Various Musings

(My 20th Birthday, Prague, Job, Football and God thoughts)

Usually when I'm asked "What's the chat Graham" (What is your news) I don't really have a great answer, most my things are small every day things, thoughts or friendships which I probably don't have much to say about. This week though has been very different:

I was involved in a ridiculous football match; 1 sending off, 3 penalties, 5 different players playing in goals (from both sides), 12 goals all in, 2 goals scored by players from their own half, one which went through the keepers legs and the other was scored from just outside his own box (ME!!), an amazing free kick goal (something you would see on TV from Ronaldino), a fantastic goal scored with a volley and to cap it off I wasn't man of the match, Alan got it, well done to him, he was brill! Sadly we lost to KingsPark 7-5 despite leading 3-1 at half time. It was a brilliant match for the neutral and, even though we lost, I had great fun, played well, really honoured God and was kept safe, which was my prayer :)

Also, this week I also got offered a job at a Civil Engineering Company in Glasgow for the summer! It's a rather large company with great prospects. It's real God send, after the interview I was very strangely conviced that God would have sorted it out for me. With me going to Prague and the fact I don't have a job money was a little worrying, praise God he had it sorted.

I also got an e-mail this week saying I had been accepted to the University in Prague for my 3rd year, result! I have a strange feeling at the back of my mind that it might fall through but I suspect that isn't from God.

Finally, I am turning 20 tomorrow, the 31st! No longer a teenager! 6 months ago the idea of being 20 scared me. I guess it's always been the same. I remember being in Primary 1 at the age of 5 and seeing the Primary 7s (11ish) and thinking they were really big, they looked like teenagers, who 'had it sorted'. It was the same at secondary school all the S3-4s (14-15) looked massive, especially those 5th and 6th years (17ish) they MUST have it together! And it seems the same with people who are over 20, I guess, it appears that people when they get to that age have to be adults and, in some way, have it sorted! Yet now I get here I'm not so scared. I think that in part it is because I realized that people who are older haven't really got it more together, it is that they are just better at hiding it! But also I have realized that I am now in fact a man, where as 6 months ago I felt like a boy. My confidence in who I am, what I stand for and live for, what I am aiming for and where I am going have increased just so much. Also a confidence that with God I can do anything has grown.

The next year is going to have to be filled with loads of ups and downs. This last year has been rather difficult but without it I wouldn't be who I am now. I've prayed every year for the last few years that God would grow my faith in him x2 (the first year), x10 (the next year), and x100 last year and every time it's happened.

This year is no different, I am sure that God will grow my faith in him 1000x times over the next year and that will stretch me further than so far. Living abroad seems a good place to do that. I'm sure there will be times of loneliness and desperation but that's often the times when we learn the most. My hope is not only will I change but people I meet will be changed through me and that this year will be a year I can make a difference! With God's all things are possible :) So with that here comes 20! I'm off to enjoy the last 11mins of being a teenager!

Aberdeen

This last weekend (2-4th) I was up in Aberdeen seeing my friends Olly and Rachel. I had shamefully never been up to the Granite city and was surprised and impressed by the place. Being a Weegie (from Glasgow) I have for years been unkind and dismissive to the City of Aberdeen (can one be unkind to a city?) but I was proved wrong: the Architecture was good, with many good bridges and buildings around, spot the Civil Engineer eh? Also the size of the place was nice, good people, friendly and helpful!

Some guys from Glasgow who I hang about with where also up seeing Rachel and with both Olly and Rache stay in the same halls (Hillhead) it made the thing rather convenient! As always with such things the company makes the weekend and the company was fantastic. We went for some football in the park, walking along the beach, generally hanging about, played the PlayStation, gent to church with Olly and a night out, superb. Personally my highlight was stealing things from Olly's room which he had left unlocked :)

Olly and I went to "Hebron" Church(?!) in the evening! The sermon was from 1 Samuel 20. The spoke passionately and well and I most enjoyed the Worship. We were sadly late :( but it was refreshingly short, only 45-50mins! :D The group went to the "Rave Night" at a club called Tiger Tiger and it was great fun, only £3.50 to get in, people smiling and saying thanks. They gave out free glow sticks and then two ladies put face paints on you if you desired. Music was good and the bar staff where very kool. All in all very impressive and I look forward to going back! Quite a difference from Glasgow: going out here you are at the bouncers mercy, they seem to take pleasure in being rude and obviously enjoy the power!!! If guys don't have a girl with them then you are unlikely to get in and once your in the bar staff and bouncers inside are generally very unfriendly.

A special mention has to be made to all the ladies and men from Hillhead halls who made us all feel extremely welcome, what a pleasure :) Its rare to find people who are so willing to include you into things effortlessly. Thanks much! A few pictures below :)