WEARER OF THE WEEK
Week beginning December 18th. 2005
Name
Eleanor Rance.
Where do you live?
Benson, Oxfordshire.
How do you spend your time?
I'm a chaplain in the Royal Air Force.
What difference does your faith make to the way you approach life?
It gives me hope when things seem bleak, and it means I make choices based on
the priniciples of my faith. It also means I know that I'm never on my own.
What is your earliest memory of church/religion/spirituality?
Sitting in the wooden footwell of a victorian pew, and then trotting out to Sunday School clutching my collection in my hand, hoping it wouldn't fall into the metal grating.
For what in your life are you most grateful to God?
A loving family, freedom and good health.
Which part of your character do you feel God has done most work on?
Ooh, that's a tricky one! I have no idea!
Which do you feel needs a bit of work?
Oh, my discipline definitely. I'm very good at doing what I want to do, not so good at the rest....
If you could witness an incident in the Old AND New Testament, what would they be and why?
The OT is easy, that has to be Elijah moaning to God and then meeting him on the mountainside in that 'merest breath of a whisper'. It is my favourite passage because it reminds me that God is always there even when we think we're battling on alone.
The NT, hmmm, I'm an OT girl. I think, though, that I'd love to be around when Simon Peter is there. He makes me laugh because despite his great enthusiasm he is good at getting it wrong. Just like the rest of us! Seriously though, Elijah and Peter teach us about being human and meeting with God intimately.
Is there a particular Bible verse which you keep in mind?
No, it very much depends on the circumstance. But Psalm 77 has always had particular resonance for me. And when I was in a dangerous place last year all of the psalms became particularly significant.
A particular hymn?
Well, I love singing so where do I begin? 'Will your anchor hold' would be one, so too would be 'And can it be', 'My song is love unknown', 'When I survey' and St Patrick's breastplate.... to name a few!
How would you describe your spiritual journey so far?
Like the tide of the sea, ebbing and flowing, but always doing something.
How did you first encounter Holy Socks?
At the CRE in Sandown. We had a great week, I was on the RAF Chaplains' Branch stall.
Which design and to whom will you send a pair of Holy Socks?
I love the baby sized ones for baptisms.
Where have Holy Socks walked on your feet?
Into the hills in North Wales, around the UK. But furthest afield would be my camel socks which went off to Basrah, Iraq last summer. They didn't meet any camels though!
Thank you Eleanor, for being our Holy Socks, Wearer of the Week.
Some baby Holy Socks will be on their way to you for baptisms.
