Tag Archive for: trust

To the Rescue

Yesterday, Oscar and I headed to the little park in the afternoon.
He was looking forward to the swings and slides.
However, our trip quickly turned into a great adventure!
An older child had become stuck in one of the swings.😟
At first, it didn’t seem too serious as a few parents and grandparents gathered together to try and figure out how to free her.
We tried everything we could including considering different angles and ideas.
Others went home and brought tools, steps, towels and even oil!
There was a bit of pulling, pushing and lifting, with the thought that… “this might work…”
You could feel the goodwill, the care and our collective effort.
But despite all that effort, nothing was working.
Everyone was doing their best to help, but our best wasn’t enough.
After a while, we realised it was time to call Fire and Rescue.
Within ten minutes, they arrived with lights flashing.
They were all assured, unflustered, jovial and actually quite fun!
Quickly they assessed the situation.
Then, with the right tools, the right experience, and a quiet confidence born of having done this before…just like that, she was free.
It was followed by relief, smiles, gratitude from everyone and all the kids (plus a few adults – me included) having an opportunity to get a good photo and sit in the fire engine too!

Sunday morning thought

Reflecting this morning, a simple spiritual insight came to my mind, that sometimes we are not meant to do everything alone.
One of the invitations of the gospel of Jesus Christ, is that when we are stuck, is recognising that He has the power to free us and come to our rescue.
Sometimes, just like those well-meaning parents, we keep trying, yet the answer isn’t more effort… rather, it’s turning outward and upward.
Remember…“With God all things are possible.”- Matthew 19:26.
A willingness to say …“I’ve done what I can… now I need help.”
And when we do…?
Like those firefighters arriving at just the right moment – calm, capable, and prepared, I know our Saviour will come with exactly what we require, with His perfect understanding of us and our needs.
What might He be able to free you from, if you let Him?

Hope in Extra Time

Yesterday, I found myself back at Hampden Park for the first time in many years.
Dunfermline vs Falkirk in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Fans on both sides were filled with hope for a victory.
Kyle and Emily drove all the way up from Liverpool to see the game!
It had everything that you’d expect from a semifinal match – noise, colour, scarves in the air, and above all that shared sense of anticipation.
We bumped into a few familiar faces from Dunfermline too.
But the game itself… it was very tight, and to be honest… it wasn’t a great spectacle!
It certainly wasn’t a classic, nor one that I will rush to watch again.
90 minutes passed and it was still 0-0.
An extra 30 minutes played out too – then it was penalties.
Those tense few minutes turned into an incredible celebration victory for the Pars!
Unbelievably – they won!
As I drove home, I found myself thinking about how much of life feels a bit like that.
Dunfermline’s fans hopes were fulfilled with joyful smiles, laughter and singing all the way home with their eyes now firmly set on the final in a few weeks’ time.
Whilst the Falkirk fans… well, their hopes were dashed.
They left more quietly, with their heads lowered, carrying the disappointment of what might have been… and yet, perhaps, still holding on to the thought of better days ahead.
So, what is Hope?
In a general sense, I think hope is a feeling of desire and confident expectation that something good will happen in the future, a belief even that a specific desired outcome is indeed possible.
This morning, my mind turned to a more spiritual definition, it is the Sabbath after all.
The Gospel sense of hope is different.
“Happy is he,” said the Psalmist, “that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5)
Hope isn’t a certainty we can prove, but a quiet, steady trust that the Lord, Jesus Christ will do exactly what He has promised.
I know that with hope we can find joy in this life as we trust in God’s promises.
So perhaps, whatever “extra time” you find yourself in right now…
hold on to hope a little longer, because even there, I believe He is still at work.
Where in your life might you need to trust that just a little more today?

Past Blessings, Future Promises

Last week we had two of our missionaries from our time in Belgium and the Netherlands come and visit with us.
Joey de Sousa from Chorley and Lucas Montoya from San Antonio Texas served together in Arnhem four years ago. It meant a lot to have them come and spend time with us – it was such a joy!
Lucas stayed with us for a few days and was able to visit Edinburgh, Pitlochry, and Stirling while he was here.
Whenever missionaries visit, the conversation often turns to our memories of our time together.
We talk about people we visited with, experiences we had together, and moments that shaped us. I think it’s quite natural to look back and think those were the best times.
But a thought kept coming to me: in the gospel, the best times are not only behind us. With the Lord, the best years are 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅.

Looking Forward

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about progression.
The Lord is always inviting us forward, helping us grow, refine, and become more than we are today.
No matter our age or stage of life, there is still more joy to feel, more people to bless, and more that the Lord can do with us.
I was reminded of the promise in the Book of Mormon, in Ether 12:4 : “Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world… which hope cometh of faith.”
That promise applies to all of us. The Lord is not finished with any of us yet.
Some of our sweetest experiences in the gospel will undoubtedly still be ahead.
So maybe a good question for us to reflect on is simply this: Are we looking forward with faith as much as we look back with gratitude?
I’m so grateful for the wonderful memories the Lord has given us, and I have faith that as we continue to follow Him, He still has many good things prepared for us to come.

