My Story

 

I am a Scot, raised in Aberdeen, a city on the north east coast of Scotland. I grew up in a large and loud family, went to Uni then began work as a Church of Scotland minister.

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After 4 years at the church, inexplicably my health started going downhill. I went to numerous specialists and consultants, none of whom could diagnose my condition. After years of nervously waiting, having umpteen tests and scans and getting nowhere, I became depressed. I was eventually forced into early retirement owing to ill-health. As our house belonged to the church, we also had to give up our family home.

 

My faith in a loving God was all but lost. I sought guidance from the church but in my crisis, I couldn't find hope or light. It got so bad that I began planning a way to end my life. Mercifully, my GP, sensing things were becoming more serious, sent me to see a psychologist. She, very patiently and gradually unearthed in me the seed of a desire to live and grow again. 

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Looking back, I was deeply influenced by my parents' determination never to give up. So whether it was that, or a very small and fragile personal faith, with the help of others, I slowly regained my own potential again. I also rediscovered the value and beauty of caring for others, especially those in difficulty or distress. And over the years, I have witnessed many people's remarkable ability to grow and flourish, often in the face of enormous challenges, both physical and mental.​

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