Hallo

Glenn asked me to post a quick introduction and I have 1 hour before getting the overnight bus to Saigon so here goes.  I’m Mark McCleary and I used to work in the media, news to be precise. But I packed that in at the start of June and am currently travelling. A long and varied journey that has so far taken me through France, US,New Zealand, Australia and currently Vietnam. Before Christmas I hope to make it through Cambodia and Thailand.  I’m a hopeful dreamer who is working out and reconstructing the faith I once had. The last week has been spent on a beach in Vietnam, reading , watching the stars and being lulled to sleep in my beach hut by the ever restless Ocean. Walking on the beach every morning I kept thinking of Pauls rare poetic words to the Athenians when speaking of God as one in whom we live and move and have our being. I think on my early morning walks for the first time I started to understand what that means. If I had to sum up where I am at this phrase from my favourite writer Frederick Buechner is as good as it gets . “LISTEN to your life. SEE it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: TOUCH, TASTE, SMELL your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. Frederick Buechner.

Thanks to Glenn – a fellow seeker after beauty for inviting me here. looking forward to the ride .

mark