Yeah, you’re right.
That doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, when compared with Peaches & Herbs singing, “Reunited and it feels so good”. Nevertheless it did feel so good, while on holiday near Whakatāne last week, to recreate a photo of my mother—from something like 40 years ago. She died last year, on the 1st October, and this was the photo displayed at the front of the church for the service.
It is so full of joy and beauty, health and fun—isn’t it?
Me being me, from the time of the funeral I had my heart set on visiting the exact spot and taking more photos. A friend and former colleague, Rachel Murray, knew the place and sent it to me…
… and so it came to pass that on the first available day, I was off to find the spot and to check the tides for the most accurate time for a photo. Believe it or not, later that very same day the women in the family, younger and older, graciously agreed to have their photo taken, including…
Great-granddaughters
Granddaughters
(with another great granddaughter in the 2nd photo—and a great grandson slipping into the 3rd one!).
Daughter
Strictly-speaking, she is a daughter-in-law—but Barby loved mum and was loved by mum as if each were their own.
In the days to come I look forward to other granddaughters—you know who you are!—supplying the photos that are missing from this collection…
nice chatting
Paul
PS: Incidentally, the narrow stretch of water in the foreground of these photos is the very same channel that features in the Netflix documentary about the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption—The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari. The boats which carried the victims back to shore came through these waters…
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
There is something pleasing about image and word working in concert together, isn’t there? I was reminded of this again with a visit from my friend—and close colleague in Langham Partnership for more than 15 years—Pieter Kwant. the son, with song Pieter and Elria, who had popped-in for three days the week before, have a…
It is clever, isn’t it? The enduring inability of foreigners to spell (and pronounce) the name of their country has led to a marketing campaign, with everything from t-shirts to coffee cups, reminding us to get our vowels right. And if that strategy proves to be unsuccessful, there is always the fallback Bart Simpson option:…
If ‘Incredible !ndia’ can headline a tourist campaign for India, what about Magnificent Mongol!a for that large land-locked country in Central Asia? Here, let me try and make a start—because there was plenty of magnificence on display when I visited last month… a walk My hotel was on a major intersection near the center of…
My records show that this is my 800th post, going all the way back to 2nd February 2006—913 weeks ago. Yes, I do think about stopping often enough and I certainly think about deleting dozens of posts, but I keep going because of three loves: (a) I love chatting away to myself, shaping-ideas and smithing-words;…
Her workplace and his birthplace are barely 60kms apart in South India—but the places they occupy in our home could not be more different. Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur takes her place across an entire shelf! … while V.S. Azariah of Dornakal looks decidedly lonely, in comparison, doesn’t he? Yes, just a solitary book—and it is…
Splendid! And what a lovely day you had. Beautiful clouds but sunny.
Well worth the trip!
How neat!
Great photos – Great family !!! Bob T
Thanks, Uncle Bob — and Heather and Boz as well.
Photos to cherish, that is for sure.