A Warm Response

Recently, we arrived at an Airbnb after a long day of driving.
It was early evening; we were tired and ready to settle in.
But when we opened the door to the apartment, we were met not with comfort… but with cold – it was chilly!
There was no heating on and worse, there was no obvious controls.
We messaged the owners and soon discovered they were away themselves, but did respond quickly.
They sent us details about how to access another apartment where we found the WiFi device that controlled the heating.
It took another hour or two, but eventually the warmth returned.
The next morning, without us asking, they apologised and there was also a pleasant surprise, as they refunded our first night.
And that’s when it struck me.
Leadership is often revealed when the room is cold.
Not when everything works perfectly, but when something has gone wrong.
In the response.
Taking ownership.
In the unprompted act to make it right.
They didn’t defend.
They didn’t deflect.
They simply took responsibility.
As leaders, we won’t always get it right first time.
But trust is built in the recovery.
Sometimes leadership is as simple as noticing the temperature – and turning the heating on.
When was the last time you made it right without being asked?

Better Together

Back in June last year, I found myself in Rome at a 2-day conference.

After 13 years of working for myself, I was feeling a little restless. I was older, the market had shifted, and I sensed it might be time for something a bit different.

An opportunity popped up in a group chat, and on a bit of a whim, I responded.

A few hours later whilst at the airport waiting to fly home, I had a conversation with Sophie.

A few weeks passed…and, as they say, the rest is history, starting with Aviva on September 1st.

This week, we’re co-facilitating together again in Perth.

Co-facilitation is when two or more facilitators deliver a session as a team.

It means sharing responsibility, switching between leading and supporting, and staying in tune with the room throughout.

Minute by minute, hour by hour, our working relationship really matters.

When you work with someone you genuinely get along with, something shifts in the room.

There’s ease and trust – constantly.

A real sense of “we’ve got this together.”

To me it seems we listen better, adapt faster and learn from each other.

I have noticed that we’re able to laugh when things don’t go exactly to plan – and somehow we seem more resilient too!

Managing energy levels, keeping an eye on group dynamics, being the subject matter expert or even the timekeeper – all to ensure great outcomes, is a genuine joy with Sophie.

In leadership and in learning, we often focus on what we deliver:
The content. The outcomes. The impact.

But just as important is how we stand alongside one another while doing it.

Because when people work well together – truly well – it shows.

Participants feel it. Energy lifts. Conversations deepen.

And the work becomes not just effective, but really enjoyable.

Over the next two days, we’ll facilitate discussions, invite reflection, and hold space for learning. But underpinning all of it will be something quieter and more powerful:

A good working relationship.
Built on trust.
Strengthened by humour.

And occasionally like yesterday sharing a memory of NHS milk bottle glasses, when we were 8 & 11 respectively!

Who makes work feel lighter for you?

Learning to Lead

Yesterday whilst co-facilitating the new Lead the Way leadership programme for Aviva in Perth, we got talking about our own leadership journeys for a wee while.
I shared one of my earliest stories.
In the summer of 1977, we had just moved house, and I had also just finished Primary School.
I was twelve years old.
There was lots of change going on for me and our family.
Everything felt a little unfamiliar a new place, new people, and the transition to High School ahead of me.
That summer I took on my first job, in an early morning paper round at the local newsagent.
It was easy enough, delivering newspapers in the quiet stillness before the day began.
But I didn’t just do the job; I paid attention.
I quickly learned the five different routes, how they worked, and who covered them.
Then, it wasn’t long before the newsagent began to trust me with more, including a few extra deliveries, managing new routes, then stepping in when others didn’t show.
Bit by bit, I found myself not just doing a job but being responsible for making sure it all ran smoothly.
Looking back, I see now that’s where my leadership journey quietly began.
Not with a title or a grand plan, but with trust, consistency, and a willingness to step up.
As John Maxwell said, “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
That summer, I wasn’t thinking about leadership.
But I was learning how it starts, simply by showing up, taking responsibility, and earning trust.
That lesson has stayed with me ever since.
And as I reflect about it more this morning… maybe it began even earlier, when I was nine and made a seconder in the Cub Scouts, but that’s another story!
What about you?
What early experience taught you the value of responsibility?

