Advent 24 - Knock, knock

Here we go!!

'Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you' Matt 7 6-8

Adviento 24 - Toc toc
Aqui vamos!
"Pedid y se os dará a vosotros, buscad y encontraréis, llamad y la puerta se abrirá" Mateo 7  6-8 

Advent 23 - Safe and sound

http://youtu.be/wpadXyVqGa4   Some lush musical Christmas wishes!

Advent 22 - Big signs little signs

Things are hotting up - we are getting real close to Christmas and I've drunk my first mulled wine and cracked into the Bible - the Nativity story- of course. I am struck by the big ways and the small ways that God can speak. A huge angel, a visit to a cousin, a dream, a baby moving in a womb, a host of angels, a star constellation an old scripture and then the baby lying in a manger. Sometimes after the big announcements, the glits and the hype, we need the small signs to remind us we are on the right track and we need to have our senses very alert in order to spot them.

Adviento 22 -Grandes carteles pequeños signos

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Las cosas se están calentando - nos estamos bien cerca  a la Navidad y he bebido mi primer vino caliente  y he abierto la Biblia - la historia de la Natividad - por supuesto. Me llama la atención por las formas grandes y pequeñas las formas en que Dios puede hablar. Un ángel enorme, una visita a un primo, un sueño, un bebé se mueve en un útero, una hueste de ángeles, una constelación de estrallas, una escritura antigua y un niño acostado en un pesebre. A veces, después de los grandes anuncios,  la histeria y la publicidad, necesitamos las pequeñas señales que nos recuerdan que estamos en el camino correcto y tenemos que tener todos los sentidos muy alertos para ubicarlas.

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Advent 21 - Red lights

For those whose lights are red this Christmas:



'I come not to change but to love you but I wonder if my love will change you'





Adviento 21- Luces Rojas
Para quienes tienen las luces rojas esta Navidad:
'Vengo no para cambiarte, sino para amarte, pero a ver si mi amor te cambie' 

Advent 20 - Travelling light

An interesting incident in the boarding queue today. The girl (who pushed in) in front of me had clearly ridiculously over-estimated the amount of luggage she would be allowed to take on board with her -carrying an over-sized suit case and a huge hand bag, more of an arm bag, you know the type. So there's a harsh part of me that can't wait to see how this plays out - that's gleefully thinking 'this girl's going down.The rest of us have made great efforts to scrimp and save on hand luggage. She's going to be hit with the full force of easyjet law - she's going to pay for her foolishness and I'm going to be around to watch it'. And sure enough the stewardess points out that, as if by magic, she is going to have to put her huge handbag into her already brimming to overflowing hand luggage case. It is when she tries to put her armbag into her friends duty free bag which promptly breaks, that a strange thing happens.. I actually feel empathy.. and another part of me ( a much cooler part) kicks in thinking -'you know there is room in your hand luggage for her bag '. So I tentatively suggest to her that she can stick her enormous bag into mine and she's obviously made up and extremely grateful - I have saved her from the wrath of easyjet - and I think I enjoyed it more than watching her suffer under it. Smiles all round. Glad nice me won today.

Advent 19 - Oh little town of Bethlehem (part 2)

 This is the Bethlehem of today....

'Oh little town of Bethlehem
 How we still see you lie
 Beneath a deep and sleepless night
 The world silent to your cry
 Yet in the dark streets shineth
 An everlasting light
 The hopes and fears of all the years
                                                   Are met in thee tonight'


Jesus came to a Bethlehem such as this and preached a message of personal, not political liberation. But such was the power of his liberation, such the force of his message, that it threatened to unravel the very structures of oppression that depended upon enslaver and the enslaved to survive


So may this light shine on in your dark streets tonight oh Bethlehem and may cracks appear once again in your walls. Amen








Adviento 19 -Belen (parte 2)
Este es el Belén de hoy ....(fotos arriba)

"Oh pueblecito de Belén
Cómo seguimos encontrandote
Debajo de una noche profunda y sin dormir
El mundo en silencio delante de tu dolor
Sin embargo, en las calles oscuras brilla
Una luz eterna
Las esperanzas y temores de todos los años
Se cumplen en ti esta noche"


