Jude Smith

I confess that I don't know a whole lot about the North Africa/ Middle East protests. I'm going to buy some kind of articulate magazine that might fill me in later. But (since when has lack of knowledge stopped me speaking).. this reminds me of those months in 1989-91 where every time we turned on the news the map and the countries had changed. Contagious protest, old leadership threatened, a new day. When it happened at the end of the Cold War we rightly celebrated an end to oppression, even if we replaced it with another tyranny of greed. I think I am a bit worried that this time we will have half an eye on the economic ramifications if poor people all over the Middle East rise up. The spectre of oil raises its head again. I don't know how it will shape up but I'm praying for justice and peace. I'm praying as people prayed thirty years ago for bloodless change.. (and if anyone knows about it more do keep me posted).

I have just done a bit of browsing through friends' blogs. Lots of folks reflecting on the last year and planning for this year. And I have to confess that I am jealous. Not jealous of people's life as such: I'm pretty sure that I am doing as God would have me do. What I'm jealous of is people's book lists. I love reading but I can count on one hand how many books I have managed to get through in the last twelve months. I miss the days of commuting when I could get through a book in a couple of days.. But I'm not going to wallow. I'm going to try and do something about it. I'm going to try and read for an hour a day. I have no idea if I can actually do, and I know that something has got to give if I am going to do it. But lets face it, you only need to watch a half hour of breakfast telly and I can eat and read at the same time.. Watch this space for book reviews..