Are diets really a modern phenomenon? Or just an age-old expression of our need to worship -whether at the supermarket or the mirror? In her book, ‘Calories and Corsets’ Louise Foxcroft argues that ‘contemporary’ diets such as Atkins, are nothing of the kind. She gives the example of the Hay diet, which was popular at the start of the early 20thc. Given a few tweaks, this became the Beverly Hills diet of the 1980s. Similarly, Atkins has been given a …Read More
What does it mean to hold out Jesus to others? I’ve been thinking about this after a conversation I had with my mum. We were talking about what it means to be a Christian. I desperately, desperately wanted her to understand. But the more I tried to explain, the deeper I foundered. I knew what I wanted to say. But the words got stuck somewhere between my brain and my mouth. I wanted to say that it’s all …Read More
Do women struggle with success? Don’t lunge at me – yet. I don’t want to foist my insecurities on an entire gender. I’m not implying that all women are the same. And I don’t mean that we’re not, objectively speaking, successful. Far from it. But. Despite our achievements. Despite the affirmations and the reassurances and the checked-off lists – can we accept it ourselves? Do you ever look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m a success?’ Do you ever compare …Read More
What does a small life look like? Hedged in by habits, startled by sudden movements. Unobtrusive. Safe. No risks and no surprises. Head down, stay the course. Don’t stick your neck out. Don’t aim too high. Don’t try in case you fail. Go with the majority. Practise religion. Keep the rules. Talk of God and not Christ. Keep it light. Don’t be so serious. Soundbites not mouthfuls. Headlines, not analysis. Box sets, not books. Measured out in thimbles: …Read More
Life this week’s been a bit chocca. I’m working to a deadline for the book: ‘A New Name’ and it should be out in the summer. I’d really value your prayers as I put the finishing touches to my story. I hope it will help those affected by eating disorders and point people to Jesus. In the meantime I thought I’d post a couple of quotes from Frederich Beuchner’s memoir, Telling Secrets. Here he talks about caring for …Read More
In some ways, I don’t want God to love me. That sounds crazy, but it’s true. I complain He doesn’t want all of me, but I won’t let Him past the hallway into the dark bits – where I need Him most. I keep Him on the outskirts, because if He comes in He’ll see me and I can’t have that. I’m frightened of God’s love because it opens me up to hope. That hope will break me if …Read More
Can I ever be known and wanted in the way I long for? My heart says no. To be accepted, I must perform. But my performance is never enough. I’m not enough and neither is the god I imagine. Instead of a loving and generous Father, I envisage a slave-master: tight-fisted and ineffectual. Why does it matter who I think God is? Because what I believe about Him, determines whether or not we have a relationship. It’s one …Read More
“Words are the most powerful thing in the universe… Words are containers. They contain faith, or fear, and they produce after their kind.” – Charles Capps Interesting article in the Independent – full text here – that highlights this: ‘A major revision of the the 1994 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, whose fifth edition is due for publication next year, threatens to extend psychiatric diagnoses to millions of people currently regarded as normal…. Among the diagnostic labels …Read More
The lie of addiction is this: I can stop any time I like. One day – not today of course – but soon, I’ll stop drinking. I’ll start eating. I’ll stop binging. I’ll forsake those websites and delete those images. I’ll cut up the credit cards and walk past the bookies. When this happens, you tell yourself, everything will return to “normal.” You’ll leave behind your old shameful self and begin afresh. Quick and painless. A new start, with no …Read More
