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I noticed something about myself just the other week as I prepared to journey to, across and out of London on public transport. I had to be that much more deliberate in my planning, careful in looking for directions and assuring of myself that it would be OK!
Maybe I surprised myself on the outward journey (and it wasn’t rush hour!) not as bad as I anticipated…that on the return I missed my final train as I had not been attentive to time, connections and next steps as I should have been!
External factors such as the pandemic; less long distance travel of late and the remembering when I was younger that all this was part of life’s rich adventure with the desire to explore, see new places and feel one’s own independence – all made my recent trip the more poignant.
I have also seen and been reminded that at different life stages, our freedoms to do such things as travel far and freely may be curtailed by the arrival for example of a new child, a dependant pet or other responsibilities at home.
Difficult Decisions
I have felt keenly too how hard it is to come to terms with seeing a dear friend or relative be introduced to new surroundings in a care environment. There are so many feelings of guilt, fear and questioning whether the right time has indeed come. At the final analysis, it is probably the person’s own safety and wellbeing that is paramount – never easy decisions for family or relatives to tackle.
There is a hymn that you may know that seems to encapsulate these wonderings and as with so many of life’s unanswered questions; call us to entrust them into God’s awesome hands where in His time He answers and will lead us to His heavenly home if we will but follow in His paths:
Through all the changing scenes of life,
G T Smart (1776-1867)
In trouble and in joy…
How blest are they, and only they
Who in His truth confide.
God Speed
Rev Charles Burton
Published in the March 2026 edition of the Parish magazines.
You can order Parish magazines, which contain additional articles, by visiting All Saints or Christ Church
Main photograph courtesy of Unsplash.