On a personal note ...

On May 5th & 6th I attended the annual HTB Christian Leadership Conference at the Royal Albert Hall, London.  

For me one of the highlights of those two days (I'll keep this brief) was an interview with Rick & Kay Warren, leaders of Saddleback Church in America.  Sadly, Rick & Kay's son, Matthew, took his own life in April 2013 after many, many years of struggling with mental health issues.  Their openness and honesty in the midst of the pain of grief was unbelievably humbling. As someone who has struggled in recent years following the loss of my lovely Mum I found what they had to say both moving and challenging.

Here are just a few of Rick's comments ...

"There is no growth without change,

no change without loss

and no loss without grief."

"Forgiveness is essential for our own ability to move

through those times of change and loss and grief.

As a follower of Jesus I do not have the luxury to not forgive."

And a quoted quote from Eric Liddell, Olympian runner ...

"Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives

but God is not helpless among the ruins."