One Stone at a Time

While we were up in the Sma Glen this week with Carter and Izaak, we got into a bit of rock balancing and stone skimming – it was great fun!
Thinking about it, there’s something about both of those activities that has stuck with me.
Balancing the rocks took me a wee bit of time, and I failed on several occasions.
To get it right, I had to slow down, feel the weight of each stone, and figure out how each one would fit together without forcing it into place.
Essentially, I had to be really still and feel my way, little by little to balance the rocks, one stone at a time. ⚖️
It reminded me how Jesus Christ works the same way with us, one by one.
It’s been my life experience that He rarely fixes things instantly.
Rather, with His help, we need to be patient, listen and take time to feel where things belong.
I know He helps us to find balance, even when things feel unstable.
That’s what Helaman 5:12 is about:
“…it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation…”
When Christ is our foundation and when we lean on Him, I know we can always find balance, especially when life feels unsteady.
With the stone skimming, each of us enjoyed searching for the perfect flat stones.
With the water being so low, there were literally hundreds of great stones to be found.
The tough part was trying to get a good series of skips across the water.
Both Carter and Izaak made some valiant attempts, my own were a little less impressive.
That made me think a little…🧐
Metaphorically speaking, sometimes we’re like those smooth stones.
It reminded me of how the Lord shapes us and sends us.
We might feel small or ordinary, but in His hands, we can move with purpose, accomplish amazing things and touch many lives.
Even when we hit the rough patches, He helps us stay in motion.
Some moments in life are about finding balance. Others are about being sent.
Either way, the Lord knows exactly what He’s doing with us.
So maybe the question for us to consider is this… Right now, is the Lord asking me to slow down and find balance, or to trust Him and move forward?

Doorstep Deals

The doorbell rang.
A stranger stood there offering milk delivery.
I replied “we don’t use milk, rather oat milk” …
Thinking that would be the end of it.
He paused.
Smiled.
Then said, “we deliver that too.”
A minute or two later I signed up.
And now twice a week, a glass bottle of oat milk appears on our doorstep.
No plastic, no fuss, just a thick, creamy bottle of local oat milk that tastes better than anything off the supermarket shelf.
It’s a small, nostalgic thing, that takes me back to my youth and hearing the clinking of bottles in the early morning.
Back to when the milkman was part of everyday streel life, quiet, consistent and reliable.
And now, in 2025, it’s happening again, only this time, it’s oat milk!
And here is the sales leadership lesson.
In the moment I positioned my “no” statement…
He listened, adapted and offered something I actually needed.
Just a person, building trust, one doorstep at a time.
This oat milk delivery isn’t just convenient; it’s a small reminder that progress doesn’t have to mean forgetting the past.
I’m off to put out my empties…
What old idea might you bring back, and do better?

Meant to Be

Back in mid-December 2024, I met Ella Henricksen for the first time at BYU, in Provo, Utah.
She was a little excited about a possible internship in Scotland.
What I didn’t know then was just how much of a blessing she’d become for me personally.
Ella was set to become the first intern I was responsible for placing in Scotland.
It was a tall order with an extremely tight deadline, to find her a placement by mid-January, with the Christmas holidays in between.
The clock was ticking.
I’d found a willing museum in Edinburgh, but we soon faced challenges with HR and logistics when she arrived in Scotland, that left us scrambling for a plan B.
In those moments of uncertainty, what unfolded felt less like chance and more like divine help.

Plan B

I was hesitant at first to ask Ella to help with something so personal (Plan B) – the final editing of my own book, on top of her podcast work and a few tasks for the FoRB Foundation.
But the more I considered it, the more I realised she was exactly the person I needed.
Ella brought great editorial insight, discipline, and a sense of calm competence.
We met for lunch, mapped out what was left to do, and she got to work.
From there, something special grew, not just a productive collaboration, but a genuine friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose.
We enjoyed many wide-ranging healthy conversations, which became a highlight of our time together.
Ella has made a real difference.
I know she’ll miss Scotland, and truth be told, I’ll miss her too!
As she heads back to the U.S. today, I’m grateful for the way everything came together, even those early setbacks seemed to have purpose.
Some might call it coincidence, but I’d say it was more of a God-incidence.
Thank you, Ella, for all you’ve given. 😊
What unexpected help have you been grateful for?

When Angels Meet Again

On Saturday evening, I had the opportunity of witnessing something quietly sacred.
I had taken my mum, to a fireside/devotional in Perth.
As we arrived, she spotted the familiar face of a dear old friend, Anne Crook — and, in a moment that felt suspended in time, they gently embraced.
It had been some time since they’d last met, yet the years just seemed to melt away.
Their smiles widened, their voices softened, and they simply 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆.
I sat next to them.
Watching them was like watching and listening to two angels.

Together

Two lifelong friends caught up in each other’s presence, laughing, reminiscing, and sharing their news, as if no time had passed at all.
Their friendship reaches all the way back to the early 1960s when, as younger women, they found the restored gospel in Dunfermline and Perth respectively.
Not long after, they served together in the District Primary Presidency, quietly shaping young lives with faith and love.
“…they did walk after the commandments which they had received… and they did love one another.” 4 Nephi 1:15
Decades may have come and gone, but their bond, rooted in shared testimony and service, remains unshakable.
Both lost their husband’s, some years ago.
Gentle. Humble. Enduring. Radiating love.
There was no need for any grandeur or noise.
No spotlight.
Just a quiet sweetness, two women of great faith, simply being together.
For me, it was a holy moment and a privilege to sit with them.
In their warmth, I was reminded of those things that matter most, the beauty of enduring friendships, of lives lived in service, sacred covenants and of the quiet strength of discipleship.
Sometimes, the most powerful moments are the stillest ones.
Who are the quiet angels in your life, the ones who have walked beside you through the years?