Jesús vino a Belén como este y predicó un mensaje de liberación personal, no política. Pero tal era el poder de su liberación, tal la fuerza de su mensaje, que amenazó con derrumbir las estructuras de opresión que dependía de esclavizador y esclavo para sobrevivir. Entonces, que esta luz siga brillando en tus calles oscuras esta noche, oh Belén y que las grietas aparezcan de nuevo en tus murallas. Amen                

Advent 18 -Oh little town of Bethlehem

                                                                                    

Yesterday I went to visit the 'Burgos Belen', this is the Nativity Spanish style -it depicts the whole of Bethlehem and beyond (including Egypt) and the whole of the life of Jesus. It is fascinating to walk around it and note that Jesus's arrival was not into a picture postcard void but into the hustle bustle, the toil and politics, the work and partying of a town like any other. You could almost have walked past the child nestled in the crib - you could have almost have walked past. That is the reality for us this Christmas, that Christ comes to us amongst the business of the everyday, amongst the anxiety and activity - and we could almost walk past.



 'How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, wher meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in.'


Adviento 18 - Belen

Ayer fui a visitar el "Belén de Burgos' este es como se hace la Natividad estilo español -la totalidad de Belén y más allá (incluyendo Egipto) y el conjunto de la vida de Jesús. Es fascinante caminar a su alrededor y observar como la llegada de Jesús no fue en un vacío de postal, pero en el alboroto de la prisa, entre el trabajo y la política, los tareas y la fiesta, de un pueblo como cualquier otro. Casi se podría haber pasado de la infantil ubicado en la cuna - que se le podría haber pasado. Esa es la realidad para nosotros en esta Navidad, que Cristo viene a nosotros, entre el negocio del día a día, entre la ansiedad y la actividad - y que casi le podíamos pasar.

"¿Cómo en silencio, en silencio cómo el don maravilloso se da. Así que Dios da a los corazones humanos de las bendiciones de su cielo. Ningún oído puede oír su venida, pero en este mundo de pecado, dondequiera almas mansas le recibirá, el querido Cristo entrara '

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Advent 17 - Love stage left

'your labour prompted by love' 1 Thes 1v2

The stage is set, the actors are ready, the curtains draw back and you begin. You make a good start with the lines that you first learnt, well rehearsed and delivered with conviction. Then comes a moment of nerves - you stumble over a few words, you look up and become conscious of yourself, the audience, the enormity of the task ahead, the time remaining, the lines unsaid ...and then..the moment most actors fear..your mind goes totally blank. What next?



This where the prompt comes in - mouthing at you the words you really always knew - from stage left.

This is the image I have in my mind when I read this verse. If I'm in doubt about my next move, if I've gone off script or totally lost the plot, there is a prompt at stage left of my life enthusiastically mouthing at me the word 'L-O-V-E' and suddenly I know what to do again :-).

Aviento 17 - El Amor -desde la izquierda del escenario
El escenario está preparado, los actores están listos, las cortinas se abren y empiezas. Haces un buen comienzo con las primeras líneas que aprendiste, bien ensayadas y entregadas con convicción. Luego viene un momento de nervios - tropiezas con unas pocas palabras, miras para arriba y te pones consciente de tí mismo, el público, la enormidad de la tarea por delante, el tiempo restante, las líneas no dichas todavia ... y luego el momento que da mas miedo a los actores .. tu mente va totalmente en blanco. ¿Y ahora qué?
Aquí es donde el indicador se presenta - senalando con su boca las palabras que en realidad siempre supiste - desde la izquierda del escenario. Esta es la imagen que tengo en mi mente cuando leo este versículo. Si estoy en duda acerca de mi próximo paso, si he ido del guion o perdido el rumbo, hay una voz en la izquierda del escenario de mi vida, que vocaliza con entusiasmo hacia mí la palabra 'LOVE' y de repente sé qué tengo que hacer de nuevo :-).

