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Showing posts with the label Nature

On Not Needing a Reason

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A wildflower doesn't apply for permission to bloom. It doesn't calculate whether the ground is fertile enough to be worth the effort, or whether anyone's walking by to see it. It just grows — toward light, toward water, toward whatever small mercy the season offers — and that's the whole of its work. Jesus points to this in Matthew 6:28, and it's a strange thing to hold up as instruction. Not a parable with a moral to extract, not a lesson to file away — just an invitation to actually look at something that exists without justifying itself. Most days don't leave much room for that kind of looking. There's a logic to how attention gets spent: on what needs doing, what needs answering, what needs fixing. It's not a wrong way to move through a day. But it does tend to flatten the world into a checklist, and things that can't be checked off — a colour, a shape, a bit of unplanned beauty — get filed under "later" and quietly forgotten. Here'...

Weekly Evidence Checklist for week 25 for Mencap Gateway Bronze Award

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Happy 2nd Week of Holidays!  ​1. Volunteering (Walk for Autism) ​Completed previously.  ​2. Fitness (Nature Walk) ​Evidence:  ​Examples: Walked around bird gardens with family. Only took one photo as I wanted to be present to the moment.  ​3. Hobby The Digital Parish & Prayer ​Activity: Prayer using the Northumbria Office and documenting reflections on this blog. ​ ​4. Personal Challenge: Previously submitted.  5. Lifestyle (Sensory & Advocacy): Managing daily regulation through Squiggle Society, fidgets and other art supplies. Still exploring church ideas This week for Faith activity we visited The Logos Hope ship that is docked in Ocean Terminal. I also did a Muddy Church style walk with my children. I have also been in touch with a minister in Newtongrange.  Still using the Finch app to continue routines.  This is the second last week of these updates. It has been a jo...

Weekly Update: Finding Rhythm & Connection (Week 24)

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Happy Summer Holidays! ​As we hit week 24, the pace of life feels a little different. Whether it’s the shift into summer mode or the gentle routine of daily life, there is always something to celebrate. This week has been a unique mix of digital reflection, sensory grounding, and some much-needed travel time. ​Here is a look at what I’ve been up to for this week’s Mencap Gateway Bronze Award progress. ​🌿 Fitness: A Moment in Nature ​Even when the schedule gets busy, there is immense value in simply stepping outside. This week’s focus was a Nature Walk , a perfect way to clear the mind and get moving.​ ​✍️ Hobby: The Digital Parish ​My commitment to The Digital Parish and Prayer  remains a cornerstone of my week. ​ Activity: I have continued my practice of prayer.  ​ Reflection: Documenting reflections on this blog has been a rewarding way to process my thoughts and keep a record of my spiritual journey. It remains a peaceful anchor.  ​🧠 Lifest...

Welcome!

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Dear Friends, Welcome. ​This space exists for one reason: ​love — ​the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ, ​the love we are called to extend ​to one another, ​and to the world. ​There are many voices clamouring for our attention. Here, you will find the rhythm of one heart seeking to follow the way of Love. My ministry does not happen behind heavy church doors or within rigid institutional walls. It happens in the quiet, ordinary spaces of life where we learn to walk together at an unhurried pace. This is a faith rooted not in tradition for its own sake, but in the living, active, self-giving love at the heart of the Gospel. ​Three truths have become my anchors: ​The Living Word Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Apart from Him, the true God cannot be fully known. In Jesus, we see the face of a God who is Love, and whose Gospel is the path of Peace. ​The Gift of Grace I believe salvation is found by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Grace is a t...

Slowing Down: My Journey Begins with ‘Prescribe Nature’

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There is something transformative about the air at Newbattle Abbey College. This week, I took a step that feels like a deep breath for the soul: I officially started Prescribe Nature . ​If you haven’t heard of it, Prescribe Nature is an 8-week outdoor wellbeing programme designed for adults who need a little extra support—whether that’s improving mental health, reducing social isolation, or simply building back lost confidence. It’s held in the stunning, peaceful woodlands of Newbattle, and honestly, the setting alone feels like medicine. ​ Why I’m Here ​We all go through seasons where life feels a bit too loud or a bit too heavy. For me, this journey is about reconnecting with nature on a personal level. I’m looking to improve my overall wellbeing and grow through an experience that feels calming, supportive, and empowering. ​And as a lovely bonus? It turns out this journey also leads to a recognised award! 😊 ​ Week One: Learning to Breathe Again ​The focus of this ...