David Holdsworth's Blog: Devotion, page 3

Walk for Autism

As some of you may know I am autistic. I have chosen to walk this year for Autism Initiatives as being late diagnosed I didn't get much help except via No.6 One Stop Shop who are part of Autism Initiative. Two of my kids are also on the waiting list to see if there is neurodiversity in them to. So the matter is close to my heart.        I'm walking for......
Walk for Autism is a fundraising challenge run by Autism Initiatives Group. Autism Initiatives Group is working towards a world where every autistic person has the support they need to thrive, every opportunity to fulfil their potential and a supportive, inclusive community to live in.
I'll be walking a total of 10,000 steps a day 26th March and 2nd April to raise money for this charity.
Any donation big or small is greatly appreciated 😊

Queries on Calling

It is good to present our hearts with queries, especially when discerning a sense of calling.
In Acts 1:20-24 Judas was gone, and a new mission was therefore available. 
In your life, what mission is God calling you to do? 
Certainly, it is to become more like Jesus. We are also to be doers of the word, putting our hands to the plough. But, when discerning specifics here are some possible queries:
Do you accept you have the call of God on your life? Do you pray (see v 24)?Do you live in in community with other believers?Do you pay attention to what moves your heart?Do you listen to prophetic words from or tested by scriptures?Do you follow the favour God has on your life?Do you realise you are truly loved?
Sometimes stepping into a call can be as simple as serving under someone elses mission to start with. Particularly if you don't know what you are called to yet (e.g, these two men were known to the disciples already v21 so presumably would have already been serving in some way). Sometimes it is obvious what you must do. Either way, pray and walk as Enoch (of OT fame) walked. Walk with God. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog of:Free Verse, Stories and Devotions.(A minimalist blog of creative writing).
10 Things About MeI am autistic.  I am a follower of Jesus. I am pro-peace.  I live in Scotland.  I like walking and nature. I like writing free verse. I work in an outdoor early years nursery. I have a speciality in work with ASN. I am not always right about things. I am still learning. 
 

Ashes

"Lord, you have been our dwelling-place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people back to dust,  saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’ A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night." Psalm 90:1-4 (NIVUK)
A colleague today was speaking about her grief and losses and how they linger on even as life moves on. We both observed that we do indeed live in brevity. We are like puffs of smoke, vapour that appears for a time, then fades away. We are ash and dust. Today is ash Wednesday. Eastern Orthodox Christians, among others, call Lent a season of ‘bright sadness’. It is a time of repentance, a time to recognise our mortality, and a time to think on Christ's death on the cross. It can be a painful time, but the light still shines. In Him, we have our dwelling-place. In Him, we find our hope.
"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord."   Psalm 113:7,9 (NIVUK)

Time to give up

Lent is often seen as a time of self-sacrifice, a time to give up something costly or even a pet sin that needs laid upon the proverbial altar and put to death. I have been thinking what I could give up this year. 
I have tried a few things over the years, from turning vegetarian to ditching social media, with varied success. 
Pondering what is toxic for me at this time and what needs given up during lent and even beyond has brought various ideas. 
I have seen various no yell challenges on parenting blogs and I do feel that would help on some level. But, even deeper than that is something I have struggled with more and more, anger. 
It is not wrong to be angry as such. Jesus was pretty angry when he flipped those tables. But, it is wrong to sin in anger or to be angry unjustly. God is slow to anger and rich in mercy, we should imitate that. I want to be better at that for sure.
I do have knowledge of myself now and know some, though admittedly not all, of my anger can be traced to sensory triggers and other autistic traits. Getting to the root of it gives me a better idea of things I should give up. 
I got sucked into doom scrolling social media in my spare time. This adversely impacted me (in the same way that pandemic facts and propaganda were used as psychological warfare that damaged my mental health years ago). I already tried to ditch certain obvious culprit social platforms and tried new ones only to find even more toxic attitudes, traits and ideals. It is rife among social users of all sorts of leanings it seems. Thinly veiled talk of the "Austrian Painter", and blatant support for using children as collateral damage or aborting for the purposes of eugenics being some prime examples of how sucky it has all been. There is also so much violent clips and the algorithm loves to trap people in a loop, showing more and more similar toxic content. I think it may have been C.S.Lewis or some other notable Christian who said to beware of what has entry to our "eye gate". 
The amount of time spent on screens, particularly handheld ones, is also triggering for me. Even when I'm doing neutral or good stuff online it can be a bit much for my senses. One thing I have done of late is uninstall most of my social apps and turned my blog into a minimalist blog that is easier on the eyes and less cluttered. This is only a step though, in the right direction.
Ultimately I am planning a 40 day fast from anger and some of its roots in me. This means a fast on some level from digital technology and the inclination (related or otherwise) to raise my voice.
To that end I will try to soften my voice, which as a fellow autistic mentioned, is good practice anyway, especially in homes with babies. 
I will also put my phone into survival/battery saver mode. On my device in practice this means I will put functional things like the messenger on my screen, probably the camera (given that is a less toxic hobby) and possibly my finch or notes app as that helps me with routines on the main screen. The rest will be hidden unless desperately needed. 
I will also aim to abstain from social media entirely during this time. This will free me to read more or explore other hobbies. I haven't decided if I will keep blogging yet during this fast or just use my notes app and post later. I can circle back to that one.
I know I'm basically taking on a bunch of ideas all at once for my lent and I have no doubt this is going to be hard, maybe even hurt a bit, but it is so needed. Hopefully, by the end of it I will be resest on some level and I can join with you in resurrection joy praising our resurrect saviour. Pancakes, the Ashes (proverbial or literal) and we are on our way. So have a blessed Lent and Easter season. See you on the other side. 

Wilderness Voices

Nonviolent relentWorld of bloodstained wariorsWilderness voices 

How quickly our lives go before us

I am autistic, so there are often phrases that go around in my head for literal years. One is "How quickly our lives go before us." An old elder at a free church on the Island of Skye where I was raised used to say it. The older I get, the more I realise how wise this elder was.

Random Thoughts

1. The last hymn Jesus sung at passover is thought to have been the Hallel (Psalm 118).
2. We need a global solution that is neither empire nor revolution and certainly not war. 
3. Sin is the failure to make a choice for good. In every moment we have a choice. Choose wisely. 
4. Jesus the better Adam passes the test in a different garden.
5. "You wouldn't talk that way to God, so why you talking that way to others?"
6. One of the most radical things we can do in a world in turmoil is to go home and love our families.
To be continued....

Colouring In - Lovely Couple

 

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