Pete Resigns - It's Official!

Grandad
Grannie
Audrey and Pearl
Duncan Woollerton

I don't blog on Sundays so each Monday will feature What I Did At The Weekend.

Yesterday in all the Methodist Churches in Burnley and Pendle the following statement was read out:


"Pete McCabe has resigned as the Evangelism Enabler for the Burnley and Pendle Circuits so that he can use his strengths and gifts to serve God in other ways.
We thank him for his friendliness and commitment and wish him God's richest blessing for the future."

So it's official. Pete has resigned.

How does Pete feel? To be honest, deep down I wonder if I can ever work for anybody again.

Looking back over the last five years since I first went to the Doctor with Depression I have been struggling to cope. But GOD IS ABLE!

Yesterday at IMC Nick Paterson read out a poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "Who Am I?" It was poignant.

One of the sentences in Nick's sermon hit me like an arrow. "The adventure of faith begins at your point of resignation." Wow!

At lunchtime we entertained Audrey's Mum and Dad - or Grandad and Grannie as they are known to the family. You can see their pictures.

In the evening we had supper with Pearl and Duncan Woollerton. You can see them too. What more could you want?! They helped us to think through the situation and look to the future. God bless them.

Peter Parker - Who are you?!

This question - Who are you? - was hanging over me yesterday. It was first uttered by the counsellor I saw at the University in the afternoon. I was struck dumb. I found it difficult to answer. It was like having a mirror lifted up and held before me, but I didn't want to look into it.

But I had to. And I have to.

As I rode the bus to Morecambe to watch Spiderman 3 I knew the film would cover the same ground. And so it did. Peter Parker has to discover his true identity - Who are you? It's the question that his girlfriend MJ asks at the lowest point in their relationship. His reply: "I don't know!" sums up mine at the moment. Go and see the film. It's quirky but it asks a lot of questions.

Finally I got a bus to Lancaster for a meal with the men from IMC. But there was only Ray and his not-yet-believing neighbour there. But we had a great time.

At the top you can see the view I had from the bus stop in Morecambe.

Travel @ 3.95

View from the bus
Alhambra
Trinity


Was it God or was it Fors (chance) ? I got to Lancaster Train Station yesterday just in time to see the X1 bus setting off for the University without me on it. So I decided to eat my sandwiches and catch a later one. I had just finished when Nathan rang my mobile phone and asked me to go to Morecambe to pick up tickets for the play-off match on Monday.





So I caught a bus from the bus station and bought a Bay Rover ticket. This cost £3.95, exactly the same as my rail ticket. Is there something about transport that stops at this number?

I got off at Christie Park, bought the tickets, got back on to another bus to the Battery and went on to the sands.

Then I walked along looking at the sights, including the old Trinity Church and the Alhambra. The old Methodist Church looked like an anachronism so it's a good job it closed down. The old theatre is still in use as a nightclub.

It was great, walking along the Prom listening to the Carpenters on my ipod as they sang "I'm on Top of the World" because I did feel great in the sunshine. Then they started with "Ticket to Ride" and I thought about my £3.95 tickets.

I always watch Spider Man when on the day of its release but I thought I couldn't this time as I am having a Chinese with the lads from IMC. But then I thought, what about the afternoon? So I bought a ticket for tomorrow.





Then it was back on a bus to the University. The first stage was from West End Morecambe to Lancaster Bus Station and the passengers were mainly school kids from Morecambe High. The second stage was from the Bus Station to the University and the passengers were mainly students. But one lad from Morecambe High travelled all the way to the outskirts of Lancaster.





Then it was to the afternoon Ruskin seminar which was all about Fors - the outside chance. It was a bit over my head. But it means I have to aim high, so that's good. The very last comment likened Fors Clavigera to a blog. Am I the new Ruskin?!!!

And the doctor said....

So I went to the Doctor and he said:

1 I could have a month sick note and take time out

2 He would write a letter to support my application for Disabled Students Allowance

3 It is too early to talk about the future (or Finding my way home) so he told me to make an appointment in three weeks time. So I am due back at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday 24 May.

What will God have done by then, I wonder.

Beautiful Burnley

What! Beautiful Burnley? Who's he kidding?!

No. It's true. I spent this afternoon wandering in Towneley Hall and its beautiful park in Burnley. I have worked in that town for two and a half years and never knew what a glorious park it contained.

You can see some of the pictures I took.

So if you go to Burnley prepare to be surprised!

Finding out more

I went to Student Support at Lancaster University and spoke to the Diability Officer today (this is not her!).

She advised me to see my doctor (as everybody does) and to apply for Disabled Student Allowance. She said that because I had been depressed and on medication for years that I would qualify. All I need is a letter from my GP.

So I filled in the form and checked a few things with Lauren in her office. While we were there we looked at the picture above. So I was with Lauren in her office looking at a picture of Lauren in her office. It was surreal!

Then I called in at the CAB Lancaster. Guess what advice I got: go and see your doctor. I thought: every road leads to Dr Howlett!

The last time I saw him I told him that I could manage for a year on one pill a day. Now my life's fallen apart and I've got to go crawling back! God give me the grace to do it!

Moving on...

I went to see my boss Andrew Turner yesterday and talked to him about my future. He says that the two Circuits will pay me two months salary. That's a generous answer to prayer.

We also drew up a statement to be read in all the churches on Sunday.

I then went to see Peter Capstick at Shekinah. We prayed and sought the Lord together. He has been my greatest friend and support throughout this adventure. God bless him.

I had to ring Mike Bossingham and tell him I wouldn't be involved with his Family Friendly Weekend in Burnley and Pendle any more. That was hard, for him and for me. But he's coming up to Ingleton soon, so I will see him then. He has been a great help and support to me too.

Yesterday evening was the IMC Intercession Group. There was a real sense of unity there. I felt it was like the old Band meetings from long ago in Methodism.