Skip to main content

A Walk of Faith

I used to believe everything I was told when in church, but my walk of faith has shifted from that starting place. I must think for myself, considering the ideas and thoughts of others, yes, but recognising there is no-one who has all the answers to anything. Do you have questions about faith and a Christian walk of faith? Me too. You’ll find ideas to dip into here if you would like to. Each piece stands alone.

Dear Christians...

Dear Christians, What are we doing? I wonder if it’s time for a little shift of perspective and focus. I am trying it myself and weirdly, (or maybe not weirdly), my life is significantly altered both inside and outside of my being. I think the shifts have been (and are, as they’re continuing) positive, but I leave that concept open to the fact that I recognise I might not be seeing it all as c...

Can Autistic Christians be Additionally Vulnerable in Christian Contexts?

You are particularly vulnerable as an autist when alongside other Christians in whatever context? I am. 100%. For me, this is a ‘for sure’ thing and there is not a single doubt in my mind that I am most definitely more vulnerable in a Christian ‘situation’. Although this article is starting out from this perspective, it shifts to a more empowered and potentially ‘lighter’ place, if you choose ...

God is...

I’m wondering if there is any benefit (beyond my own momentary wish to do so) in me designing a few t-shirt slogans. I have one in mind. Weirdly, my whole point about the content of the potential slogan is in defence of the God about whom I know very little from all that could be known. So that’s already weird. And further weirdness comes about when one pauses to think that the same aforementi...

When The Leaders Fall

There seems to be a ‘thing’ (for want of a better term) in many of us (maybe all of us…I don’t have the data to be sure), where we are influenced by those who lead us (in whatever ways it is that they lead us… and by ‘leaders’ I mean they are leading because others are metaphorically walking behind them, watching them, following them and imitating them at some level or other). It seems to be li...

All the 'New Year' Stuff - How Does it Sit with You?

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23) "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) Those verses, I am aware of. I know they’re there, somewhere in That Book. In fact, there in there at the reference points I’ve given after the ...

Sometimes, Do We Need to Simply Shut Up?

Doesn’t it (the Bible) repeatedly tell us (among the many lessons it offers if we want to learn from it) to just shut up? “…a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” Ecclesiastes 5:3 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 Those verses are two biblical examples to back up my response of “Yes, I think it does” to t...

How Might We Best Navigate Christmas as Autists?

Let’s go there now. It’ll be nice to be ahead of the curve (at least, maybe we are ahead of the curve for some), whatever the curve is. Yes, okay, there are more than two months (depending on then you are reading this) until it arrives (at time of writing), but sometimes it is wise to plan slightly ahead of any interactions about it, isn’t it? Sometimes it is wise to seek and discover what one’...

Worship Leader or Not?

In (what now seems to me to be) a previous life existence for me, I was (in almost obsessively active measures) what the ‘lower’ churches (the Baptists/Free Churches and similar) call a ‘worship leader’. To any who do not dwell within those metaphorical circles or live out part of their lives inside churches, a ‘worship leader’ is someone who leads the corporate music and singing within a churc...

An Attempt at De-Mystifying Spiritual Discernment

The Oxford English Dictionary says discernment is ‘the ability to judge well’. The Holman Christian Standard Bible gives an idea of how to discern the will of God: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) The New International Version (NIV) translation changes ...

What is the ‘Hope I Have’ in What I Believe?

Now I’m working on developing just a few skills that might help me to navigate this weird, remote, online communication thing with people I’m never likely to meet but am seeming to be creating some tenuous and superficial links with, I’ve been trying to engage on a couple of forums. Yes, okay, these have so far only been for those who are autistic and maybe it will stay that way, or maybe I wil...

Am I Too Sensitive About Hearing “Praise the Lord”?

(Maybe or maybe not weirdly), I know the answer before I muse on it. Yes. I am. I am super sensitive to it. It has started to (increasingly) grate in my inner girl whenever I hear it. It frustrates me. It brings out my less than gracious side towards its use and towards the one from who I hear it. I can physically feel my insides recoiling as it lands. Why? I think it’s because (possibly alway...

My Walk of Faith Goes Where?

I am wondering; how and where can a ‘walk of faith’ positively affect the lives of others? Is it right and good that it does so? I guess the simple answer to the ‘how?’ and ‘where?’ is anyhow and anywhere, seeing as it has little to do with us. And I guess too that as all things affect all things, it inevitably will affect others, won’t it (whether that be a positive or less than positive affe...

Prayer – What Are We To Do With It?

Our Father, who is in heaven, Holy is Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Some visualise Him with them to make Him see...

God is Good: the Small Print

God is Good. Yes. Agreed. So, that’s that. If only that was that and the case was closed and there was no further doubt on the matter. It would be sorted. It would be clear. It would be defined. It would be easy to understand. It would be something that doesn’t need any kind of debate. It would be just simple fact. It is just simple fact. Isn’t it? What about when things don’t pan out as w...

The Spaces In-Between

I am often not a ‘fan’ of anyone or anything, unless it’s the band my son is in (and then I’m their number 1 fan, in my head anyway). However, I have a lot of time for the ideas and concepts presented by Father Richard Rohr (and others) from the Centre for Action and Contemplation. It’s not that everything he (and they as an organisation) says I can comprehend or necessarily agree with at this ...

'Changed Lives Changing Lives' - Are They?

Have you seen them? I’m referring to the signs at the front of many church buildings. Those signs that often contain some kind of slogan or other. Over the years, I’ve been amused, bemused, and often intrigued by many of these. ‘Changed Lives Changing Lives’ is one that I honestly didn’t know what to do with as I walked past it a while ago. It raised all kinds of internal questions. How much c...

To Be or Not To Be? (Part B)

Learning to be who we are isn't simple, I realise that. However, if we achieve some progress in that are, I am wondering if life would be somewhat different. By different, in this context, I mean better. If we managed to be less focussed on and driven by what others think of us or by what is expected of us or by what is seen as a demonstration of a successful existence (to name a few), would we...

To Be or Not To Be? (Part A)

Maybe it is time to be here. Right here, right now. To be. Maybe. In our own existence and alongside those with whom we share the planet, is there not a lot of searching? Searching for identity, searching for belonging, searching for purpose, searching for comfort or wealth, searching for perceived success, searching for meaning. Searching for that which can seem illusive or is always seemingl...

What is That in My Eye?

In my stumbling around life to get this far, I have been fully influenced by people within churches who have felt justified for their views as they have judged others and by so doing have been (I guess) attempting to elevate self (even if only subconsciously). People who have believed they could see more, knew ‘better’, were wiser and had lived greater experiences, which (in their minds) qualif...