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Starting Point |
| (Friday, 16 February 2007) Written by Rosemary Arnold-Knights |
| Every journey has a beginning. Mine began 35 years ago on the beautiful island of Barbados. Born into an outwardly christian but inwardly horribly dysfunctional family, my journey through childhood into adulthood has been marked by extremely stormy seas, dark foreboding valleys, arid mountains and wilderness.
My understanding of who God is came firstly from my family of origin. The big stick God who was just waiting for me to mess up so he could whack me. Yet even as a child I instinctively felt this was not right. A saint in my childhood church provided for me the safety and respite I needed from my family and also opened my childish eyes to another view of God (I'm indebted to you Mrs. H) a God who loves me and longs to be in loving relationship with me.
As a teenager I tried so hard to run from God as I was so confused by what I experienced in my 'christian' home. Ever tried to run from God? Don't bother... there is nowhere you can hide that he hasn't been! I tried to blame God for placing me in such a awful family environment, I sulked at him and engaged in risky behaviour, I shouted at God, wallowed in self pity before God, whined and then gave in. My journey took me reluctantly through theological college for four years where I came across a piece of scripture in a New Testament lecture on John's gospel. Jn 6:68 Simon Peter answered him,'Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.' I'm glad God wouldn't let me go to continue my journey on my own. |
paul franklin
Hc07