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Advent 16 - All is forgiven

I have had a little chat with reality today - I've realized it's not perfect but I'm going to let it off - I'm going to forgive it. I'm not going to anxiously wait for it to get perfect or jealously hold on to those magic moments. I'm going to let go and I'm going to love it. I moved to Spain this autumn and - guess what- life isn't perfect here either, but it's good and I'm grateful. So I've been a bit slow to realise my plane ticket was not labelled 'heaven'. But now I have, I'm not going to be slow to accept it. all is forgiven ... And the great news is..that includes me.. Which is often the main problem anyway!

Adviento 16 - Todo perdonado
Hoy he tenido una pequeña charla con la realidad - me he dado cuenta que no es perfecta pero yo no la voy a castigar - yo la voy a perdonar. Yo no voy a esperar con ansiedad para que se haga perfecta o celosamente aferrarme a esos momentos mágicos. Yo voy a relajarme y yo la voy a amar. Me mudé a España este otoño y - adivinad qué? la vida no es perfecta aquí tampoco, pero es buena y estoy muy agradecida. Así que he estado un poco lenta para darme cuenta de que mi billete de avión no fue etiquetado como "el cielo". Pero ya que me entero, no voy a ser lenta de aceptarlo. todo se perdona ... Y la gran noticia es .. que me incluye a mí .. la cuál es el problema principal muchas veces!

Advent 15 - LOL

Preach it sister :)
http://youtu.be/ihQuiyV-lXU

Advent 14 - Love in a hopeless place

Today a hymn from Rhianna:

Yellow diamonds in the light
And we're standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive


We found love in a hopeless place 
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place 
We found love in a hopeless place


Shine a light through an open door......


Thanks Rhi - what it is to find love in a hopeless place..what sweet relief! Sometimes the best gifts come to us when we least expect them, when we've even stopped hoping for them. The great thing about life is it still has the power to surprise us and, in a funny sort of way, that is what we celebrate at Christmas.

'The people walking in darkness have seen a great light - on those living in the land of the shadow of death -on them a light has dawned' Isaiah 9 v2.

Adviento 14 -El amor en un lugar sin esperanza


Hoy un himno de Rhianna:

Diamantes amarillos de la luz
Y estamos al lado del otro
Mientras tu sombra cruza la mia
Lo que se necesita para revivir

Hemos encontrado el amor en un lugar sin esperanza
Hemos encontrado el amor en un lugar sin esperanza
Hemos encontrado el amor en un lugar sin esperanza
Hemos encontrado el amor en un lugar sin esperanza

Brillar una luz a través de una puerta abierta ......

Gracias Rhi - que bueno es encontrar el amor en un lugar sin esperanza .. que dulce alivio! A veces los mejores regalos vienen a nosotros cuando los menos esperamos, cuando incluso hemos dejado de tener esperanza para ellos. La gran cosa acerca de la vida es que todavía tiene el poder de sorprendernos y, de una cierta manera, eso es lo que celebramos en la Navidad.

"El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz - en los que viven en la tierra de la sombra de la muerte-sobre ellos una luz les ha amanecido" Isaías 9 v2.

Avent 13 - Joy :-) :-) :-)

Today @24-7 prayer we lit the advent candle representing joy. I think joy is a much neglected attribute of God. Sometimes we think the holier a person is, the more serious they must become, but in my experience the reverse is true. The people who have reflected God the most to me have been people full of warmth, joy and enthusiasm.

When the subject of joy comes up in Christian circles it is quite common for people to affirm that joy is not an emotion of happiness but a state of spiritual security that runs much deeper than that. I have signed up to this in the past, but am now wondering, is this a Christian conspiracy to cover up for the fact that we are not really experiencing the joy we were made for? I’m going to throw the cat amongst the pigeons and suggest that a joy that doesn’t touch us on an emotional level and provoke in us say a smile or even –shock horror – a laugh, might not really be joy at all.

So it’s like this: Moses and the Israelites are in the desert and they’ve been there a good while. The Israelites are, let’s say, flagging in their joie de vivre. All they now know is thirst and all they can see is dry rock. Stone. Cold. Sober. No water=thirst. No joy=unhappiness. That is the reality.

