Andrew's View Volume 2 Always with God

Andrew Robertson, BD 2006

It all started one rainy Sunday afternoon in the autumn of 2007. The doorbell rang and my Elder, looking rather windswept, handed me a copy of the "Blackbraes and Shieldhill Church Magazine."

After inviting her in out of the cold, we discussed over a nice cup of refreshing hot coffee, just how much we both enjoyed reading the quarterly church magazine. She happened to mention how great it would be if more people would put a little article in, even if it was only a few words about themselves and their faith. I happened to tell her that one of my hobbies was writing short stories and poems just for my own enjoyment.

I found they cheered me up, or brought back memories which encouraged me or gave strength when it was needed. I promised her I would write a small story about my faith for the next magazine which would be out at Christmas. At first I thought, “Oh dear, this is going to be much more difficult than I thought. What if I bore the readers to tears? How do you write something that is entertaining, but at the same time shows just how much God means to you and that he is always with you?" I prayed that night and asked God these very questions.

Then of course, he stepped in and provided the answers. Just start writing. Don’t worry. Be yourself and tell them all about it! After that, it was as if God took over and rather nervously, I emailed my first story to our magazine editor. On the Sunday after the magazine finally came out, as we all enjoyed our tea and coffee after the service, a lady came over to my table in a very determined manner, holding a copy of the magazine with an extremely serious look on her face. I thought, “Oops… she’s going to tell me, ‘Don’t even think about writing any more articles, thank you!’” But when she did arrive, what she said touched my heart.

She told me she had been moved to tears by what I had written and it had really touched her and made her day. I felt so thrilled and at the same time so humbled. She gave me the confidence and courage to write a second story for the next magazine and I got a similar response.

They eventually asked me to write a regular column called “Drew’s View” and I have now had the pleasure of writing and submitting articles for the last ten years. Finally, my minister and a few people from the congregation suggested I should put all the stories together into the form of a book. I had great fun doing just that and the first book, "Andrew's View," was published in 2015.

Since then, I have had many requests to release a second book with more stories, prayers and poems. I have had even more fun than last time and this is the result!

ISBN: 978-1389675959