10 Questions

1.      Name an influential book for you ...

How can I limit this to one book? I am constantly reading. The book I’m currently reading is ‘When the Heart Waits’ by Sue Monk Kidd. This traces the author’s personal spiritual journey as she deconstructs and then reconstructs her faith. The insights into her struggles and the questions that arise when we re-examine all that we’ve previously held true is so challenging.

2.      How do you connect with God?  

My staple practice is early morning prayer in my home office. I have been using Lectio 365 for a couple of years now and find this extremely helpful.  Journaling is an important practice for me.

3.      What would you tell your younger self? 

Don’t be so anxious about so many things – especially others’ expectations. Relax and play more.

4.      How would you describe your happy place? 

I am very contented with my own company – silence and solitude is important to me. But I also love it when good friends get together.

5.      What’s one major way you’ve changed during your officer journey? 

I am much more into ‘being’ than ‘doing’, having discovered the delights and fruits of a contemplative lifestyle.

6.      What do you want for Christmas? 

Time with family and friends.

7.      Tell us a joke! 

Recently my 5-year-old grand-daughter has been into knock-knock jokes so here’s one we both enjoyed: 

Knock knock. 

Who’s there? 

Howard.

Howard who? 

Howard I know?!

8.      Would you rather go back in time or forward to the future?

 I enjoy reading historical fiction so to visit an earlier time in history would be intriguing.

9.      What's your favourite name for God?

The image of God I hold most closely is ROCK.  God gives me solid ground and, as someone who has more than a fair share of falls (literally and figuratively), that’s important to me.

10.  How are you feeling about retirement?

Excited about what that might look like.