The name Condy I have been looking into, finding some interesting info.

Condie


OS National Grid maps, 1944-1991
http://geo.nls.uk/indexes/default.html

Type in search area titled Gazetteer: Please Enter Place Name:
Mains of Condie, Path of condie, woods of Condie

Condy Coat of Arms


http://www.houseofnames.com/fc.asp?sId=&s=Condy&text2.x=0&text2.y=0


    THE CONDY/CONDIE SURNAME



This article was first published in the Scottish Genealogical Magazine ( The Scottish Genealogist), the quarterly Journal of the Society, under the title " The Condy/Condie Surname". Vol XL11 No 2 (June 1995).
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kellykin/iansarticle.htm

Extracts only: with permission from the copywrited author
Ian H. Condie. 1995

    The origin of the name is variously attributed to :-
    1) those families who lived on or near, the estate of Condie in Perthshire (See later references) and who adopted the name and
    2) the immigration of French Huguenots to the British Isles in the 17th century, both before and after the Revocation of the Treaty of Nantes (1685). These immigrants from religious persecution came largely from Normandy, where a number of settlements still exist with the name Conde' in their title (e.g. Conde' sur Vire). As shown later, a number of these families settled also in Ireland, particularly in Dublin and in Portarlington, Co. Laois.

    Among the earliest records that I have traced of the estate name in Perthshire are the following :- The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland for 6th July 15141  refers to "Thos. Spens de Condy Joanii Spens filio et apparente Lerede Thom S de Condy" and for 16th January 1552 to "Jac Spens de Condy". The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer 2  refer to "Conde' (Ducondie, Ducoundie, Duncondie) Servais de, varlet (sic) in the Queen's chamber" and, at Page XVI ...," the clerk of office,.....handed over to Servais de Condie, the young Queen's valet of the wardrobe, a long list of dresses and furniture in November 1561." (These references to the Queen are to Mary Queen of Scots). Queen Mary would also be familiar with the name Condie in respect of her Advocate, viz. John Spens of Condie - Queen's advocate. There are numerous references to him in these same Accounts e.g. "Item, to Maister Johnie Spens of Condie, advocate to our Soverane Ladie, for his fee be the said space" and "Magistro Johanne Spens de Condy advocato".

    This Sir John Spens of Condie (1520 to 1573), was the son of the James Spens of Condie (referred to above) and Joanna Arnot 3 . He was educated at St. Salvator's, St. Andrews, and in 1555 was appointed joint Queen's advocate with David Lauder. He prosecuted the murderers of Riccio and attended officially at the indictment of Bothwell for the murder of Darnley. Other references to the family of Spens of Condie in the State Records include mention of a John Spens of Condie, King's Advocate, auditor of Exchequer and John Clark of Conady who "receives annuity of master of Hospital of St Mary Magdalen from fermes of Perth"4 .

    17th century references become more numerous in both the state and the ecclesiastical records. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland for the period 1604 - 160??5  mentions a "George Condie there.. , and Thomas Condie, his brother, £100 each not to harm William Bonnar in west side of Condie" and again "George Stirling of Ballaggane for Adame Greenhill at the mill of Strowyhill, Henry Neving ... George Condie there and Thomas Condie, his brother, £40 each, not to harm William Bonnar in Westside of Condie"6  : the Edinburgh Register of Apprentices for 10th July 16057  shows a "David Condie with George Wilson, Tailor" : the Scottish Record Society8  for the 9th of July 1601 refers to a "Janet Condie, spouse to John Moncrief, in Carpow, parish of Abernethy, Sherrifdom of Perth" and for 17th July 1669 to a Patrick Condie in Muirstoune : the Canongate Register of Marriages9  lists the marriages of a James Condie and Marione Haugitsay (1st December 1624) and a Christine Condie and Andrew Frater on "Tuysday 20th June 1648".

    Isobel Russell, spouse to Lawrence Condie, in Aldie (25th February 1664). The Register of Interments in Greyfriars Burying Ground, Edinburgh10  , show "Alexander Condie; poor; warrant; steps head (2nd October 1691)", "John Condie; baker; Cheislie Tomb; a truf (?) (12th November 1691)" and "James Condie; a halflin (half grown lad) warrant; Cheislie Tomb (22nd April 1693)". (The Cheislie Tomb is against the graveyard wall, just to the left of the main west gate to the churchyard ). Finally, so far as 17th century references in the state and church records are concerned, the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland11  quotes that, on December 24th 1658 "The Protector (Cromwell) grants to Janet Swantoune ...... the toft of houses in Kinloche, with malt barn, kiln and coble, together with the croft of arable land belaying thereto .... lying beside the town of Kinloche, in the parish of Collessie and Sherrifdom of Fife, and bounds ... the which toft etc were approved at Coupar on 7th July 1658 at the instance of the said Janet Swantoune, from John Condie, as lawfully charged to enter heir to the deceased John Condie in Kinloch, and Bessie Thomsone, his relict, in payment of ... £214 . 5. 4."

