Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 October 2008 16:26:53
So - I made it to the church in Greenhithe yesterday in spite of nearly going into the back of a white van at 60 mph on the motorway, when all the traffic suddenly ground to a halt. Actually, this was seriously scary - I knew the brakes wouldn't be enough so I had to swerve to the left which meant going into a slip road where there could easily have been someone coming up behind who would have gone into me. And all because of a moment's lack of concentration. I sometimes wonder whether I really ought to be driving on all this medication, but the thought of not driving is too grim (apologies to all greenies, of whom I'm supposed to be one).
The sermon in Greenhithe (40 miles away) went off reasonably, in spite of having a coughing fit in the middle which I couldn't control, but eventually got over with the help of my friend from the congregation bringing water. Also the worship leader, after I sat down, and various people who spoke to me after the service, tried to get me to say that God always heals when asked to, which I refused to say because it's not true. I'd forgotten what it's like to be in a church that has a theology of healing without a theology of suffering...
On the way back I managed to miss the M25 entirely, not sure how, so ended up going towards central London on the A2, through the Blackwall instead of the Dartford Tunnel (saved £1!) and as I didn't want to pick my way through Hackney and Bow where I would get even more lost, I ended up doing a huge detour to re-find the North Circular. However I still made it, shaking and hungry, to the end of church lunch where I got some delicious leftovers.
It will be a long time till I preach again at anywhere except my own church (famous last words....)