Holiday challenges

I'm a bit behind with my blog, but though term may have finished I have still been working hard! No putting my feet up just yet!

In the past two weeks I have experienced two aspects of ministry that have led me to sit and reflect. Firstly, I started my special context placement at the Hospice. Secondly, I returned to the north (before it snowed) and preached at my 'home' church.

Ten weeks into my training was I really ready to face what it means to live with a terminal illness? The honest answer is no. How do you approach people? What do you say? From my first day I learnt 'be yourself' and that a smile goes a long way and from my second day it important to listen, but not just to what is said, but what is unsaid too. Though these are important things for me to remember when I go back to the Hospice in February to complete my placement, they are also important lessons for ministry. If I can't be myself or am not able to listen to the silence as well as the chatter, being a minister is going to be even tougher!

The second challenge of my first two weeks of the holiday was returning to Newcastle and preaching at St George's. Going back to what has been 'home' for the past seven years, you'd think would be easy and would ease the pressure on it being the first time of preaching since starting college. Err no... I think it might have been one of the hardest services I've had to lead so far and one from which I have definitely learnt. Going back as the visiting preacher is definitely not easy!

So life's little challenges continue, but soon it will be Christmas and then the New Year! As I don't think I'll get back to my blog till after Christmas now, to all my readers may a wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas.