10 books that made a difference

For someone who studied English Literature at university, I am a very slow reader. It didn’t take me long to realise I would never keep up. By my second second year (I did the year twice), I only read the books I would be writing essays on, and I’ll admit there were a couple of…

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Social Anxiety and Me

For me, social anxiety isn’t shyness,Nor is it a synonym for ‘introverted’,In my experience its one of several illnesses or diagnoses. And sometimes it really sucks. It can also be called social phobiaAnd yes, part of it is feeling anxious about speaking in front of people, avoiding crowds and seeming shy. But it’s also fearing…

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Tempest

When simple words don’t seem to serve justice to the depth of darkness that depression brings, perhaps a metaphor will better suffice, will give a better picture of how it really feels. Like a storm, a hurricane, like being lost out at sea, surrounded by a flood of apathy and despondency, or caught in a…

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40 Million Voices

During the past few months of interning with International Justice Mission my eyes have been opened to the extent to which modern slavery pervades and threatens our world. I’ve written a little reflection on how this interacts with my faith. It’s probably not got enough structure to be called a poem, but I hope that it might be insightful all the same.

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Weary

‘How are you?’ I hear, The question with which most conversations begin. ‘I’m tired’ I say, A whole thesaurus of words ready for when I’m feeling more creative. Exhuasted, run down, burnt out ‘Knackered’ as we say up north Spent, drained, shattered, weary. Weary is the one that seems to encompass it all. Weary of…

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Your Will Be Done?

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done…’ But wait, I say the words but I don’t echo them in my heart.   You see, Its easy to say ‘your will be done’ when God’s will is exactly the same as ours, But what if his will is…

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‘…A Light Has Dawned’

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. – Isaiah 9:2 It was dark. Very dark. The darkest of darks. It was as if there was nothing there. The very air itself cast a black blanket around her. It surrounded her,…

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‘On those living in the land of deep darkness…’

It was dark. Very dark. The darkest of darks. It was as if there was nothing there. The very air itself cast a black blanket around her. It surrounded her, engulfed her. It was suffocating her. She felt the thickness of the darkness, her own breathing muffled so much that she could barely hear herself,…

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Blotted Ink

‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it’ – John 1:5 ———————- Blotted ink runs ceaseless, floods the page with dye, Blackened clouds darken melancholy sky. The pain she knew too well Now shadowed her with fear, As the striking cold drew near. ——- Yet through all the darkness, one…

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