What a difference a day makes. Friday was the end of a very long week at school. I quickly arrived home with a migraine. Migraines are painful but they also give me a sense of fear that any venture I am doing is the most foolish thing I have ever started, and then the pain, disorientation passes and you feel fine again. I am lucky as they rarely last longer than an hour.

After an early dinner I drove up to the Great Tower scout camp at the side of Windermere to help with a winter camp experience with 200 scouts. Where could I find the time to run?

After the scouts were safely in the rooms I slipped on the trainers and started to run up the side of great tower. Rain was pouring and the cold was starting to come down, but any problems I had faced in the week fell into pale significance when you are focussing on staying alive, every step is vital that you know where you are going to land. The lungs struggled for a while but then the rhythm set in and it felt comfortable, it felt like I was meant to be here.

Psalm 18:1–3

I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord

We complain about our life, but when your life is put into sharp focus the immediate priority is staying alive.

Dear Lord, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

I have called upon you Lord in my need,
and you answered.
I called upon you Lord in my need,
and you answered.
I will call upon you Lord and you will answer,
Because in you I find my faith, hope and strength and your mercy is eternal,
once for all eternity you suffered,
on the cross and rose as the first fruits of the kingdom three days later.

Amen