10 Gems About Jemma
1.What is one of your earliest memories?
One of my earliest memories is going to work with Dad. He worked on the ferries to and from Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth. The main ferry was called the 'Sea Eagle' and it's still running today. The office ladies would look after me on the morning runs and then I'd get to play with Dad on the boats for the rest of the day. How special being the only three-year-old allowed in the cabin.
2. When did you become a Christian?
I became a Christian when I was seventeen, initially I'm ashamed to say, because of a high school crush. But God sought me out, cheeky chops, and I fell in love with Him.
3. What is your favourite aspect of God?
His never-ending grace towards us. We can be fickle with our love and less loyal than we'd like. We can be selfish and bored with the Gospel. We can even push God so far away that we deny His existence. But when we finally come to Him on our knees, He just pours and showers monsoonal grace over, in and through us. How cliché to say that grace is, of all character traits, my favourite, but it is so unfathomable and humbling that I am willing to be totally cliché and acknowledge such a wondrous thing.
4. Is there anything that you have specifically learnt over the last few months about God, or yourself, that you could share with us?
God has been showing me who I am as a Christian woman in the society that we live in. As Christian women we try to find our way through the world, holding onto the image of a woman, a mother, a lover, and wife in God's heavenly eyes. What does this look like to our everydays? How do we set a different standard that allows us the freedom to relate to the innocence of the traditional role and yet be this dynamic Xena warrior princess, with intellect, kids, puppies and time to take up an obsession with the gym and Campos coffee?
The everyday choice to love and follow God's direction is what I've had to learn. Simple prayers, simple devotionals. With simple love comes discipline, which in turn becomes deeper commitment, which becomes holy wisdom, which then begins to change hearts. I feel that as a Christian who loves, my heart bleeds to have good relationships with people. How rewarding yet influential you can be with secrets God enriches you with to share in your relationships. Sorry but AMEN ladies... AMEN.
5. As a ‘newlywed’ what are some things you have learnt in this different stage of your life?
How you grow up quick smart in the crash course of how marriage works. Jonathan and I have been married since February 6 this year and so far it's been a big blessing and a big slap in the face. As much as I grumble to admit it, I think Jono has adapted better than myself to this marriage caper. I can be very stubborn and often pretend like I know what's going on until I finally get what's really going on and of course it blows up royally in my flustered face. Being the patient and equally stubborn person Jonathan is, he could see all the holes and there were lots ladies, I'm talking like the holes found in my lame attempt to knit a scarf. You know those holes you could fit a leg through so it then becomes a reject leg warmer. How awkward.
That's what it was at first, awkward. Then chuck in some four year old type arguments on my behalf, and a pinch of learning that it doesn't count in Jonathan's books if I wash the dishes and don't immediately put them away (I don't get it either). But add a big fat arm full of understanding and forgiveness, hooray, we have worked through some of our expectations of each other.
I've learnt that I can enjoy making a new but still average meal (not amazing yet but working on it) while still loving pretending to be a Led Zepplin groupie in my living room and watching Skateboarding movies then applying the bad ass attitude in my stride on my walk to pick up the milk.
6. What does an average day in the ‘life of Jemma’ look like?
An average day in the life of Jem isn't as exciting as I would ultimately like, you know, get up looking like a goddess to your husband who happens to secretly be Spiderman, no? Just me?
Press snooze at seven, get up at seven fifteen. Sometimes, when I'm lucky, I'll get driven to work and on those days we head down the road to Dee Why for a coffee before I go to work at Bridgepoint Pharmacy. Afterwards, catch germ-infested bus home or better, get sat on until the next stop by unaware stranger on this so-called bus. Don't be afraid, I'm sure it’s just because I'm small. True story. If Jono's at work and no plans then glass of very sweet wine with dinner and 'The Vicar of Dibley' as company until I get tucked into bed off the couch.
7. Where would you like to see yourself in five years time?
I'm someone who likes to gain wisdom and maturity at the fastest pace possible, although I'm aware at how very unrealistic that is. I strive to learn more about anything; literature, dance, films, God's teaching, new make-up products. I don't see the point, quite frankly, in fluffing your way through life moderately loving, vaguely passionate, feeling stuck. How powerful passion is, how it reduces me to tears every time I think of how passionate I am about the things closest to me, my heart bursts. Need a sec to pick up the overflow, OK, well I'd like to think that I had finished the degree I'm petrified of starting by then. I'd love to be living somewhere new, France maybe? Totally smitten with husband. Developed even stronger relationships. Learnt to deal with attitude. Thinking about putting a bun in the oven. It's OK I'm only recently twenty-two, got a bit of time.
8. What do you live for? What are some of your dreams, passions etc?
I live for God, even though I'm not very good at expressing it at times, I live for You ultimately God.
I live for relationships. Absolutely love and hate them. Mostly love though.
I live for encouragement. Giving it I mean, although receiving it to is nice. I love re-affirming something delicious about someone that they may or may not know. My favourite is when they don't see how God's beauty has worked through their beauty. That kind of encouragement is priceless.
I live for music. I cried at a concert once because a friend caught one of the drum sticks from a Swedish band called 'The Hives', and then gave it to me. I live and breathe the stuff. I think it interlinks with the fact that I'm a dancer. I'm in love with the intensity of 'Bowie',' T-Rex', 'Led Zepplin' and 'The Kinks', not forgetting the beauty of 'Fleetwood Mac' and my favourite, the one and only 'Neil Young'.
I love to love and I most likely love you too.
9. What, in your opinion, is the best part of being part of Pittwater Uniting, and the women that you are friends with?
It has taken me two years to properly settle into life in Sydney and in Pittwater. I came here from Perth, a bit of a know it all, cool kid, wild child, and therefore had the very bad misconception that all the girls in this small-ish church were too girly for my liking and I had written them all off. Really I was a scared little girl of twenty, who had come from a life of pretending to know how to keep my head above filthy water. I admit that I couldn't relate to a single soul in the experiences I'd had but once I gave that to God, partially of course at first, I became seduced by their utter beauty in their wisdom. My favourite part of the friendships I have formed is that they are brutally human. I don't care for insincerity and flattery; they mask insecurity and an all too familiar cool kid vibe.
I crave honesty, and although it has sometimes been awkward, I can't thank them enough for being so vulnerable before me and trusting their hearts with me. I just hope that this infectious behaviour continues through all generations in our mighty church. How else are we supposed to rise to the challenge of being strong women without strong bonds within ourselves as well as others?
10. How would you describe yourself?
Honest, Awkward, Cheeky, Passionate, Lover, Aggressive, Foam Finger No#1 Fan of Jesus, Rebellious, Creative, Vintage at Heart.
