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‘The irony is that my biggest scars are from ridiculous things‘

The Guardian ran this article last week : Bear Grylls, What I see in the mirror. I think Bear is pretty awesome and am looking forward to reading is autobiography very soon. Read the article below.

My face looks as if it’s lived a lot of adventures. My wife Shara says I frown too much. I’ve had quite a bit of eye damage from too much hanging out of helicopters, desert glare and ice reflections from glaciers. I got a bleeding eye and my surgeon told me, “I’ve been watching your programmes and waiting for you to walk into my office.” I should wear sunglasses more, but I think it looks poncey.

I’ve got three boys and they’re always asking about my scars. I used to be self-conscious about them, but now I don’t mind – each one tells a story. The irony is that the biggest scars are from ridiculous things. People think the one on my back must be from a shark or crocodile, but it’s from when I fell off something small in the desert and landed on a cactus; and I’ve got a big one on my chest from taking a pizza out of the oven with no clothes on.

I like my nose even though it’s wonky. I inherited it from my late dad and it reminds me of him when I look in the mirror.

I’ve got weird bones sticking out all over my body. I broke my shoulder in Antarctica, my elbow on Everest and my back when I was in the SAS. I used to love that quote from Evel Knievel, “Bones heal and chicks love scars.” I see it more as a perfectly preserved body is a wasted life. At the end of my life, I want to arrive skidding in sideways, battered, covered in scars and screaming, “Yahooooo!”

The Guardian

ShareTakeCare is something that I heard about on BBC Radio 1. Shocking because normally I don’t heard anything good (musicwise) on Radio 1 (except for Zane Lowe). Obviously I am now old.

“Do you take care of your online reputation?

Do you stop and think before you click, send, post or comment?”

Fearne Cotton & Scott Mills have been talking about it and I think that it is brilliant.

Basically they are advising us to think before we post on twitter or facebook. No statusing about faking illness to get a day off work, no dodgy pictures, no dissing online! Sounds good to me. They have some very good advice here.

And for anyone who is bored they even have a little online game to keep you busy for a moment here. I chose to be the lovely Fearne because I could imagine sauntering to work in some of these little outfits.

She has style x I also chose to be Westwood because he is a legend!!

Blogging continually is as much a slog as it is a joy. But lets face it, we wouldn’t do it unless we loved it.

So maybe you have something in your life that you decided to do because you are passionate about it, but as time wears on you have become tired and weary. Lets get your mojo back.

1. Write a list

Write out you things you want to do in 2012 – no matter how crazy they may be. Then you at least have a starting point for working out your next step towards it. Plus you have done the hardest part – getting started!

2. Listen to someone who has been there.

I highly recommend this ebook from the glorious Mandy of Messy Canvas. Mandy tells it like it is and has made me realise that most peole feel inadequate and unsure and the only way to be creative is to go ahead and be creative. Plus it is free!

More motivation can be gleaned from this ebook from Creative Collective.

3. Pray, ponder, draft and consider.

The best thoughts and projects develop over time and consideration. What began as a frivolous throw away idea can, with time, become the backbone of an entire project. Remember that not everything has to be written, completed and posted all at once. My favourite blog post this year came out of a mediocre idea which was deleted and re-written twice before it became something I was proud to have written.

4. Remember that it’s not all about you.

Sometimes we imagine that life is a feature film where we are the big star and everyone else plays a supporting roles (admit it, we all do it). Francis Chan challenges this in his book Crazy Love:

“From start to finish, this movie is obviously about God. He is the main character. How is is possible that we live as though it is about us?”

“You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.”   Neh 9v6

And there is the challenge: Lets do the things we love, for the One who made us and loves us.

Well I (being a girl) would rather be a Proverbs 31 woman than a Victoria secrets model (most of the time). Lately I have been following this movement on Facebook and one contributoe posted this open letter to his future wife.

1. Young couple celebrating at the Bellevue Hotel, Brisbane, 1940, 2. PAPER PLATE AD, COUPLE AT DOCK, 3. Couple portrait, 4. Couple sitting on a log near Timber, Oregon, 5. Couple, 6. Couple of people in technicolor

Maybe this will inspire you, maybe you might want to pray a similar letter or maybe it will just reassure you that there are good guys out there waiting for a good woman. Enjoy . . .