The solution to the problem is not in redefining water or redefining joy but in reviewing where we go to find it. In this story, all natural and obvious sources of water are gone. Moses is instructed to strike a rock with his ooba cool spiritual staff and low and behold water flows in a place where it seemed impossible. And they drink and thirst is actually quenched.

I believe there is a limitless source of joy available in God – the kind of joy that actually puts a smile on your face – the kind of joy that wipes tears away. His Presence is Love, His Presence is Peace, His Presence is Joy. His Presence is always available even in the hardest of deserts. The challenge is to fight through our circumstances enough to make connection with that Presence -sometimes we have to strike rocks hard.

So it’s ok to say that joy comes from a deeper spiritual state but I believe it’s a mistake to imply that it is disconnected from our emotions. A genuine sense of security or value should produce in us positive emotions even if they are mixed in with pain (to have joy is not to deny pain) and if not, maybe we should just get real and say ‘I aint feeling it’ or ‘I’m thirsty’. Maybe then we could help each other to drink. 

Advent 12 -Small things

'who dares despise the day of small things?' Zech 4 v 10

If you crush the acorn you'll never get the oak tree. If you neglect the baby you'll never get the man. It seems that things are set up to start small and small things like acorns, babies and ideas need help to grow. So if you find a seed today water it, if you see a hint of talent applaud it and if you have a little plan - take it by the hand and walk with it.

Adviento 12- Las cosas pequeñas
"¿Quién se atreve a despreciar el día de las pequeñeces? Zacarías 4 v 10
Si aplastas la bellota, nunca obtendras el árbol de roble. Si descuidas del bebé, nunca conseguirás el hombre. Parece que las cosas están hechas para comenzar pequeñas, y cosas pequenas como las bellotas, los bebés y las ideas, necesitan ayuda para crecer. Así que si encuentras hoy una semilla que la mojes, si ves una pizca de talento que lo aplaudas y si tienes un pequeño plan - que lo tomes de la mano y camines con ello.

Advent 11

We live in a world
of long nights
and fragile dawns
but today I give thanks
that we live in a world
where dreams can come true



Adviento 11
Vivimos en un mundo
de noches largas
y amaneceres fragiles
pero hoy doy gracias
que vivimos en un mundo
donde los sueños pueden hacerse realidad

Advent 10

Ode to Covarrubias

As God swept the autumn away

He gathered it to you

The rake’s rusted tongs

Laced stones with amber hue

Where coffee cream houses

Melt against the air

And cracked chocolate beams

Hold tight to keep them there

Leaves like brandy snaps

Crunch against your feet

And wood smoke fills the lungs

Of every narrow street

Surely the winter will wrestle

And spring will struggle too

The summer soon forgotten, for
You are autumn through and through

Advent 9 - Enough already?

If I'm honest, I think I have always understood the world in terms of scarcity. Not enough money to go round, not enough food, not enough time, not enough love, not enough understanding. But what if the reverse were actually the case?

Take the humble potato - plant one and you get loads back –how cool! Is it possible that written into the codes of nature there is actually a scheme for ABUNDANCE and not poverty? What if loving one person could unlock the power in them to love many more? What if we are sat on our resources for fear that they will run dry when releasing them could cause a ripple effect beyond our imagination?

It might be insane idealism but I'm up for experimenting with this. Maybe if we got a bit creative with what we've got, got a bit happy, loosened our grip, got a bit generous, got dreaming, got planting, we'd find there was plenty to go round.

Adviento 9 - Basta ya?

Si soy sincero, creo que siempre he entendido el mundo en términos de escasez. No hay dinero suficiente para todos, no hay comida suficiente, no hay tiempo suficiente, no hay amor suficiente, no hay entendimiento suficiente. Pero ¿Qué pasa si al contrario es en realidad el caso?

