I remember in a McDonalds in the country I saw a little plaque that said “If you see someone who doesn’t have a smile, give them one of yours”. The older I get, the older the people I spend time with get (as you’d expect), and the more serious everything becomes. The more serious everything …
Category Archives: long
why don’t people trust each other?
I recently spent some time talking with an old friend about how much or how little people communicate: why are people so hesitant to be honest with each other? I know that the amount that you trust the person is a major factor; how far and wide the other person will broadcast your confidence; how …
the weekend I was slack to you
I’m in the privileged position of having friendships now that date back for over a decade. Not all of these friends are geographically located so that catching up with them is easy, but it’s always great when there’s a chance to try and catch up on what has happened in months and years passed. It’s …
at least pause before you answer
It was a while ago when I asked. Maybe I was expecting more of a pause between Q: Do I make you feel appreciated and A: No. Now – a month later – there’d be a pause before answering: perhaps it would be a different answer; at least I think so. Making someone feel appreciated …
a grief remembered
It’s probably when I see something that he would have liked, and want to call or SMS that I notice he’s not reachable anymore.I’m still sad: for my loss, really. It’s all his gain, now. In his case, the expression “gone to a better place” isn’t just some sappy rhetoric, but a certainty: probably the …
on coping with bad news
We were talking last night at bible study about how to handle the ups and downs of the Christian life. Just when you think everything is going well (or worse, when you think everything is as bad as it can get), the unexpected news comes in. Is it enough just to look to God’s faithfulness, …
You’ve gotta love this city
Thanks to everyone who’s emailed in their well-wishes for kel’s mum. We’re looking forward to seeing her again this weekend, as close to full recovery as you can be so soon after surgery. Last weekend was spent with some unusual (for me) company: I learned first-hand what it’s like to be looking after puppies. Let …
four hundred and twenty six point seven
Another weekend, another trip to coffs harbour. This one was much happier, though. It celebrated something of a return to good health for kel’s mum, and the return to Sydney for kel. I also had the opportunity to spend some time with Ian and Kathryn, and to put another thousand kilometres on our car. I …
An unexpected long weekend.
Last weekend’s activities are probably easiest to cope withif you view them in reverse-chronological order. Monday Night: We (except kel, who is still looking after her mum), arrive back in sydney Monday Lunchtime: Kel drops her mum home from the hospital Monday Morning: We visit Kel’s mum at hospital; she’s on more gentle painkillers, and …
Lost in Transition
It’s over. The move from Hurstville to Burwood is complete, and with it, my illusions that I don’t have much in the way of possessions. I think I had bought into the laptop advertisements: A man plays with his kids, and because he has a laptop with him, he’s still technically “at work”. The man …