‘I hate Donald Trump’. ‘I hate Theresa May’. I hate Jeremy Corbyn. Have you heard anyone say things like that recently? I have. In a politically divided country (and world!), they’re quite common statements. Some days (particularly on social media), it can feel like hate oozes so easily from the end of typing figures and …
Author Archives: Paula Cummings
In the right place, at the right time?
The phone in the cold, draughty hallway rang shrilly and it just so happened, I was at home that day and able to answer. ‘Hello Paula?’ said a cheery voice. It was a temp agency. I was in my final year of university and, in need of some extra cash, had registered with this agency, …
Letting go of an old season…
A few years ago, my dad suffered a heart attack. He’s had various health and heart issues since his early 40s, but as he was recovering from this episode, we decided that when he was better, we’d get him a dog. My dad had always wanted a dog but the circumstances hadn’t been right. But …
Fear is a liar
I love a good, gritty real-life documentary, the sort of moody TV programme with fly-on-the-wall camera work, following a police investigation team, through all the twists and turns of a seemingly unsolvable case. So I’ll admit, that yesterday in this house, there may have been a bit of binge watching of this kind of thing; …
Learning to do nothing…
I’ve never been much of a hugger. Ok, I should correct that. I really like hugs, I’m just not a fan of long hugs. But coming from a family who is mercilessly affectionate, where cuddles, kisses and ‘I love yous’, were dispensed like sweeties at a fairground, over the years, I’ve learned how to enjoy …
I am not a good person…
Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them. Proverbs 24:17 I don’t like this verse very much. It’s one of those challenging, meaty bits of Scripture that I’d rather gloss over and pretend wasn’t there. …
Dear churches…
I grew up in the church. Church has always been my home and my safe place and I knew from an early age the dangers of becoming a ‘church hopper’. There was a frequently used analogy, ‘a coal out of the fire, on the hearth, quickly goes cold.’ And I think that’s true, being part …
God is not a one hit wonder
Back in November, I wrote about an amazing experience I had, Surprised by God. And at the time, if I’m honest, a little part of me thought, ‘well, that’s amazing…now it’s time to get on with it’. So, I dug deep, found my ‘Dunkirk spirit’, donned my British stiff upper lip and decided to march …
When your pastor has an affair…
Years ago, I was part of a thriving, lively church, with a lovely pastor, who had an affair. I arrived at church one Sunday morning, all expectant for a great service, but there was an unexpected somber tone to the meeting. At the end, it was announced that one of the pastors had admitted to …
Keep going…
Over the years, various people in my family have battled their way through different (sometimes chronic) illnesses. To be honest, from a young age, I’ve seen people I love, be limited by health circumstances and as a family, it’s just something we understood and adjusted to. It’s possibly for that reason, as a family, we …
