Day 13: Today's most important moment was a reminder that Jesus' mission was to bridge gaps, to break down barriers, to embrace the opposite. So often he steps outside the expected so as to reach out to the unexpected. It is almost as if his whole ministry is barrier-breaking, so that when Paul summarises the gospel as reconciling Jew and Gentile, rather that being parochial and out of touch, he's absolutely at the centre of Jesus heart.

Day 12: Most important moment was somehow most unexpected moment - answered prayer. Now I'm not big on asking for stuff but it seems that asking matters. Is it because you see answers when you ask? Actually I think not. It seems to me you get answers when you ask. My logical brain hates the idea, because it goes against practical possibility in so many ways. Yet it seems to be true. Maybe I'd better just get used to it...

Day 11: One important moment and I'll tell it briefly. A reminder that happiness and joy are not the same and not found in the same way. I'm not even sure it's possible to have both. May be this is what Marx and the others missed.

Day 10: As I woke I found my misery had been self-fulfilling. If I had not felt so miserable, I would have been able to find peace and happiness. But I also woke with a different mindset. In the night I had been awake and had a 3 a.m. moment of blind panic. As it settled so did I. Life was not utterly miserable except if I chose it to be that way. The misery was not me, and so could be rejected and driven out. It was not that I should look on the bright side, all life has dark and light, but that I should look to the light and bask in it. I was a bit like someone on a sunny day choosing to stay indoors and watch daytime television. So that's it. 'In acceptance lieth peace' (Amy Carmichael).

Day 9: This felt like a miserable day and so I found it very hard to see anything that might be important at all. I had to write a self-appraisal, which must be one of the toughest of assignments for anyone not blessed with a permanently sunny disposition. It certainly seemed the wrong day to write it. And then I had an inspiration - write what I really felt like writing, full of all the wretchedness and misery. After doing so I was able to write the real one, which must be a balanced disinterested view. And that was it - the most important moment - brutal honesty. Did it work? See tomorrow's post.

Day 8: Today's (or again yesterday's) most important moment happened oddly enough in church. I'm usually a great fan of long sermons because it means I can catch up on a little missed sleep. However, this time I found myself awake and moved to take things seriously. It sprung in me a desire for a pure life (whatever that is?). To aim for simplicity and clarity, for goodness and settled-ness. A good ambition I suspect, especially as I am beginning to wonder if I am loosing my faith. May be it is not faith I am loosing but religion - now there's an ambition.

Day 7: It has been a day without much to be said for it. Nothing truly memorable happened. It was full of many pleasant moments: chatting with another Dad at the school fete; sitting with Caleb as he rapturously devoured an ice lolly; enjoying Doctor Who and The Voice with the family. But nothing truly memorable. And then it came. I was in the kitchen sorting out the dishes, when from an unexpected direction the evening sun poured in. A brief glimpse of sunset over the wall showed that summer is on its way and winter is gone. Then back to the rain and cold that has become the norm in England now. But I got a glimpse. And that's it. the most important moment of the day.

Day 6: Today's (or in fact yesterday's) most important moment came at the end of the family film. Friday night is watching night in our household and as many as are able sit down together to watch a movie. Last night it was a soppy flick called 'Fluke' about a dog who is really a reincarnated person (I'm giving nothing away). At the end my youngest Caleb decided to act like a dog and turned the dvd player off with his nose. It took him about five attempts and was wonderful to watch. He's acted the dog before but is now old enough to enjoy the game himself rather than just adopt the persona. Beautiful.

Day 5: Today's most important moment happened while on a gentle run by the river. The sun was out, so I could run through dappled shade, with the sparkling river on my right. Then, as I ran, a long boat came past going down river. It was beautifully presented with a perfect paint job. As it drifted past in the noontime sun, I noticed it's name, 'Far Far Away'. Somehow that summed up the moment - a moment outside time and place; a taste of eternity.

Day 4: Today's most important moment came on the way home. It was the simple realisation that being able to walk home from work is marvellous. I even rather unoriginally thought the phrase, 'It doesn't get much better than this' as I crossed from the green past an avenue of blossoming cherry trees and into our road that runs along a stream. How fortunate I am not to have to commute but to walk for five minutes in the fresh air and arrive at my secluded front door.

Day 3: Today's most important moment came near the end. I got home early from college and found myself in time to help put the children to bed. And that was it - putting the boys to bed. A cuddle from Caleb, a hug with Ethan and a laugh with Oliver. All make up the most important thing to happen to me today.

Day 2: The most important moment today was supper, in the garden, with the family, enjoying the warm end to the day, eating burgers and sausages around the bar-b-que. The variety of texture in the trees, the pleasure of happy company, the satisfaction of a full day and a full stomach all came together just so. Even the children played happily together on the trampoline. Eating together, laughing together, all amid a pretty English garden. Perfect.

Day 1: Most important moment today was seeing the blossom on the cherry trees in the quad outside our front door - quite beautiful. It was just after a short run, so it may be the exercise allowed me to perceive their beauty when otherwise I might have been blind?