A small victory

There have been many occasions when I have set myself challenges only to fail them spectacularly or to avoid completing them because I was too lazy or too scared. A year or two ago I had a vision for a community cafe in the city centre to provide a ‘church’ space on the high street venue, serving affordable, healthy food and room for activities such as 24/7 prayer. (The CofE is encouraging ventures such as these with Fresh Expressions) It didn’t come to pass partly because the timing wasn’t right and partly because I didn’t have the guts or the faith in God to take it off paper. There were many voices encouraging me to explore it, but key influences in my life blocking it, saying it was foolish. I learnt a lot about myself; I learnt that I am a dreamer and I have great ideas that require my commitment to see through if they are ever going to happen. The trick is, as Dumbledore said to Harry Potter when he was gazing into the mirror and seeing his parents in the reflection with him, not to spend life dreaming dreams.

One of the main problems that stop ideas becoming reality is ‘resistance’. I read a great article over at the Radiant site that I can’t seem to find in the archives about what the writer called ‘resistance’ (I would love to attribute the article to the writer but cannot find her name) - whenever we begin to do something creative, we come up against a wall, be it our own fears, voices of dissent or lack of imagination. We hear the whisper ‘you can’t do this’ or ‘it’s too complicated’ and instead of confronting that lie, we retreat to safer territory where we don’t have to think or consider it anymore. We are made in the image of a Creator God – and so we are made to create; food, art, shelter, care, babies – you name it. In creating, we reflect his glory and so the evil one will do anything to stop us from doing just that.

Now I know that forays into the cosy world of knitting (usually homeland for elderly ladies but now seeing a trendy renaissance in recent years due to the popular ‘Stitch and Bitch’ series) are not necessarily ground breaking work for the Kingdom here on earth but they have taught me a lesson. I tried over 18 months ago and failed miserably so everytime I looked through knitting magazines, books or websites, a voice in my head said ‘you can’t do this’. And I believed it. But now, almost looking for something to distract me whilst Dave was away, I picked up some wool and needles and began teaching myself – I can do it. My first attempt is lumpy, ungainly and nothing to write home about, my knitting style is unorthodox (the experts would wince) but I did it. I ignored the ‘resistance’ and succeeded – a small victory.

The point is small victories are the starting point. If I wanted to fulfil big visions, I need to start overcoming resistance with the small things. Praying that God will help me to resist the whispers that limit us is another step. And remember ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength.’ Philippians 4 verse 13.

Maybe one day, by the grace of God, you can come and enjoy a decent cup of coffee in my community cafe!

Adventures in Knitting

Pray for me! I am making a second attempt, a second fling with knitting needles and wool!

 The first attempt over 2 years ago, where my mum tried to instruct me on the intricacies of  ‘casting on’, ‘knit’ and ‘purl’, ended up in near hysterical laughter on my part and my assembled family, bemused as to why at the ripe age of 24 I would want to start knitting. My family has a set of proficient knitters – my mum, my grandmas and my aunts all know how to knit as does my grandad (Dad’s dad) who knitted some of the garments my parents wear today. After retirement, he was so antsy and wouldn’t sit still that my grandma set him the task of knitting to keep him out of her way. Good trick. And whilst we’re on the topic of textiles, my grandpa on my mum’s side used to own a Lingerie company so fabric is obviously in my blood…..?

Anyway a colleague at work who is textile mad has brought me some wool to practice with; 3 balls of dove grey tufted wool and 2 balls of rather speckled brown, cream, sand wool. I have my needles ready at home and tonight shall embark and try to knit 2 rows at least of a scarf. Reports will follow.

Easter

I have been meaning to write a post about Easter for a while but have not found time to do so until now.

 Lent wasn’t as challenging for me as it could have been or rather I wasn’t challenging me as much as I should have! In general I dream big but when it comes to putting ideas into action I find I often hit a wall of resistance. My parents for my 18th birthday gave me a silver bracelet with Carpe Diem on it because they knew full well what I’m like! Anyway I set myself too vague, too dramatic a challenge for Lent and, being crafty, managed to create loopholes that meant I didn’t make much sacrifice at all. I have learnt a great lesson. If you want to change, start small, have achievable aims and give it to God. A habit takes just 6 weeks to form. In my six or so weeks of Lent I didn’t make that change, that sacrifice and I think it effected my understanding and appreciation of Easter, I didn’t experience part of the Easter story because I was weak! Thank God he knows us and forgives us despite our failings and inabilities. However, on a positive note, as well as denying myself (well, trying to) certain things, I also took something up for Lent - art journalling. Every couple of days, using cheap art materials and old magazines and newspapers, bible verses etc I did a couple of pages recording things I felt, experienced and learnt. I found it a really good way to relax on an evening and helped me experiment with my creative side, something that I think I repressed after school because it wasn’t part of my degree studies. Its been a process of rediscovering something that, though I am not very good at it, I do enjoy.

In the weeks leading up to Easter, both Dave and I fought off the cold bug that has been going round and were both in need of time off. Being unwell and tired meant I missed Palm Sunday which is the start of the build up to Easter, something I was quite frustrated about after though at the time, I just wanted to get rid of my blocked up nose!

The Easter weekend was different to previous years. Instead of a quiet contemplative Maunday Thursday service, we celebrated a Passover meal led by Jews for Jesus which was lively. Good Friday, in the past, Dave and I have fasted but this year, as well as the traditional lunch time service, we met with friends for coffee, friends for lunch and dinner and also went to see Amazing Grace at the cinema. (See this film. It is breathtaking, inspiring and a beautiful picture of what faith in God is like and what faith in God can do.) Easter Saturday was quiet, we laid low getting work and chores done and Easter Sunday was a raucous, family festival. At church, 4 people were baptised and 2 renewed their vows, the place was packed, the worship music raised the roof and the atmosphere was alive with hope and joy. This is how church should be every week! A big lunch with my extended family at my aunt’s, then home for wine and cheese and the anticipation of holiday which I will write about soon.

Easter is a wonderful time; a time where we remember the one who lived as one of us, who died to set us free and who rose again that we might be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus did on this earth until he comes again.

Technology

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.  One for my family, I think……..

Cantuccini

Baking. I have never been amazing at baking cakes but as time passes by, the more food blogs I read and recipe books I covet, the more baking looms on my horizon and asks me to give it a try.

So I did.

For pudding for the meal with the lovely Jo and Al, I whipped up a batch of very simple Cantuccini, recipe courtesy of the lovely Cream Puffs in Venice. Luckily for me, Jo loves biscotti and took a bunch home with her – to save me from myself! Unfortunately as the recipe is in American measurements, I had to use a converter and here for us Brits, is the recipe with our UK equivalents:

Cantuccini

8 1/2 oz plain flour
4 1/2 oz sugar
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 small bag of whole, blanched almonds
3 large eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C.

In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and stir. Add the almonds and mix well.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. The dough will be dry.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and begin gathering it together. Knead it for a few minutes and you will see that it will slowly come together into a firm dough. Keep some flour handy in case it sticks.
Divide the dough in half and shape it into one log. Transfer the log to a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper.
Bake for 30 minutes. The log will rise a bit and will be golden and lightly brown on the bottom.
Transfer the log to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Once cool, slice the log into slices and lay them, cut side down, on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper.
Bake for an additional 10 or 15 minutes, or until the cantuccini are dry and lightly golden.
Let cool completely. Cantuccini can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
Enjoy!