0100 - Chapter 100

Chapter 100: What now?

(Illustration: Looking back, looking in, looking through? All of these)

I wanted to say something about the present day situation in the Middle East before I close my book.

In chapter 73 I spoke of two brothers who brought down shame upon their father's head; in a parable told by Jesus.

Now two 'brothers', both of them descended directly from Abraham, are at war, and it is heartbreaking to see all the pain and suffering in this most holy part of the world, which is now an unholy mess!

What would Jesus have to say about it all? What would he say about all the violence in our world today? 

What will he make of it all on the Day of Judgement?  Who will he say was in the right?

I say he will condemn the hatred, and the greed, the injustice, the hypocrisy, the manufacture and use of frightful weapons that maim and kill, the murder and abuse of the innocent, the warmongering and the way in which humankind has become anaesthetised to the cries of suffering and pain.

 Such can be found the world over, in every single faith and country and peoples! 

I would say he will call to his loving arms the merciful, the compassionate, the generous, the befriender of those who suffer, the ones who risk their own life to protect and heal and give life.  

Such can be found the world over in every single faith and country and peoples! 

Please pray for Peace

To me, as a Christian, the things that Jesus taught are the answer to this world's problems, he taught us to love our enemies, and do good to those who hate us.

He alone has claimed to be:- 

 The Resurrection and the Life! 

(John 11.25)

The Way, the Truth and the Life!

(John 14.6)

The Light of this world's darkness.

(John 8.12)

 The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end

(Revelation 22.13)

Jesus is the one I have put my hope in, because love, compassion, truth and the hope of eternal life are found in him alone! And still he calls us to repent of our sins; and he promises to come and live within us. 

He has said to us:

 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

(Revelation 3.19-20)

*********************************

Knowing that my book project was coming to an end, and that Andrew Ridgwick (my technician) and I have finally decided to retire from 'New Day Dawning' after seven years of broadcasting, at the end of January 2024, I am asked by friends and listeners, ‘What now Sheila?”

These are people who know I’ve always got something ‘on the go,’ and I reply to them, “Catch up on some sleep!”

It hasn’t been an easy task to write about my entire life, and how faith in God shaped it! I was very driven, and would write into the early hours, but the minute my head touched the pillow, I went out like a light. So, I would recommend that if you have trouble sleeping, then start writing your own memoirs to hand on to your families. Who else is going to tell your story if you don’t? I only wish now that I had spent more time asking my parents and grandparents more about their early lives.

But I would also reply to those who ask ‘What now?” with ‘Who knows, only God does?’

I would obviously love to be able to spend a lot more time with my family; I would like to continue preaching, conducting more healing services; expanding our new ‘Kidz Rock’ project for children at church, organising more Open Mics, and continue visiting Charlton Court, Battle Hill, where Gordon, Hazel, Carol and I distribute Holy Communion to some delightful golden agers once a month. And I can’t wait to get back to my artwork, and also compose new songs.

I've also recently been invited to do a 'Thought for the Day' continuing at the same time of 8.00 a.m. each Sunday morning on Radio TynesIde.

That’s quite a list already!

But surely the future is in God’s hands! Yesterday’s behind me now. My story has been told. I’ve looked back at it, in at it and through it, from every single angle.

Thank you for journeying with me, through all its ups and downs. Who knows what tomorrow brings, but I pray that now I can take each new day, one step at a time, waiting on God for fresh instructions! (Tip: If I go to sleep praying, 'What is it you want of me tomorrow Lord", I wake up and I just know! Why don't you try it?)

Do you remember that lovely song by Marijohn Wilkin, ‘One day at a time?’ I used to sing it often when I was younger.

In it someone is praying:-

One day at a time, sweet Jesus,

That’s all I’m asking from you,’

Lord give me the strength to do every day,

what I have to do.

Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus,

and tomorrow may never be mine

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

I hope that my love for Jesus has shone through every chapter of this book! I pray the Holy Spirit has spoken to you through it, and I pray that God our Father’s love will continue to fill you to overflowing.

May I pray for you now St Paul’s message to the Ephesians, (Ephesians 3. 14-21)

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.'

Finally, I would like to thank five key people who have played a part in helping me to complete this book, through their encouragement and their belief in me.

Thank you to my husband, Bob. At the very start of this project, when I said I would need to go away on a week’s retreat to get this book project off the ground, he said, “No, stay and I’ll give you all the space you need here at home!” He’s been so patient, so understanding, so supportive, for such a long time now. He has read my drafts and challenged me when I needed to be challenged. His wisdom, humour and his ‘nous’ are the gifts I cherish most in him. I only feel guilty that he has been ‘forced’ to watch football, rugby and cricket matches, day after day, in another room! 

I actually wrote all about Bob's life too, and didn't include it here in my book, as his story is his to tell, so I've handed what I've written over to him, for him to expand on. He'll share it when he's good and ready. 

Thank you to Andrew Ridgwick, for none of my radio programmes sent out across the North-East of England would have happened if it hadn’t been for his skill and his expertise, and most of my songs would not have been recorded without him. He has been my technical advisor and such a good friend. I wish him and his wife Cath a long and happy retirement.

Thank you to my son Stephen, a computer genius, who taught Bob and me all the steps necessary to be able to publish all my work on social media, by way of my website:- www.sheilahamil.co.uk  and also my Facebook. He set me up and got me started, and left clear instructions how to continue. (It must have been so frustrating for him when we kept forgetting what to do!)

Thank you to my dear friend Carol Dixon, who has been my constant companion reading every single page and commenting in such a creative way that she encouraged me and drove me on, right to the last chapter. She believed in me from the very start. I hope a  book of her own will soon come to fruition, as I know each of the memories in my book have served as a trigger to her own very ‘rich and varied’ past experiences. She has such talent in poetry and in composing music.

Thank you also to Terry Patterson. It was his idea of publishing his own novel on Facebook chapter by chapter, that helped me to see that my lengthy book could be more easily read one day at a time, on the internet, so that readers could dip into whichever chapter appealed to them, whenever they found a topic of particular interest. I’m also grateful to him for his friendship and his encouragement.

I must also mention Bishop John Pritchard, whose sermon one morning helped me see the way ahead clearly;  thanks also to Tim Binder for the gift of his marvellous book, which he produced with Ron Owen, called ‘Walking with the Wise’, which spurred me on.

Thank you also to anyone else who has been with me on this my spiritual journey, on the outside looking in, or the inside looking out.

May God bless each one of you as you journey on through life!