Where do you get your inspiration from? No seriously! Where? I’m sitting in front of a blank Word document wondering what to type. Something that will be inspiring, encouraging and bring a little hope (and even joy) to your Tuesday (or whatever day you’re reading this on!). I’ve thought about the snow which fell in bucket loads in late January, I’ve written paragraphs about the endless rain that’s been splattering against my windowpane. I even resorted (in desperation) to seeking inspiration in the songs from the Musicals that were playing on Radio 2 recently, but to quote a certain east to west Christmas story… all to no avail!
It turns out that inspiration can come in the smallest of things. I was out walking with my family in the light snow recently and I noticed that the snowflakes were starting to gather (very gently) of the coat my dog wears to keep warm – she’s a greyhound so there isn’t much to her except muscles and a wet nose! Compared to the snow of recent weeks, which was falling in large clumps, this snow was tiny, almost granular. As I bent down to brush it off, I could see the different shapes and edges on it and was reminded that each snowflake is individual and different. A little like a fingerprint (or tongue print – don’t ask… to many American crime dramas!) it’s absolutely unique. No two are the same whether large flakes or tiny grains.
Psalm 139 is one of my favourites and has special meaning to me. It’s a reminder that God has a special, intimate relationship with his creation. From conception to death, from obedience to mutiny, from the heavens to the far side of the sea… there is nowhere we can go where God isn’t present. The reason it is special to me, is that it contains the bible verses (vs 13-16) my son was given when we shared the news of my wife’s pregnancy.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
The verse that encourages me most and acts as a constant reminder (and often chastises me) is vs 14 – the praise that is due to God for his fearful and wonderful creation… me! I appreciate that sounds egotistical, but actually it’s not all about me, it’s about us all. It’s each and everyone of us who are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’.
As I walked my children to school this morning, the snow was falling once more and as it landed on us, I was reminded and encouraged once more about how each one falling from the sky is unique, just like us! Uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully made!
Have a good day!
Dan and the east to west Team
PS: We’re also committed to praying for you and if there are things you’d like prayer for, you can email us at prayer@easttowest.org.uk and we’ll commit to praying for you during our daily prayer time.
This month we’re praying for Amy Morbin. Amy joined east to west in September as the Relational Support Worker at Esher High School.
Pray that I continue to be strong in supporting the students at Esher High and that my words are able to guide them through the turmoil of adolescence.
Pray for all of the families up and down the country that have been massively affected by COVID-19 and pray that mums and dads continue to find the strength to balance the roles of parent/ teacher/ lunch-lady/ janitor/ employee and everything else they're currently juggling.
Pray for the staff at Esher High as I know they're all doing their absolute best to keep school going for their students, while also trying to balance their own feelings about the pandemic.
Pray for the whole team at east to west and ensure they're all taking care of themselves at the moment and not skipping their self-care routines! Up the foot spas!