My 50th year, Ed Stourton and a challenging book!

Hi you wonderful people
This comes with much love for 2009 and may you experience love, joy, peace, fun and many wow moments with people you love and glimpsing the beauty of creation which never fails to move me. This year I definately want to make an effort to go for walks with different people as a walk is always a great way of getting to know someone better. So if that appeals to you then let me know,as I am always blessed when I do go walking with people I love

As I look back over 2008 I can honestly say it was not one of the best years probably because I did not go to Burma and have not been away for about 14 months. Pathetic as it sounds that makes a real difference to me. I know some of you may not have been away for years but..... I always need that to make the heart sing and have loads of mini adventures, so let us see what this year brings. Yesterday I got through to Thuzar in Burma straight away and she had literally just landed at Mandaley airport. As the line was so clear she could have so easily been talking from London. However recently I saw a poster on Burma in the Garden centre near dads (!), the next day on a programme I heard a lady from Rangoon and a friend bought me a book on Burma for Christmas. Could be symbolic that I will go.
The events in Gaza and Zimbabwe are appalling. I was pleased to hear Ed Stouton being reinstated as he is my favourite interviewer along with John Humphreys. To be sacked with ten years unblemished record simply for having the wrong voice is despicable and the way it was done lacked integrity and was spineless. Thankfully he was reporting from Gaza yesterday

For the last two months I have been praying about what the Lord wants to talk to me about/change etc in the months before my 50th. Now I have the answer! On31st December,whilst having breakfast in Berkhamstead with a school friend,I picked up a book and I can safely say that I have not been so challenged by any book since I read one on Mother Teresa in Calcutta in 1988. I have underlined almost EVERY LINE and know that if I read nothing else this year and if He could make this book reality in my own life, it would transform me beyond measure. I AM NOT holding my breath, and neither will anybody else but somehow I have hope that IF I am open to Him making this reality, HE will do it and I will have so many opportunities to put it into practice!!I know I have not even began. The book is called Love as a way of Life. Basically he is saying that the following qualities should be in any encounter we have, especially when we are at odds with someone as they are the qualities of love.They are: kindness, patience, honesty, courtesy, forgiveness, humility, generosity. I KNOW I have failed in so many areas but miracles do happen and I feel excited somehow. Hope too many of you will not be in for a rough ride!! To all those amazing people who have prayed for me over the last 30 years, this is the only prayer I want you to pray for the next 5 months for me to live this book out. He really is a God of reality and knows what I am like as does everyone else.

I really enjoy Sunday at 7am followed by either Aled Jones or the daily service. The former always has some reflective material or songs and today, as I flicked back to the daily service, it reminded me again of something I had been given a few years back. Today Aled J had William Nicolson the writer who wrote Shadowlands and shared extensively about not really having a faith anymore. I liked his honesty. As the sermon today at church was on hope I felt that was applicable because I do have hope that 2009 will be a good year for me in so many ways. Time will tell. I also enjoy Clive James as he always makes me laugh Consequently Sunday morning before church is interesting.

For me there were many wow moments despite not being away. These would include: wonderful quality moments with so many dear people who are too many to mention and enjoyng, wine, lunch, coffee,cake, etc, the Ritz with friends, birthday meal at Loch Fyne, INCREDIBLE STOP BANKS NZ wine in an Amersham pub recently with Anita who had me in fits, Val in London , meal recently in St Albans with friends, concerts, the Grove on numerous occasions which are always a joy whoever I am with, getting to know some of you better and meeting 3 new people who I think will be friends, meeting the wonderful Emma Kirkby performing the Chandos Anthems at St John's Smith Square in that awesome venue, Mary's 60th which was amazing, walking through the park at some unearthly hour listening to Bach, Purcell etc, quality moments with those at school, Salisbury with Sue, discovering Buxtehude's 43 and 41 pieces, the divine appointment of the decade which I cannot say what it was, Barack Obama's speech, remarkable conversations on trains, buses etc. Thank you Lord for every one. This present from a school friend seems so very apt to go on the blog for the first one in 2009, as so many wonderful people have blessed my life to overflowing.

So listening to Handel and having a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from N.Z recommended by the wine buyer at a local store,here is to 2009. I had an amazing conversation with the buyer and so often in life I meet people on trains, planes, in shops etc and think "we could be friends". I am praying this year for me to walk into every divine appointment, meet everyone I am meant to meet and get to know some of you better and see some of you more, as time slips by and have not seen some of you dear friends in years. Yesterday I was planting purple flowers which will flower when I am 50 (how cool I am!) and was listening to the amazing CD Review on Radio 3 with Purcell, Handel and I think it was Monteverdi. Felt it was symbolic as it was a glorious day with glorious music and it felt like a divine moment.

This comes with much love to each of you. Thanks

for your amazing grace and being so wonderful Flissxx

I would never be able to convey how much I appreciate

each of you.

.

I am listening to the wonderful programme called C.D. Review on my computer. This morning was a glorious day and I was vanishing the new front door which we fitted yesterday as we were quoted an incredible amount to do it.