbey, reading, walking ..... And helping with our family Property portfolio, particularly the holiday one with two glorious apartments in Cornwall

- Possibly moving house to be nearer Bath, our family, friends, church, home group, the Abbey, doctor - because at the moment we drive in and out many times each week! Downsizing, relinquishing, becoming a one-car household instead of two. Less to worry about and care for, more time for others and other commitments.

Our current home will go on the market in mid January; please pray there's a buyer for it! We will have lived here for nearly 6 years; apart from the 12 years in Stamford, it's the longest either of us have ever lived anywhere in our entire lives!

As I look back at all that the Lord has blessed me with over this past decade, at all the difficulties and dangers He has faithfully led me through even when it included a broken heart, I can truly sing,

'Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;

'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home'

May that be true for you too as you look back over the past and look forward to new adventures with Jesus!