Contemplad la humilde patata- plantas una – y recibes un montón devuelto –¡mola! ¿Es posible que por escrito en los códigos de la naturaleza es en realidad la ABUNDANCIA y no la pobreza. ¿Qué pasa si el amar de una persona puede desbloquear el poder en ella de amar a muchas personas más. ¿Y es que estamos sentados encima de nuestros recursos por temor a que se agotaran cuando, al soltarlos, podríamos iniciar un efecto domino más allá de nuestra imaginación?
Puede ser que sea el idealismo loco, pero estoy dispuesta a experimentar con esto. Tal vez si nos pusiéramos un poco creativos con lo que tenemos, un poco felices, un poco, generosos, si soñáramos un poco más, si plantáramos encontraríamos que hay mucho para todos.

Advent 8 - Is the future written?

Is the future written? Was chatting about this with a friend of mine last night and I'm thinking of a switch of mind set. Are we here to discover the plans that the Divine Being has made for us or are we here to create new ones in partnership with Him? What do you think? Is it literally an open book?

Adviento 8 -Es el futuro ya escrito?

Es el futuro ya escrito? Estaba hablando de esto anoche con un amigo mío, y yo estoy pensando en un cambio de mentalidad. Estamos aquí para descubrir los planes que el Ser Divino ya ha hecho por nosotros o estamos aquí para crear otras nuevas, en colaboración con él? ¿Qué te parece? Es, literalmente, un libro abierto?

Advent 7 -Hold on

Thankyou x factor finalist  -cos you never know what tomorrow will bring :)

Gracias a los finalistas de x factor - uk -porque nunca se sabe que traera manana :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ13WMjSXQ0

Advent 6 - Lights

The lights of the 'Fraternity Trees' are switched on - Burgos town centre. Meanwhile @ 24-7 Prayer Burgos.. the second advent candle is lit -signifying peace - it brings light to our hearts and illuminates my rather unattractive orange sock 

Advent 5 - 'Clean me!'

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect vision – 1 Cor 13 v1 … Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God – Matt 5 v 8

In idle moments of queuing in the great British traffic I’ve observed the cry for help of white vans up and down the country ‘Clean me’. I enjoy this a bit – I like the way the owner needs a reminder from some mysterious outside source of how dusty their vehicle has become. As I’m in a season of looking for the deep meaning in everything, forgive me for drawing the parallel to our own existence. We are dusty, we do not see things clearly and we are often unaware of how blurred our windscreens have become - until someone comes along with metaphorical sponge.

In advent we hope for light to come into darkness,  for clarity to come into confusion and perhaps it is a time to hear the sound our own hearts cry ‘Clean me!’ as we seek a clearer vision.

Adviento 5
Ahora vemos las cosas imperfectamente como en un espejo turbio, pero entonces veremos todo con una visión perfecta - 1 Cor 13 v 1 ... Bienaventurados los limpios de corazón porque ellos verán a Dios – Mateo 5 v 8
En momentos ociosos en el gran tráfico británico, he observado la clama de socorro en camionetas blancas a lo largo del país ‘Limpiame!’. Me gusta esto un poco - Me gusta la forma en que el propietario necesita un recordatorio de una fuente ajena para darse cuenta de la cantidad de polvo en su vehiculo. Como estoy en una campaña para buscar el significado profundo de todo, perdonadme por ver la paralela a nuestra propia existencia. Somos polvorosos, no vemos las cosas con claridad y no son conscientes de cómo borrosa nuestras parabrisas se han convertido hasta que alguien nos viene con una esponja metafórico.
En el Adviento esperamos la entrada de luz en la oscuridad, para mayor claridad en la confusión y tal vez es el momento para escuchar el sonido de nuestros propios corazones al clamar "limpiame!" en cuanto buscamos esta visión más clara.
Photo by KONEphotos

Advent 4 - Queue anyone?

Well I thought the Spanish were not into queuing but this weekend has changed my mind. Yesterday I was witness to two very impressive and orderly queues in Madrid, Spain. One was the queue for lottery tickets 'El Gordo' 'The Fat One' and most popular in Spain, the other was the queue outside the town hall to see the large Madrid Nativity display and when I say a queue I mean a serious queue - an afternoon long.