Dear Future Wife,

First let me say how I much I deeply long for the day when I know who you are. While I am living in the moment and being content with what God is doing in me for the time being, there is a huge part of me that wonders what you look like, how I will meet you, what your family is like, what you want for your life, what your strengths are, what your struggles are, what you want our relationship to look like, what is going on in your life right now, and, especially, how your walk with God will bring you to me. I really wish there was a way to open up a time portal and glimpse into the future. But I guess that would ruin the surprise. I want you to know that I am praying that God is working in you each and every day, and that you would hear his still, small voice when your head lays against the pillow at night. It is also my prayer that God would be working in me, so that every day I would be learning something that God wants me to know, in order to be the husband, best friend, and partner that God wants me to be for you.

There are so many things that I cannot wait for. I cannot wait to have inside jokes, to laugh, to go on dates, to sing in the car together, to just be together, in both good times and bad. To quote one of my favorite artists, jenny & tyler (FYI you will be hearing a lot of them in the car), I want to be the person to help carry you when you are weak. I want to be there when you are broken-hearted. I want to be there to pick you up when you fall. I want to be there to share your burdens. But I especially want to be there with you, with my hands lifted high, praising the God of the universe.

I think it’s important that you know that I bleed green and gold. If you don’t know the Baylor fight song and that “Good Ole Baylor Line”, then that’s going to be a serious hurdle for me to get over. Also, I apologize in advance for yelling at the TV during ALL Baylor sporting events. But seriously, if you are doing “Sic ‘ems” with me when we are 90 together, then I’d say I’m the luckiest man in the world.

There are just so many things about our future relationship that I am so excited about. But it is probably the chance to stand on an altar and pledge before God our commitment to each other for the rest of our lives, and then living out that commitment every day, that excites me the most. I cannot wait for all that God is going to teach me about what true love is through you. So know tonight when your head hits that pillow, God loves you, and so do I. This is a promise I make to you today.

Love, Michael

I have not seen Downton Abbey but I here it is charming entertainment. However, this week they sparked my interest by appearing in the papers concerning their beautiful costumes.

Here are the star in this months Vogue, and below is the article outlining some very un-Voguelike behaviour.

Via Daily Mail

“If you had the odd moment of deja vu during the last series of Downton Abbey, then don’t worry – there’s a reason some of those beautiful gowns looked familiar.

Despite the ITV show’s £12million budget, attentive viewers may have spotted that some of its leading ladies wore Hollywood hand-me-downs.

Lavish dresses worn by stars including Catherine Zeta Jones, Emma Thompson and Uma Thurman have been recycled and given the Downton treatment to save money.”

Well look at that! And still they look amazing.

It really is a bugbear of mine when hot fashion blogger seem to blog a new entire outfit everyday. It is unrealistic and depressing for us normal folks. Downton has inspired me to shop my wardrobe and save more cash for better things.

Take note Fashionistas – Reusing is a good idea, constant spending is not.

What is the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

We have handed out our New Years Honours to ambassadors in style earlier this week. Now for some more:

I love people. I could blog all day about inspirational people. I had another blog post written with some inspirational people that have been in the news in 2011. Courageous acts and worthy stories. I researched them and found pictures, cited the sources and previewed the post. But I deleted it and wrote this instead………

All of my friends are amazing and inspire me to do better and to be better.

A best friend who dedicates his spare time to the jobs that no one else wanted for no glory or reward.

Young guys who are tweeting Bible verses, challenging Facebook friends, and serving faithfully in small positions for big results.

Friends who built their own business from the bottom up and work hard to make it a success.

A pal who has overcome serious illness to become a key member of  a mission team and studies with a hope to changing the lives of many overlooked children.

An award winning friend who studies Gods word at a level that is beyond me yet can share the gospel message graciously and simply with anyone he meets.

Another who faithfully trudged through paperwork and legislation in order to offer friendship, hope and help to young people in our community.

The lad who left everything to follow his dream in a completely new town, with new friends and surroundings.

The mate who challenges us late at night over a cup of coffee about our reach and impact and faith.

One who cares for the dying each day, listening, sitting, loving and praying with people who are broken.

A couple who have devoted their life to mission, waiting upon Gods timing and direction.

That is only the half of it!

I know that they all do it for one reason: For the Glory of God.

Who inspires you?