Jude Smith

Most of my running these days is in the inner city. A combination of lack of time, expensive fuel and working across two inner city parishes makes getting out of the area to run is tricky. This afternoon was one such inner city run: in my shiny new shoes (see above) It got me thinking about the pros and cons. There are a lot of cons.. THE DOWNSIDE The air is pretty rough. I live 200 yards from the ring road, 400 from the M621, under a flight path. The air is pretty dingy and there are moments where the lungs struggle. The pavements can be a tad hazardous: pizza, sick, cans, dog poo.. People don't get out of the way as you run- just doesn't occur to them. Fat people who deliberately obstruct your path. I know that probably sounds mean: but I speak as a former obese person.. and I can say that there have been several times where large people have walked into my path. Just rude! Shouted insults- I think I was invited to slap someone's manhood today but I had headphones i

The Coalition. That is all..

Its Saturday: I am in bed. My lovely housemate, in deference to my need for introvert time, brought me some food.. And so fueled up I can tell you about what I'm thinking. I am pondering how I lead. I am pondering how I keep hold of the eternal truth that God loves me, when the people of God don't appear to. I am pondering what it might look like to get some break through in people understanding boundaries. I have been reading about Paul and his relationship with the errant church in Corinth. None of this is hugely related to each other; but I am struck by my need to keep hold of what God has said and is saying in the midst of it all. If you are a praying type then all appreciated in that. I'm thinking about how we fix the pensions and benefits crisis. No solutions yet but I'm only on my first cup of coffee so its just a matter of time. I'm thinking about how I can get to see some Rory tonight. I'm wondering if its inappropriate that I am fascinated by t

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. So says Paul: writer of several letters to the indignant church of Corinth. In his reflection he has been beaten and shipwrecked to give background to his comments here. I should say now that I have been neither beaten nor shipwrecked. I have had a tricky month though. I can't quite explain what happened, for reasons of not wanting to tittle-tattle, but also not really knowing what happened. All I can really sa