Update – Christmas 2007

The past two months have been hectic, unsettling, rich, beautiful and full. As we arrived back in the UK happy to see family and friends and excited about the future, we were also aware that, with a baby on the way, we needed to settle as quickly as possible. As weeks turned into months, and we became ever more experienced in filling in application forms, we generally kept our heads down, and wondered what was happening.

[We need to celebrate] life as a journey, one which we ‘walk with awe and wonder,’ recognising that there is something about the travelling, as well as the arriving, that should be treasured.

Introduction to Wise Traveller series – wisetraveller.org.uk

We knew that things would be okay… but then there is always that little nagging feeling of doubt. We hung on by our fingertips, trusting that the right thing would come up at the right time. We spent our time pushing every door, being unsure of exactly which direction we were heading in. When not applying for jobs we spent our time walking and watching the changing seasons, and gradually started to see some direction, and find peace that came out of something far deeper than just a need and panic to settle.

Seeking Clarity

If each day falls
inside each night
there exists a well
where clarity is imprisoned

We need to sit on the rim
of the well of darkness
and fish for fallen light
with patience

As we discovered new things about how we want to be living our lives we kept coming back to working with the local church on global issues – and we accepted that we had to let go of our dream to return to Devon for the time being.

As we walk in solitude or in company we discover the power of the journey to prepare us, resource us and change us in ways that enhance our appreciation of the significant ‘arrival’ moments in our lives. Sure, it might be easier to drive straight to the packaged tourist experience, but the journey via the coastal path will have many compensations…

Introduction to Wise Traveller series – wisetraveller.org.uk

Last week Matt was offered, and accepted, a role with CMS as Local/Global Developer, based at their new Oxford headquarters. This is a new role working with churches supporting CMS and developing a process to resource churches to go deeper in their mission, and helping them see the global dimension of their work locally and vice versa. Matt was actually interviewed for this post the week after we got back to the UK – but it took some weeks of reflection for both CMS and us to know that this was the right step for Matt. We are really excited that he will be joining a bunch of creative people at CMS, and looking forward to continuing to work with them, as well as being involved with CMS locally in Oxford.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107: 1-9

Polly, who is keeping really well, won’t be able to work for the time being, but there seems to be a lot of things going on in Oxford that she hopes to be involved with in the future. In the meantime she will be parenting and getting involved in the local community.

We have no doubt that the journey will still be shrouded in the unknown (and that parenthood is probably going to change everything we know about anything!), but we are really excited about these new roles for us both – and all that living in Oxford will hold for us.

Modern day Mary & Joseph

With this news coming two weeks before Christmas, we are appreciating a deeper understanding of what two parents two thousand years ago went through! We are now looking for a 2-3 bed house to rent immediately in the east Oxford area for the next 6 months – if you know of anyone who might be able to help, we would love to hear from you as soon as possible – you can contact us here.

Thank you once again for all your support & encouragement

May you know joy and peace this Christmas

Matt and Polly