Tuesday 19 June 2007

James





One year has passed since James died. It was a death too early, too tragical and too surprising to really grasp at the time. We’d just met the day before and James, being low and uncertain about some work decisions, wanted to talk about things and pick up some additional advice on what to do. We parted, hugging, aiming to talk the next day and perhaps meet up for a coffee. We ended up not getting in touch, as sometimes happens, and two days later James older brother phoned me to let us know that James had died. At that point me and Anna had already left for my parents some 1600 kilometres away from Malmö, making the early stages of grieving a very surreal experience.

I miss him so much!

I miss a good and loyal friend
I miss an honest and truth-telling man.
I miss a gifted poet.
I miss a passionate Jesus-follower.
I miss a man critical, in word and practice, of a nauseating “christendom-culture” too often prevalent in contemporary churches.
I miss a man whom I did not always agree with, in thought or practice, but someone I never feared loosing as a friend on account of that.
I miss a man who dared criticise my life decisions and dared take criticism himself.


I miss the man who hugged me and said “- See you later then…”
Yes, see You later James!

Sunday 10 June 2007

Off to USA and The Ukraine

Sometimes it seems like everything happens at once! Since thursday afternoon a number of things have left the "uncertain" or "maybe" box and jumped straight to the neighbouring box of "definitely happening".
In short, this is what has transpired:
- On thursday afternoon I found out that I will be made redundant from my job as a p.a for a disabled man effective june 25:th! It has been a journey of seven years as a p.a and a journey of humbling, great learning and social barriers crossed for me! Most of all I have gained a good friend in the guy I have worked with. Thanks man!
- Knowing that I would not be working in july made me and Anna decide on joining Christoffer Wallins amateur big band for a trip to USA on july 9 - 18. Anna has been a regular in their concerts of late and I´ve been helping out with sectionplaying and taking some solos on the odd occasion. They needed to know if we were coming on thursday afternoon as they had to finalize the flight-tickets then. So I called my work, got the notice to leave and now we´re off to the midwest! Funny...
- I also took the decision to leave for a week-long trip to Odessa in the Ukraine in late september. I´ll be joining a small group from our fellowship of Jesus followers as they travel to aid and support a recently started community of faith there. I´m not sure exactly what i´ll be doing, but a good guess is some bible teaching and leading discussions on that alongside some social work. I´m really looking forward to going as this type of work is something I´m very passionate about!