When I was a child and teenager, preparing for and expecting Jesus’ imminent return was a popular topic in the Christian circles I was in. I understood that I was supposed to eagerly anticipate it, because that was the right thing, but the precursor to Jesus’ return sounded quite terrifying. I saw films imagining torture […]
When Your Prayer Doesn’t Heal Me (and how you should react)
by on August 20, 2017 22 Comments
It’s an ordinary day in the run-up to Christmas and we’re out in town to look for presents. Then, on High Street, we see people with bright clothes and a sign advertising healing prayer, scanning the crowd and looking despondent. Their eyes alight on me, and immediately they brighten. From their scattered positions, they all […]
Sympathy, Empathy, Solidarity–What Helps When You Hurt
by on May 7, 2017 29 Comments
How can you tell the difference between sympathy, empathy and solidarity? I’ll tell you–it’s all in the face. *** The face of sympathy has a tilted head, a strained smile, and slightly widened eyes. I say face, but it’s normally faces; hundreds of them. In the supermarket, hospital, school, I see them looking at the […]
Blessed are the Overdramatic
by on February 19, 2017 15 Comments
There was once a country who believed nothing bad would happen to them because they were a special nation, blessed by God. They were prosperous, proud of their unique political system and enjoyed a long faith heritage as a bedrock for their country. Sure, the society wasn’t completely just–the poor were getting forgotten, vulnerable people […]
We Are All Disabled
by on September 4, 2016 41 Comments
As a disabled person in public, you quickly learn to be very grateful, and very sorry. “Sorry!” I said, as they banged me into a stranger’s legs. “So sorry. Thank you.” I was on a British Airways plane a few years ago. This airline obviously liked to maximise its money by dedicating the seats at […]
