What's that in you hand?

Harriet Tubman. Now there's a woman! From available documents it would seem that she didn't have much going for her. She was short, unattractive (her front teeth were missing), she couldn't read or write, she was prone to fits which caused her to collapse and fall asleep, and she was a black female slave. But did she allow these things to dampen her resolve to make a difference?

She was of the view that she had a right to one of two things - liberty or death and she would fight for one or settle for the other. When she did take her freedom she couldn't enjoy it knowing that her family were still enslaved. She strategised as to how best to get them from the South to the North. She did get them out, not only them but she went on to lead over 300 other people out of slavery. She didn't have much but she made the most of what she did have.

What do you have in your hand? It may be just a resolve to make tomorrow better than today with Gods help. It may be all you have going for you, but strengthen that resolve right now! Make the most of it, plan around it and use it to take you forward.

Remember ......Pray one for another.

Time Out!

Yes I know its not a good time right now..... and the project proposal is already overdue.....and the children have exams and they need you. But you need you too! Time out is vital to us as women. You need to be all you can be to yourself so that you can share it with others. You can't do this all at one time, just a little bit at a time. People and situations will just keep taking, and taking and taking until you're just a crumpled mass telling yourself "I can't do this anymore!" Trust me there will always be one more thing to do, something else to sort out but you're not doing yourself any favours by just going on and on.

I was away - for just two nights, Friday through Sunday - and it was fabulous. I went to a seminary about an hour outside of Accra. They were great - they just left me alone, which was exactly what I wanted. I wanted just to spend time talking to God and giving Him the space to speak to me . I was also able to read and put somethings down on paper that I just did not have the time to put down before. I was also able to sleep!!

I'm back home again with vistors to entertain, exam revision to coordinate and oversee, but I feel more able mentally if not physically.


Remember ..... Pray one for another

Small Island

There were many parts of 'Small Island' that made me chuckle. I was surprised at how I was able to empathise with those courageous men and women who left the Caribbean with a view to economic improvement. I also understood their fantasy about the 'motherland' and the reality that they actually encountered. I agree with one reviewer who wrote that it was as if she (Levy) 'persuades you she was there..'

What saddens me is that this continues in England today. We talk of anti racism and positive action and diversity but the problem is deeper. When a black 11 year old in 2007 is asked by fellow white students to open her mouth so they can see the colour inside, I am deeply saddened. Where is this being cultivated? I know that children aren't born with this, it's taught, overtly or covertly. These 11 year olds students will should God permit become the supervisors personnel officers, civil servants, managing directors of the United Kingdom.

Talking to a friend who has been a teacher for over 30 years and a headteacher for more than a third of that time in mainly inner city schools, is of the firm opinion that attitudes are changing, that the above example is an exception rather than a rule. I need to be convinced. As a child I experienced such demeaning attitudes and it grieves me that over 30 years on 'my children' are still having to undergo this.


Those of us who are are Christians need to lead the way in showing the world how things ought to be. Or are we in some way adding to the problem by not facing this issue head on beginning with the person in the mirror and seeing if we have beams that need to be taken out of our eyes.

Remember ......Pray one for another.




http://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Island-Andrea-Levy/dp/075530750X

A reason for living

On a recent trip to one to the poorest regions in Ghana I was challenged by women who smiled, sang, danced, laughed, chatted, questioned but who by 'developed country' standards had so little. Their clothes weren't coordinated or fashionable, but clean nonetheless. They walked everywhere unless they were rich enough to own a bicycle.

A lady who lived in Kumasi, Ghana's second city (first of course if you are Ashanti!) tried to prepare me for the experience by saying to me '.....we are not poor here (Kumasi) go to the North that's where you'll see poor, when I go there I want to take off the clothes I'm wearing it to them.'

I wasn't prepared for what I saw and felt. My task was to speak to these women. I questioned myself and God what could I say that would make a tangible difference to the dire circumstances these women lived in, trite words and cliches would be insensitive and demeaning not only to these wonderful people but to myself.

I don't know if what I said made any real and lasting difference, I leave that to God. What I took away rather was that the will to live, to get up every morning and face poverty, no running water or sanitation, is the strongest force of all.


Remember .......Pray one for another

Hello

It's done '.... transactions done' I have created and begun writing my own blog. This is a wow experience! Forgive me all you experts, but I didn't even know what a blog was until June 06 when I was given a two hour crash introduction. Time has stopped me from actually doing anything about my new found knowlege until now, but this is it. I'm not going to say much as I just want to get this out there to see what it looks like. Again apologies..... Any tips for freshers greatly appreciated.


Remember Pray one for another