“How’s your running going?” This is a question I’ve gotten multiple times after coming home form Summer Camp. The answer is a mix between, “yeah, I’m keen to get back into it.” Or “I’m aiming to run 10km this year!” Now both of those answers are not indicative of how my actual running progress is going, and the reason why, is because I’m finding it hard to readjust back to regular life. Whether it’s busyness or tiredness running in this Brisbane heat is just not appealing. But hopefully by the time I finish this article I would have started my journey to running 10km.
COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: MAKIN’ SANDWICHES
“Walking up the mountain is way harder!”
These words might be ringing in your ears from the final talk as you walk down from the mountain top experience of Ignite Conference. You may have already faced challenges these past few weeks. You might feel alone. You could be doubting your experience…and don’t those old habits and relationships that are no longer compatible with this new way of life look attractive?! I said that the people who told you life would be difficult when you walk down the mountain were lying… you may be thinking that I was the one who lied to you.
Navigating the Valley
‘Let my soul cry out, You’re the one I want/ Living God it’s You’. Do you remember the chorus of Emmanuel Worship’s anthem ‘Cry Out’ echoing through the Kirkwood Hall of QCCC Mapleton throughout Summer Camp 2024? With over 200 young people coming together from January 11 – 14 to praise, what better place is there on earth to witness Jesus working in yourself and those around you?
Coming Down The Mountain
You may feel as though you are “coming down the mountain” from Ignite Conference 2023, and are perhaps disheartened and worried about how you’ll continue to keep this spark alive in your heart as you enter back into reality. That’s fair- it’s not easy to share our experience of Christ with our school friends, work colleagues, and sometimes even our family, but let me encourage you to see the opportunity that God places before you in this time.
Divine Mercy Sunday - Reflection
It's easy to be critical when reading Scripture. I cringe when Adam and Eve break the one rule God gives them. The Israelites are so consistently hopeless and just can't seem to get it right. For me, more than any other example, it is really, truly, incredibly easy to be critical of Thomas in today's Gospel.
4th Sunday of Lent - Reflection
Maybe that’s why Lent is a good time to read this famous story. Maybe we have to go from recognising ourselves in the righteous older brother, to recognising ourselves in the humbled, down on his knees younger one. The ‘ministry of reconciliation’ that St Paul talks about in the second reading is for US. We need to forgive those we have grudges against. We need the Father to help us drop our guard if we’re going to enter into the party of heaven.
3rd Sunday of Lent - Reflection
2nd Sunday of Lent - Reflection
I relate to Peter so much, so often in the Gospels (for obvious reasons) but in this passage when he says, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters,” it is so human, he has seen Jesus in all his Glory and he doesn’t want it to stop, he wants to sit there, in a very real way he doesn’t want to come down from the mountain.