Carol Purves

Snow has arrived in Carlisle. I apologise mentioning this to those of you who have inches of the stuff.  Ours is not much more than a dusting and it is vanishing fast. Just in case we have a lot later on or if we have no more, I thought I should record this fall.

Carol, looking for snow

Once the excitement of the New Year is over life can be an anticlimax. I can’t write about any exciting things I’ve done during these few weeks, so I’ll do a typical British thing and tell you about the weather.

We are into the ninth day of the year and it has rained every day so far. Some days not very much but other days there has been rain all day. Fortunately our river is now back to being a river instead of wet fields a couple of miles wide.

The mop up after the flood continues and we feel for those towns which are currently under water or still draining out – Aberdeenshire, York, Kendal, Dumfries and Galloway, Keswick and many others.

Here in Carlisle instead of greeting each other with the words, ‘How are you?’ we now say, ‘Are you flooded?’ I know the time will come in the summer when we’re crying out for water. It just reminds us the weather is not under our control!

Carol, the soggy

May I wish you all a happy new year wherever in the world you are.

What do I mean by ‘happy’? Well, not everything you want, but everything you need. Sufficient food, shelter, friendship of family and friends, a measure of good health freedom from aggression and war. What I mean is the Christmas message, ‘peace on earth.’

Carol

When I visited Bethlehem a couple of years ago, so many Bethlehemites asked us to pray for peace in their town. When there were the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland, the inhabitants just wanted peace. In our troubled world it is needed that we still pray for peace.

Although most of us can do nothing about the state of Syria, Nigeria, and so many other places in the world, we can sow a little peace where we are.

We can be kind to our families and friends. That’s fairly easy. What about showing a kindness to a lonely neighbour, giving a smile to those we meet as we go about our daily business. I’m not one for making new year resolutions, because I break them so easily, but what about a resolution to spread peace and sow kindness. Peace is not just for the Christmas cards.

Carol, the smiling neighbour

The floods that have hit Cumbria are having along-lasting effect. Bridges have collapsed, roads have been closed and hundreds of families have been rendered homeless.

It is heart-breaking to walk along the worst affected roads and see people’s lives discarded as their possessions, all ruined by the flood water, lie discarded along the pavements and gutters. An odd shoe here, a broken picture frame there and everywhere a damp and decaying smell in the air.

Our church at Hebron have been privileged (yes that is the right word) to help. What we have done is what Jesus would have done. We could not hold back the waters or return the homes as they were but we can offer a hot meal, a place to warm up and time to listen.

With so much sadness all round the world, it is good to have been able to help in a minute way.

Carol

Unfortunately Cumbria is in the news. Here in Carlisle it is dire. I and my property are unaffected but as a church we are giving assistance to the needy. We are going round the streets with hot drinks and bacon butties.  Most people can now get back to visit their homes but there is no electricity. The damage is terrible and many people just want to talk and talk. They are in shock. Its raining and blowing again this evening. Nothing like it was but people are scared and it brings back memories.

Carol

Just had a day in Glasgow for the Society of Authors, Scotland Christmas Party. It involved a full Christmas lunch and plenty of sociability. This was the first event of theirs that I had attended. The company was really good and I hope to attend other events.

Because it was so close to Christmas, Virgin trains had cheap shopping tickets. It was great as I saved money and never had to go near any shops, as the hotel was close to the station. Just as well as it was pouring of rain. (I only allow myself to moan after we have had 3 days of continuous rain – This is now the 5th day of almost non-stop rain)   Sorry to the people who live in very dry parts of the world. You can willingly have some of our rain.

Carol, the drenched

Yes, that’s today. I stopped to wonder what it represented. It is difficult for us to have a balanced view of the birth of Jesus because we know what happened afterwards.

But just think back to those days when Bethlehem was not a place of pilgrimage. It was of no importance on the Roman map. There was no church of the Holy Sepulchre, no worshiping crowds, no hotels or cafes. Just a few shepherd families and poor hard-working people.

And into this scene, among the hundreds paying their taxes, there was a little baby born in a farmyard. Very few noticed Him then and sadly many do not notice Him today.

Carol

My travelling to Scotland a few days ago was completely safe, with few strong winds, which I was fearing. But I did encounter a snow storm which turned the mountains white, the visibility poor and the scene magical. I then went to Penicuik and to Stirling and Dundee. I wasn’t doing all the driving.

It was the occasion of the conference of the Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers. Are you a writer and do you live in Scotland? Then you would be very welcome.

Carol, the writer.

Every day through the ever-intrusive media we are shocked, appalled and heart-broken. In spite of the vote and freedom of speech our voices are heard less and less. How can we help the mourning families in Syria, the bereaved from perilous sea-journeys or the starving on our doorstep?

The only voice left to us is the pen, the pen which is mightier than the sword. To write through whatever medium we choose is an outlet for our pent-up emotions. It is no wonder that writing is medically advocated to help the depressed, the suicidal and the lonely. Feelings which are expressed through the word, no longer eat away at our souls.

Historically, the written word has changed the world. Churchill and Martin Luther knew of and used such power. Finally, the ultimate ‘word’, the Bible, has already changed the world.

Carol, the user of words.