David Turner Blog

I don’t know what to do. I’m sure we’ve all said it, or at the very least, thought it. Perhaps you know the desired outcome, you just don’t know how to get there. Reflecting recently, I recognised that this would be a great name for my autobiography (if I ever wrote one). Beth (my wife) often says to me I’m really good at blagging it, which in my job is kind of a strength and weakness. I’m not sure if ‘blagging it’ is the best way to describe this particular gifting of mine, perhaps ‘thinking on the spot’ or ‘ being adaptive’ would be better. At it’s best this particular gift allows me to respond to a crisis or issue as soon as it is presented, perhaps someone is struggling with something pastorally that I’ve never had to deal with before, and it is helpful being able to navigate these situations. At it’s worst, I don’t prepare as much as I should for a talk, or training evening, and can to some extend wing it. Either way I’m grateful that these experiences haven’t killed me (yet). Wha...

Each year, like many, I review the year that has gone and look ahead to the year to come. I have a journal I call my Eagle Journal, where I try and write something every day. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly profound, sometimes it’s a quote from a TV programme or book, other times it’s a funny quote from someone, or a summary of what has happened that day. I love how it has enabled me to remember things that I otherwise would have forgotten, like the date of our first ever baby scan, or times I laughed uncontrollably with friends. We are often waiting for the next big thing to happen in our lives, to the extent that we miss the significance of the innumerable small things.  The review I then do of the year, looks back at my favourite quotes, moments, books and films. Straight after the review in my journal, I then look to the year ahead. I write about my expectations and goals for the year to come, and I will also give the year a description, based on what I know or sens...