What motivates a person to queue for hours in the cold? It may be faith tradition or superstition but there is always a thread of hope in the mix. The hope that keeps you there believing the end will bring something special. Sometimes we start the wait with more energy and zeal, sometimes the closer we get to the end the more we wonder if it will be worthwhile, the more we contemplate dropping out.. but a thread of hope keeps our feet in line.. and after all.. we've come this far..we've come this far..

Just over 2000 years ago queues formed around a man from Nazareth, people waited in the cold, people pushed through crowds and climbed trees because they heard about someone who could change things, someone who could heal diseases, someone who spoke words of wisdom and set people free. If we would number ourselves amongst those who wait for this hope to come, lets not loose our footing..afterall we've come this far.

        (Right - Madrid Nativity 2011)

Bueno, yo pensaba que a los españoles no le gustaba hacer cola, pero este fin de semana ha cambiado mi opinión. Ayer fui testigo de dos colas muy impresionantes y ordenadas, en Madrid, España. Una de ellas era la cola para los billetes de lotería 'El Gordo', 'The fat One' y la más popular de España, la otra era la cola para ver el Belén de Madrid y cuando digo una cola me refiero a una cola de graves - una larga tarde.
¿Qué motiva a una persona a hacer cola durante horas en el frío? Puede ser la tradición, la fe o la superstición, pero siempre hay un hilo de esperanza en la mezcla. La esperanza de que te mantiene allí creyendo que el final traerá algo especial. A veces empezamos el tiempo de espera con más energía y entusiasmo, a veces, cuanto más nos acercamos al final más nos preguntamos si habrá valido la pena, y más contemplamos abandonarlo .. pero un hilo de esperanza mantiene nuestros pies en la línea .. y mira .. hemos llegado hasta aquí .. hemos llegado tan lejos ..
Poco más de 2000 años atrás las colas se formaron en torno a un hombre de Nazaret, la gente esperaba en el frío, la gente se abrió paso multitudes y trepaba a los árboles, ya que escuchó acerca de alguien que podría cambiar las cosas, alguien que podía curar enfermedades, a alguien que hablaba palabras de sabiduría y que liberaba los cautivos. Si nos contamos a nosotros mismos entre los que esperan la venida de esta esperanza, entonces no perdámonos nuestra base .. porque después de todo hemos llegado hasta aquí..hemos llegado tan lejos.

Advent 3 - 'Can a book actually change your life?'

This week one of the lads from the project asked me this question. I loved having the conversation and I loved that he asked me. So peeps- answers on a postcard- books that have changed your life- go!


Advent 3 - 'puede un libro cambiar tu vida de Verdad?'
Esta semana un chaval del proyecto me pregunto esta pregunta. Me encanto tener la conversación con el y me encanto que me había preguntado- entonces- gente, contestame, libros que han cambiado tu vida?

Advent 2 - The kingdom of God is at hand

The Kingdom of God is at hand
Take a look at your hands and think
What is within my reach?
What will be with in my reach today?
Who and what will I touch?
What mark will I leave? For better? For worse?
What will I give? What will I take away?
What work will I do and which master will I serve?
One of things within our reach is the Kingdom of God, in the normal everyday things of life there are keys that can open us up to a world of possibilities and to a deeper life- will we find them?
Your kingdom come .. your will be done


Adviento 2 - El reino de Dios esta a tus manos
El Reino de Dios está cerca;
Echa un vistazo a tus manos y piensa
¿Qué está a mi alcance?
¿Qué va a estar a mi alcance hoy?
¿Quién y qué voy a tocar?
¿Qué marca voy a dejar? Para bien? Para mal?
¿Qué voy a dar? ¿Qué voy a llevar?
¿Qué trabajo haré y Que maestro serviré?

