Returned from 'The Lakes' after a weekend of celebrating Grandpa Frank's 80th Birthday. It was nice to relax and enjoy the company of cousins and relatives as well as walking up Cow Bells near Derwent Water. I was struck by how wonderful it must be for Grandpa to have a great big clan, as he does, with so many grandchildren and relatives, and for there to be peace in the family. I am inspired! Yes, arguments, yes, disasters, but God is faithful and in he has blessed us. Grandpa and I had some great conversations. I was inspired by realising that throughout life, God's great purpose prevails. We can work for our own glory and gain - but this is fleeting! History is HIS story. We may make a name for ourself - using our 'great' (read 'feeble') power to change the world and perhaps throw in a nod to God who helps us along the way. We can see it like this and pray as if God is unwilling. However, what if God is the Hero of History? What if we, the tiny and numerous, are invited to play roles in this great story? How good to be a part of the TRUE Great Narrative. I am inspired to remember that God IS the centre of all creation. Otherwise, I am the centre of my own world and anything I achieve is a mere puff of smoke. No. God's given me freedom and how sad if I chain myself to the role of being a god - when there is no shadow of possibility that I might do a good job. No - I crumble and die. But God is life. I love knowing Him more - all the time.

oh yes - and a new rhyme to help remember lenses - concave, a slave, with small pics for the short sighted. Concave is a 'cave' shaped lens, a Slave because an image moves with the viewer on wiggling a lens at arm's length (as opposed to the exciting convex lens which goes against), through which you see a Small, focused picture when held at arm's length, and are worn by the Short sighted, so-named because light focuses SHORT of the retina (i.e. the eyeball is too long = myopic)