5 minutes with Miriam ...
Tell us a little about yourself
I grew up as a TCK in the Middle East before returning to Australia for university. After trying a few different things I completed a Bachelor of Theology in Melbourne, and spent some time back in the Middle East working with refugees. I am currently working at Scripture Union Victoria, in the team that overseas beach missions and summer camps. I spend the rest of my time working on my writing (I am currently getting my second book of poetry ready), investing in various communities, hopefully studying more theology next year, and watching Netflix =)
What's your favourite bible passage & why?
I tend to think in terms of stories rather than verses, so I would have to say I can't pick a verse, but a lot of the stories of Jesus in Luke I love, as One who loves and pursues and heals. I also really enjoy the Psalms- I was recently particularly struck by Ps. 25:5 - "my hope is in you all day long" - as I have been thinking about daily practice of God's presence, and the idea of our hope staying in Him through every moment, big and small, really stuck out to me.
How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?
As someone who thrives in structure but isn't great at enforcing it, it can be difficult for me to get consistent times with God. So instead of aiming for a 30min slot at the same time every day, I aim for 5 out of every 7 days to have some sort of set time with God, whether that be reading a Psalm, reading another Bible passage, journalling and praying, or reading a devotional book. The mixture of variety within consistency seems to be working for me, though I do need to keep working on it, and trusting in God's grace for when I fail! Those diverse but (mostly) regular times with God help to set my heart in a better place to be listening well to Him and to be more perceptive of what He is saying to me, and doing in, through and around me, throughout the day.
What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know?
Oh, that God is kind. That He is for them. That He is big enough to handle our grief, doubts, anger. That He is not just man's God... That we must learn from both men and women to get a full picture of God. That women will have to fight anew, every generation, for equal rights (though it may look different and be easier or harder at different times) but that it is always worth it. That our voices are so needed, if the Kingdom of God is to come.
What's one thing that you love about your local church?
I love its creativity in exploring different, relevant ways to do ministry in the local community, and internationally.
What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard?
That the brokenness of the world grieves Him deeply, and that He journeys our grief with us. That He is not just asking us to 'buck up', but He is in the mess weeping with us. And that even when I'm not feeling all those things, He's still there.
What are you passionate about?
Too many things! I guess at the most basic level I'm passionate about people, about stories, about questions, about creativity, and about the safety we have in Christ.
What do you enjoy doing when you rest?
Sleep! But I also find writing really life giving, as well as watching funny movies/TV shows, listening to good music (currently getting into the Blues), making pancakes, and going for coffees with friends.
