South Shawlands Church of Scotland

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                                      Musings from the manse.  

“ I asked God for strength that I might achieve

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

 

I asked for help that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

 

I asked for riches that I might be happy

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

 

I was given nothing that I asked for

But everything that I had hoped for.

 

Despite myself, my prayers were answered

I am among all men richly blessed.”

 

There is always an element of surprise and unpredictability in life. We never know exactly what is about to happen next. This is true of the thousands of people who were stranded at different airports across Europe and beyond, sometimes for weeks – who never realised that a volcano erupting in Iceland could cause so much travel disruption. Yet there are other things that happen in life – changes in employment,  a letter out of the blue, a test result – which can also change our life in new directions.