resting on the far side of the sea

I was walking home this afternoon when I passed a bus stop with a Coke Light advert on it. At the top, it said “live life light” and that got me thinking. Living life light doesn’t seem to be something that very many people (Christian or otherwise) would advocate, and it certainly doesn’t sit well with me.

What’s more important, the finish line or the race itself? I’m looking for the finish line at the moment, but I keep trying not to. I think I should be looking around at what’s around me right now, focussing on that, and not so much on my destination.


Time doesn’t change. One of the reasons I prefer to run in the big wide world than on a treadmill is that I can give myself a big push towards the end, get it over with, but on the treadmill, I have to keep going until my fifteen minutes are up.

There is SO MUCH to be happy about, and I can see that. I can see all the good things that I have, that the Lord has given me, but still I am not full. That doesn’t seem to be enough for me though. I want more.  In looking for answers, I could talk about our “consumerist culture,” blame the fact that I am not satisfied with what I have on that, the advertising, the media but I feel like that’s a cop out. I don’t think that if I had more I would be happier, and I don’t really know what would make me happier. I just know that I’ve lost something that I used to have.  Something deep inside of me that made me content. I get glimpses of it back, but they are fleeting.

“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’.” Romans 8:15

That’s what you are.  My brothers and sisters in Christ.  I regard everyone who is reading this to be one or the other.  And I love my family.


I have a sister, back home, who prays for me about anything and everything. She tells me that my requests are never too silly, who is constantly building me up.  I have a brother, in Hong Kong, who tells me when I do something stupid, who makes me laugh, and who has led me to people here, people who have led me to a church where I feel I can rest, though I will only be here for a short while.  I’ve got two sisters, now in Uganda, who, though far away, are in my heart always.  When I am with them, the time disappears yet it has never been wasted.  I have a sister here in Singapore, without whom, I would be completely lost.  I have a brother in the Philippines, who, in his own words, is a “brother from another mother” and never fails to amuse me.  I have a sister who keeps me informed about what’s going on back home, telling me the things that she knows I will appreciate.  I have a brother in Florence who has forgiven me for things that I have trouble forgiving myself for.  And I have so many more brothers and sisters, who I can have a laugh with, even from across the seas. Who I can feel at home with immediately, from whom I can ask anything and say anything, speak my mind without fear of judgment.

but smells like Hell.  Durian, known as the King of Fruits in South East Asia, is, to say the least, interesting. I've been hearing about it since I arrived, and this is a very common sign on the bus and MRT in Singapore:

Before Christmas, while away with the students, we talked about seeking love. It stemmed from looking at a personal ads page in the paper. We talked about the desire that seems to be intrinsically human to be loved and to love someone.  Now that I’m in Singapore, spending much more time than usual with myself, I can feel my heart yearning for love. By love I don’t just mean the movie scripted kind, set to music and bringing connotations of spring, pretty floaty dresses and a light breeze. I mean the love that I feel when someone close to me does something kind unexpectedly. The joy of seeing someone that I’ve missed. The happy feeling I get from bringing a smile to the faces of those I love. The delight of meeting with my brothers and sisters in Christ just for the pleasure of their company, and that of the Lord’s as we meet in his name.  The myriad of feelings that come when we are overcome with love for Him.  Love can take so many forms and has so many characteristics:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

This poster was on the wall at the church which hosted the Alpha training conference in Myanmar last week and it brought me some amusement!
I had only a glimpse of Singapore after arriving before going to Myanmar for the training conference and a trainers’ training day last week. Myanmar is, I would imagine, a bit like any country that has a strict regime.  The cars are mostly from the late 70s and early 80s, the buses are a mixture of schoolbus-like ones and converted minivans which are jammed full and have people hanging onto the back of.

As you might know, I applied to read Medicine at Oxford next year.  After an interesting couple of days of interviews earlier this week, I recieved a much anticipated letter this morning, and I've got a place! Wonderous news!

Thank you so much to everyone that supported me and prayed for me about this.  I couldn't have done it on my own but its obviously where I'm supposed to be.

As you can see, its not even a real time yet, so my first post is going to be very much less than profound. Not that any of them ever will be. Chances are, you've seen me around - the global intern that hangs out in the vine room. Welcome to my blog, not that I think that anyone is going to read it. Happy 19th October. xox