“How old are you? How much do you weigh? What did you eat that day? Well what did you have for dinner? Who made dinner? Did you drink with dinner? No, not even water? When did you drink? How much did you drink? What container did you drink out of? Who gave you the drink? How much do you usually drink? Who dropped you off at this party? At what time? But where exactly? What were you wearing? Why were …Read More
Sometimes I get asked to do talks, especially for women. (Scares the life out of me, but I’m very grateful to be invited). The topics can differ, but as often as not, the issue I’m asked to speak on is ‘self-esteem’. Like it or not, this has been tagged the big issue for ladies; or at least, one that we’re interested in. (I suspect men have the same questions, but they get butch wrapping, like; ‘Going for God’, ‘Stepping Out …Read More
An email I received recently, (quoted with permission): Dear Emma, It’s 5am and I am writing to a complete stranger. .. I apologise for taking this liberty but I have been reading your blog and I think you will understand. I will not be ruled by lies any more, but they shout loudly tonight. Alone, unprotected, unloved. Single women, particularly single women with a history of mental health problems aren’t taken seriously in evangelical churches. Or perhaps I am immature …Read More
It’s funny how we ascribe certain struggles to certain groups of people. And we expect those struggles to look a certain way. Young women, for example, will struggle with eating disorders and materialism. (This means they’ll get too thin or buy too many shoes). Teenage boys will struggle with self-control (Pornography or booze).I guess if we can allocate specific problems to specific people, then they’re not so dangerous. They’re somehow less likely to happen to us. Of course it’s not true. …Read More
I’ve got a bit of a lurgy. Sitting in the doctor’s surgery today, I was leafing through magazines. The doctor didn’t give me any meds, but this story from an old copy of ‘Yours’, did the same job: It’s the story of a friendship between Paula, a 30 year-old single Christian, and Ann, who she met through church. Ann had been brought up in foster care and hadn’t had an easy life. Paula realised she needed a good friend and …Read More
Every year my mum gets me a magazine subscription. I try and weed out the body fascists and celebrity dribble. This leaves me with Conde Nast Traveller, The People’s Friend, Angler’s Monthly or something featuring ‘Real Women’. The current edition has recipes (featuring ‘store-cupboard basics’ like pomegranate seeds, black molasses and quinoa), life-affirming stories, (usually someone starting a cupcake business), Royal Baby News, a craft section (always involves spray-painting leaves) and a pull-out, which this month is: 101 uses for …Read More
There are two columnists I’m always fascinated to read: Caitlin Moran and Liz Jones. Moran is a relentlessly positive, kick-ass feminist, with a filthy sense of humour, an army of friends and an infectious passion for life. Jones is a self-confessed misanthrope, lonely, anorexic and obsessed with comparisons. Moran grew up in Wolverhampton and writes for The Times. Jones (who was editor of Vogue), grew up in Rettenden and writes for The Daily Mail. They talk about similar issues: identity, …Read More
Dear Cosmogue, For the last few months I’ve read with interest your features on celebrities losing weight, making-over my home and starting my own cupcake business. For the first time, I feel ready to Enjoy My Best Life Now: I’ve spent too long without your revolutionary new nano-serum; but you persisted, even overlooking my non-directional haircut. Thank-you. Hearing about why Mylene no longer struggles with split ends, I’ve started to reassess my priorities. All these years I’ve been focused on …Read More
Busy, distracted with serving and permanently stressed, Martha is a woman after my own heart… 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left …Read More
