In my experience, there aren’t many perks to being a journalist.

Love my job though I do – I have never wanted to be anything else – I don’t do it for the pay, which is almost universally woefully low compared to what almost any regional journalist could be earning in public relations or any other white collar professional job. I don’t do it for the hours (working days generally start at 6.30-7am or finish at midnight) and I certainly don’t do it for the glamour (the only members of the sports desk who get to watch Liverpool or Everton play every week are our correspondents, and as they will tell you, it’s not the walk in the park it might seem.)

But, now and again, the odd perk comes up and boy, does God use them to his advantage. And praise be for that!

Recently, my wife and I had to cancel a planned two-day break in the lakes due to lack of funds. But, miraculously, the break was replaced by my first travel assignment, to Manchester – the city where we met. It was wondrous. And, better still, we met an inspirational couple named Xmas (I kid you not) and Melissa, a husband and wife who had moved to England from Zimbabwe seven years ago and were walking, talking evidence of how God blesses you when you step out in faith.

I could write pages and pages about the amazing way we met Xmas and Melissa and the miracle that saved Xmas’ life when he had all but been given the last rites while in intensive care. I could but I want to keep this entry (relatively) brief, and should you want to hear more privately, send a comment to this story, mark it not for publication and I’ll reply to you personally.

But what for me was most miraculous about our visit to Manchester was the fact that Xmas and Melissa recommended – and then bought for us – a book called ‘The Purpose-Driven Life’, which my wife and I are not only currently reading but having our lives apparently changed by.

God truly, truly is the most amazing being. Hallelujah!

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