Una de las cosas a nuestro alcance es el Reino de Dios.  En las cosas normales de la vida cotidiana, hay llaves que pueden abrirnos a un mundo de posibilidades y una vida más profunda, vamos a encontrar ellas?
Venga tu reino .. Hágase tu voluntad

Advent 1 -Jesus in the hardware store

So my Dad was in the West Bank helping a Palestinian family re-build their house which had been bulldozed by Israeli authorities. He was looking for a particular tool so he went into Bethlehem's local hardware store. The shopkeeper was naturally curious as to why a white westerner would be looking for tools in Bethlehem, so he invited him to sit down for a coffee and to explain. The shopkeeper, surprised and enamoured with the explanation, looks my Dad in the eyes and asks 'So do you believe- I mean really believe?' and my Dad tentatively replies that he is a Christian. The shopkeeper as Muslim believer continues, 'then when is Jesus coming back? Because we really need him to return'..

I wonder what Jesus' return would have meant for this man and why he hungered for it so much. Was it a longing for justice, peace, dignity? And if so, is it possible that Jesus can come back in small ways every day? Like in a visit to a hardware store looking for the tools to rebuild a broken dream.

Adviento 1 - Jesús en la ferretería
Así que mi papá estaba en Cisjordania, para ayudar a una familia palestina a reconstruir su casa que había sido demolido por las autoridades israelíes. Él estaba buscando una herramienta en particular por lo que fue al ferretería local de Belén. El tendero, naturalmente, tenía curiosidad de por qué un occidental blanco estaría buscando herramientas en Belén, por lo cual lo invitó a sentarse a tomar un café y explicar. El comerciante, sorprendido y encantado con la explicación, mira mi papá a los ojos y le pregunta "Entonces, ¿usted cree-me refiero a realmente creer" y papá tentativamente contesta que él es un cristiano. El tendero como creyente musulmán continúa, “pues entonces cuando va a volver Jesús? Porque realmente necesitamos que vuelva "..
Me pregunto lo que el regreso de Jesús significaba para este hombre y por qué estaba hambriento de ello. Era un anhelo de justicia, la paz, la dignidad? Y si es así, es posible que Jesús pueda regresar en pequeñas cosas todos los días? Como entrar en un ferretería para encontrar las herramientas para reconstruir un sueño roto.

Simple Pleasures

1) When you can walk around a city - no parking tickets at the end of the day
2) When the barman gives you an extra plate of tapas - just for the heck of it
3) When you go to the cinema - and can see over the head of the person in front
4) When you drink good coffee- and it's not Starbucks

5) When people who have only just met you treat you like an angel that's fallen from the sky -                         and offer the hand  of friendship

How do you remember your childhood?

Have spent the last couple of days in a conference about Children and Young People at Risk in Spain. An amazing privilege to hear heart felt views of professionals in this sector and get an idea of how they do it Spanish style. There was a strong emphasis on the role of family and education, as well as young people being encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and create their own initiatives. There was also a refreshingly spiritual touch with talk of how love and value is the most important gift we can give a child and even Jesus got a quote in 'whoever welcomes a little child in my name, welcomes me'. We were left with the question 'How do you remember your childhood? And how would you want the children of today to remember theirs?'

A little bit arty

Check out my wares :-) - some interpretations of the Burgos landscape. Ideas for new pictures welcome!

Inspired much

I have been in Spain just over a week now and have had the privilege of having my socks well and truly inspired off by the amazing work of the 'Asociacion Hechos' here in Burgos. Hechos emerged from a movement looking to meet the needs of local youth on a difficult estate in Burgos and now impacts 100s of young people and is a catalyst to other projects globally. In Burgos currently, Hechos has a house for 10 refugee children which seeks to meet their social needs and assist them in education and integration. There are also 2 move on flats for young people progressing into independent living. The Association mentors young people in such a way that, as they grow older, they too take part in the formation of new initiatives - such a the community bank, or the technology and art projects that are just starting. In a couple of weeks, Masar, 20yrs old from Senegal, will be speaking at the TED youth conference in Madrid about his experiences and the projects he is now involved in. What strikes me most about Hechos is that it feels more like a family than an organisation and the immense love and belief invested in the young people is evident in the atmosphere of the place- you can taste the hope. One week with these guys has made me a believer again - 'together we can change the world'. Gracias Hechos! www.hechos.eu