It’d been an interesting three days, I feel pretty tired but amongst the stress of talking at church and a lot of travel, there were a few gems that made me chuckle and think…
Saturday morning I had another early start as Steve and I set off towards Ipswich for Patrick and Nicky’s Wedding. As was arrived looking a little dishevelled and tired, we realised that I was down to sing two solos during the signing of the register!! An iPod, paper and pen later and I was nervously practicing at the back of the church, memorising words and trying not to make too poor a job of Eva Cassidy’s “Wade in the Water”.
Nicky looked lovely and everything was going swimmingly as I stood up to sing. As the opening lines of Oh Happy Day resounded around the old church I suddenly noticed a nervous kerfuffle about five rows back. Apparently for one man this day was less than happy, he was having a heart attack.
The best man signalled for us to keep singing as they hurried to call for paramedics. When we’d crooned the two solos to death the boys felt there was nothing else for it and began to play the blues. As the newly wed Mr & Mrs Stranick waited to one side, a slinky little number serenaded the man who had the heart attack as he was wheeled away on a stretcher.
Sunday morning I woke up so nervous I thought I was going to be sick. Yesterday was T-Day, the day I spoke at my home church on resisting temptation. I think I got a total of three hours sleep the night before and every time I tried to eat my stomach hit the floor. As I walked to the front there was a strange atmosphere to the meeting. Usually our morning meeting is full of noise with kids playing and people chatting and heckling but yesterday there was an odd stillness. Looking out at a sea of serious faces, all eyes fixed on me, I felt more than a little scared.
The front row comprised of most of the respected teachers and leaders in our community and Maggie Ellis (my mentor) sat with a pen and notepad. I began speaking about resisting temptation and unusually my nerves didn’t go. I’m always nervous before I speak but usually the minute I stand adrenalin kicks in and I’m away. For the first ten minutes of my talk I actually stuttered in places and said of the stupidest things! Oh to take back the tangents about chocolate, being pregnant and Keanu Reeves!
After I’d got over the stuff I was nervous about and onto the stuff I have a passion for I loosened up a little and let myself get into it. All in all I think it went ok but I was far more nervous than any other time I’ve spoken and I don’t think I was at my best because of it. I tried my hardest and hopefully communicated my heart so I guess that’s all I can do. I got some good feedback after the meeting, people were pretty kind.
This morning I woke worn out and got on a train to London. I think God may have strategically placed a few things in my journey to cheer me up and welcome me to the London. Firstly, my new copy of Empire arrived, second, Paperchase at Victoria (I love it, the potential of all those journals, I can’t leave without buying at least a pen), thirdly a fantastic Irish duet on the tube who blasted us with fast paced jigs and dry humour and lastly as I passed Finsbury Square there was a whole class of small children bundling each other, practising hand stands and who-can-jump-the-highest games. It was enough to make even the hardest business man smile. By the time I arrived at the new City of London Boiler Room I was smiling and thinking how much I missed travelling up to London regularly.
I made today’s journey for a sad reason, today was Phil Baldwin’s leaving do. For those of you who don’t know Phil I can probably sum him up by describing him as 24-7 personified. He was saved through our first ever prayer room and has spent the last five years working hard to make the movement happen. I’m gonna miss him a lot.
As we perched around a table for lunch it was great to reminisce about all the crazy days out, trips and friends we’ve made and to say goodbye with a present a hug and a heated game of star wars top trumps. Phil I wish you the best. Lots of love to you and Ellen. xc