When working as a Matron/ Deputy Housemistress in a girls boarding school one of my tasks was to produce a strap line/ mission statement for the Upper Sixth house that I worked in.

The idea was to prepare the girls for their future journey,career and opportunity destinations.

I began to consider what would spur them on and came up with the following line….which was then displayed in the reception hall.

People, Purpose,Progression

Life is about people, purpose and progression, sometimes we don’t know why the journey has halted or taken a strange turn or we find some people in our lives who we love and some who are a challenge for us!

Many people are asking what is there purpose in life or even what is the purpose of life but without getting to philosophical or introspective we just have to accept there is a purpose to everything and there is a time for everything as the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in the bible says in chapter 3 v 3

“There is a season for everything, and a time for everything under heaven and every event has a purpose.”

( slight paraphrase)

This is sometimes a difficult one to swallow if you’re a WHY person like me who has to find out figure out and understand WHY things happens and look for the golden nugget or precious pearl to be learnt!

On my journey recently I have been slowed down a little and my literal view or vision has been altered due to the fact that I have just undergone two eye operations, one on each eye.

I have known about the glaucoma for about three years now and have been trying to get the right medication to control the condition, which essentially means lowering the inter ocular pressure which has been to high and eventually causes blindness.

So it’s been a serious journey , a journey that I can’t run away from, I can’t get off the train and go home NO I had to face up to it square on and say OK my journey has now included having to have a bi- trabeculectomy.

Being my usual planning self I began to prepare mentally and prayerfully for this and asked the help of friends and family.

I had to get my head in gear and face one of my fears ( let’s face it who likes having needles in their eyes etc)?

Answer No one !!!

As I prepared I didn’t know how well my eye sight would be afterwards or if I could drive again or how long it would take to recover.

I began to feel like Mrs Beaver in The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe story by CS Lewis.

My children had the whole of the chronicles of Narnia read to them by their Dad at bedtime for a whole year , it took that long because, if you know my husband you will know that he is an excellent orator and story teller! And he animated the stories and had discussions with the kids about the characters and the meaning of the stories and what they could learn from them .

One of the characters is Mrs Beaver married to yes, Mr Beaver,who when looking after the children and giving them a sumptuous tea was bustling around the house getting everyone ready for an extremely difficult journey as they were going to find their brother who had been kidnapped and seduced by theWhite Witch!

Whilst scurrying about the house in preparedness,Mrs Beaver was asked bySusan ” What are you doing Mrs Beaver?”

” Packing a load for us each dearie”

” you didn’t think we would set out on a journey with nothing to eat, did you ?”

Mrs Beaver was making sandwiches, taking supplies, gave everyone a hankie and even tried to take her sewing machine with her.

You see she was the ultimate prepared for anything kinda gal!

My children soon recognised in Mrs Beaver some of my traits and in their discussion time with Dad when asked “now who do you think Mrs Beaver is like?”? They shouted Mum!!!

I wasn’t that enamoured by this so called complement but over the years it has become an ‘ in family’ joke and when I have resisted being so prepared , as to not get my leg pulled about it, we have usually run out of packed lunch or taken the wrong route or run out of petrol.

My family have learned to rely on Mrs Beavers preparations.

People purpose progression

There are another three special P’s

Or five actually….. perfect preparation prevents poor performance !

Returning to my recent journey through Moorefields eye hospital …….. I found that mental and emotional preparation helped me, practical preparation aided me and most of all holding on to my faith through prayers and finding that peace space inside that you can centre on and becomes your anchor through all of life’s storms and journeys is the best preparation for any journey……… selah …… think on , consider , reflect as you go through your journey this week.

From one pearl to another,

Peace and love

Mags