R's rue

You may recall that it was my job to judge the Week 44 shortlist over at the Geograph site and come up an overall winner. I considered each image carefully and asked Frances and Stew for their thoughts too. This was the picture that achieved the proverbial bronze medal  and was therefore in third place: It's St Eadburgha's Church in  Broadway, Worcestershire. In second place came this stunning backlit shot of dying fern taken by my friend Walter in Tibby Tamson's Plantation in the Scottish Borders near Peebles: And finally, the gold medallist and winner was this image of Embleton Beach in Northumberland with a stunning early morning view of Dustanburgh Castle. It seems so perfect to me and in my opinion the image really suits the elongated framing: Most Geograph contributors are men  so it was quite nice to notice that this picture was captured by a woman - though that had no impact whatsoever on the judging process. I just mention it in passing. _________...

Rol and I, at another time, in another country  When I was 20 I sort of fell in love with my best friend Rol I didn’t understand the feeling, for sure. I didn’t even understand I was Gay at the time But in that clumsy, awkward, oblivious ,adolescent way… I fell in love. That secret, unrequited sort of love with a six foot, extrovert  rugby playing straight bloke who was destined for university, marriage and fatherhood in The Midlands Our friendship waned after he went to Oxford and University  and I went nursing, and like many heterosexual men, he never really kept in touch although over the last forty years our paths have crossed at odd opportunities and situations and I was always aware of his general news as my friendship with his younger sister Nia has continued even after she emigrated to Australia.  Our “parting” wasn’t a tragic separation, there was too much going on, for that to be the case, but it hurt a little at the time…. the way only things h...

 On this Sunday, as I sit in stilled silence, I’m contemplating what to share. The question is this:  My testimony then that I shared of my decision to follow Christ, is different than why I remain devoted to Him. My love for Him as I grow older is more that I am being cracked wide open. He isn’t hidden from me, and I am no longer hidden from a world I can’t change. My exhaustion is leading to peace. I’m starting to dream again. So the question is do you want the original testimony of what brought me to Him or what keeps me there. Nothing I’ve shared lately makes me comfortable. To be free, I must be uncomfortable.  Very uncomfortable.  Making Christmas cards today, and hope my mailbox is full of them too.  Happy Sunday.  Regine  In the world I’m lost And shocked In the center Of the will Of God Is everlasting And amazing Freedom from R's rue https://ift.tt/3Df6eDK

Just having three guests  Fills the cottage I haven’t had more than one visitor here for a year and a half and having serious, funny, raucous, and important conversations over dinner and wine  feeds your soul and makes things seem so much nicer than they did before   from Going Gently https://ift.tt/3wLCH1T