A couple of years ago I went through the Church of Scotland enquiry process, I worked through my placement at Tillicoultry Parish Church, a very trying times for the parishioners as I stumbled my way through bible readings with my knees knocking ( I have always been very shy) and with Jim's help (my coordinator) i managed to write my own sermons and prayers and lead worship. I sailed through the process until I got to the selection conference. Where everything went wrong and I got a big resounding NO!.
So I picked myself up dusted myself off and thought that I had made a big mistake and the ministry wasn't for me. Only problem was I did not know what to do with myself. I was working as a nursing assistant at Bannockburn hospital and hated it. I went back to sitting in the pews on Sunday mornings which didn't feel right. I needed to be doing something. But what. I felt completly lost and confused. I had planned to go and study at university I had been accepted to New College, Edinburgh and I had to let my place go.
I carried on working at the hospital, and a couple of months later I got married. (not a spur of the moment thing it had been planed) and I have to say I have never been happier. We have been together about 10 years but getting married was the icing on the cake,
Then My wife found a Job application for a youth worker for Argyll Presbytery which she applied for with lots of prodding. And low and behold 6 month's later with lots of stress and 2 interviews she got. Then they told her that the position would be based on the Isle of Islay (a little isle off the west coast of Scotland) where neither of us had every been. Now we were going to live there. What fun.
I realised that it was the time for my wifes ministry to grow not mine. If I had been selected as a candidate for the ministry, my wife would not have been able to accept this post.
So we moved to the Isle of Islay. Which I have to say is one of the most wonderful places I have ever been, and I get to live here. It feels like I'm on holiday all the time. We are currently living in the tiny little village of Portnahaven, right out in the middle of nowhere. I lay in bed at night and listen to the seals singing. I used to pay to go out on a boat to see them. Now I see them everyday, they just lie on the rocks in the harbour sunbathing. Its a bit strange. Growing up in Kent the most wildlife you would see was the occasional hedgehog, pigeons and lots of seagulls. I then moved to Clackmannanshire in Scotland, L
ots of hills lots of wild life but sadly away from the sea.
I am really bleathering here. So we moved away from Clackmannanshire to Portnahaven. We went to the local church, Portnahaven parish church. It is linked with to other churches, St Keirans and Kilmeny Parish. As it is a vacant charge at present it has a reader who is working as a locum for the three parishes at present. The parish also has a grope of people who work as a worship team, leading worship in the three churches, and I was invited to join. So five months after moving to Islay I began leading worship again. I have found what in life I am supposed to be doing. We have been here 9 months now, and life is still very good indeed. I have my application for the readership in and I am awaiting for my placement. I decided that I would apply for readership for now and maybe if it is right later to try again for the full ministry. My wife and I have also started our own puppet ministry, we have performed in two churches so far ones in Gigha church and Easter Sunday in Jura's church. But more about the puppets at a later date. I will hopefully be able to use this blog to work through my calling if anyone reads it I hope you will comment, Yours with God
Scott
