Stories of Hope Bryce Davies

Ian Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Thoracic Physician and a dedicated Salvo leader.  He has kept fit over the years by jogging and playing a bit of tennis.  He has always needed to juggle the challenges of his life saving work as a doctor, with the many other demands on his heart, such as family and church life.  It's inspiring  to hear his story.  

Raising a glass at a party is a way of saying welcome, I see who you are and am glad you are here with us.  Sharing honestly with others even if the story is sad and difficult is important to do, as people crave authentic friendship.  A famous proverb goes like this.  "A problem shared is a problem halved and a joy shared is a joy doubled"  

Chris Reid is a national leader with the Salvation Army and is also a wife, a mother and a grandma, known to her grandchildren as GG.   Her life has been a journey of self discovery, incorporating times of tragedy as a young woman and then some quite confronting challenges to her leadership.  Chris and her husband Stuart are delightful friends to the lovely Sue and I and we have shared many meals and robust conversations.  

Henri Nouwen wrote a book called "Can you drink the cup" 
It is an invitation to live our lives fully.  Drinking deeply of every experience - both the joyful and the sorrowful.  But in my experience this requires a great deal of courage and the support of loving community.    

Jamie Lee never knew her father and was homeless by the time she was 17.  For many years she has lived on the streets and in youth shelters.  She has dyslexia and a variety of mental health conditions.  Her life has not been easy.  But she has found a place that feels like family at the Salvos and for the last 13 years she has called me Daddy Bryce.  

It's scary to leave the comforts and security of the known way, but if we trust that whatever we leave will somehow be made up for, we will take the risk.  Our dog Maggie left the comfort and security of her mother and the other puppies in her litter, but I can assure you, she gets a much better deal at our place than she did back home.