Total darkness. Can’t see a thing. Stumbling and bumbling around. Lost. Confused. Someone shouts something over there. Someone else screams something else over there. Lots of shouts and screams. Lots of noise but no illumination. Look around but nothing. Look down, nothing still. That’s why we look up. Look up to see, if somewhere above […]
Read More Dryden Shorts – Light To Rule The NightThis did not start out with me at my best. I was so miserable. I stopped looking after myself. I rarely went out and when I did I avoided people as much as possible. If I didn’t have to talk to anyone all day, that would be a good day. I ignored phone calls, emails […]
Read More The Breaking of DayFor a long time, the darkness was all I knew. It was oppressive, it appeared to be all pervasive. I didn’t think there was any other way other than the darkness. Whenever anyone offered a glimmer of something different, it just turned out to be a disappointment like everything else. When I thought there was […]
Read More Don’t Be Afraid Of The DarkRecently I had another profound appreciation that in the depths of my low feelings brighter shines the light. I don’t recognise it all the time. The lows I get sometimes can really be debilitating. It can be a struggle to pray or to engage meaningfully even with my dearest and dearest. There are certain symptoms […]
Read More Brighter Shines The LightRecently I was reminded of the joy of tens. With the theme of this month, it made sense to celebrate the occasion by considering some benefits (around ten) of the Light. The Light is Bright – I love things that are brilliant and the Light is literally that in more than one sense of the […]
Read More One Or Two (Or Ten) Benefits of The LightYou know what it’s like to hit the depths. I remember coming across a song about being lifted up. The writer talks of a state where shame and guilt was completely overwhelming. That was compounded by being in a society where you’re an outcast if there’s any sign of failure. Under such pressures, the darkness […]
Read More From Shades Of Night“Hello?” “Hello.” “Is this Mr Christopher Dryden?” “Yes, it is.” “Hello I’m calling in response to your recent job interview. We were really impressed with your responses and we would like to invite you to take on the position, would this be of interest to you?” What a call! I am not a big fan […]
Read More The First CallWhat often triggers it is a visit to the school. There they all are in their uniform, diverse in shape, size, features and ethnicity though they are, they are all in a uniform and are expected to abide by the principles of the school. In itself there’s not too much disturbing about that even if […]
Read More ConformedWhen the service was over, the guy next to me was interested in how I’d made notes of the sermon. He politely asked to see them. I had no problem sharing them. This was the basis for a conversation about my own journey in coming to Christ. What I enjoy about my story is that […]
Read More Out of the DarknessBetween 2006 and 2009 I was relatively active in aspects of community life in areas of Stoke-on-Trent. The church fellowship to which I played a role in various aspects of community life whether supporting city-wide carnivals, running community centres, supporting community initiatives, running training sessions for the disadvantaged, assisting with luncheon clubs for the elderly, […]
Read More Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is – Darkness and Light
Life With CD 