    At this point it is perhaps appropriate to say something of the estate of Condie which had probably given its name to most, if not all, of the Condie/Condys referred to above and those that follow. Condie, as a placename, still exists on the 1:25,000 O.S. maps of the Forgandenny area, as in Newton of Condie, Path of Condie, Mains of Condie, Condie Hill, and Condie Wood, all situated in close proximity to the village of Path of Condie in the Ochils.

    The estate is historically linked, first, to the Colville family and from the early 17th century to the family of Oliphant, a now extinct peerage, but at one time a very important family in Scottish history12 . The surname Oliphant was originally Olifard. The first Olifard in Scotland was David de Olifard, who accompanied King David I when he came to Scotland from Winchester in 1141. A branch of the Olifards settled in Kincardineshire. Under King Malcolm IV Osbert Olifard was Sherrif of Mearns, and his only daughter married Hugo de Aberbothenoth, ancestor of the Viscounts Arbuthnott.

    Sir William Oliphant, the first of the Oliphants to achieve fame, defended Stirling Castle (1304) and Perth (1313) against the English during the Wars of Independence and contributed to the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. In 1458 King James II created the 1st Lord Oliphant.

    The House of Condie (on the estate) was built probably about 1545 by William Oliphant of Newton, a cadet branch of the family. The house was then called Newton House. William's son, Alexander, became Albany Herald, and his son was Lawrence Oliphant, 1st of Condie.

    This Lawrence Oliphant, (at that time of Ross (and afterwards of Gask)), married, some time before 1606, a Lilias Graeme of Inchbrackie, the widow of William Colville of Condie. Lilias had two daughters who were called Catherine and Marione Colville of Condie. William Colville was alive in 1601 as it was in that year he sold (the estate of) Condie to Lawrence Oliphant," servitor of William Oliphant, King's Advocate". (Another source quotes that the estate was sold to the Oliphants by Matthew, second son of Robert Colville, 1st of Cleish!13  ). Bit by bit Lawrence Oliphant bought the lands of Gask; Ross in 1610, Lamberkin in 1614 and from 1625 he became known as Oliphant of Gask.

    The Oliphants were prominent Jacobites in the 18th century and Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne, the song writer, is perhaps the best known of the family. The 2nd Statistical Account14 , published in 1854, describes the village of Path Struie or Path of Condie, lying in the Ochil Hills, as containing 40 people in 22 dwelling houses, a mill, an Antiburgher meeting house ( built in 1748) and a school. The adjoining Wood of Condie had deposits of copper.
    The Condie estate at its maximum extended to some 3,900 acres but was broken up by sale in 1881. The old mansion house, a mile west of Forgandenny, was burned down in 1866 and not rebuilt.15  ?? who died on the 28th of June 1715 aged 67. (I have visited this graveyard and took sketches and photographs of these remarkably well-preserved tombstones. The inscriptions are shown in Appendix 1).

    The pre 1855 records also list the burial at Forgandenny - Pathstruie Churchyard (at the present village of Path of Condie, Lair No 6, on the west wall) of Thomas Condy and Jean Greig in 1756; in the Edinburgh Marriage Register16  the wedding of Richard Condie, writer, in South Kirk Parish to Beatrix Bell, daughter of the late George Bell, surgeon in South Kirk Parish (26th March 1718), of Ann Condie and David Clark, Wigmaker (19th October 1740) and of Helen Condie and John Thomson, Servant (7th January 1750); in The Register of Testaments, Commissariot of St Andrews"17  the testament of David Condie, merchant in Auchtermuchty (5th June 1728), that of Mr (sic) Thomas Condie, minister at Dairsie (12th December 1770), of "Mrs Mary Oswald, relect of the same Thomas Condie, last residing in Ceres", of a William Condie, tanner in Kirkcaldy (15th September 1777) and of David Condie, tansman in Kirkcaldy (16th March 1797); a record in the Commisariot Record of Edinburgh18  to a Thomas Condie, mariner on board H.M.S. "Princess Royal" and sometime of the parish of St Johns, Wappins, Middlesex (8th January 175?); in the Glasgow High Kirk Parish Registers of Burials19 , the burial of John Condie, aged 2 (16th November 1772), of Janet Condie aged 9 months (12th July 1786), of James Condie aged 1 (29th December 1777), of Jean Condy aged 2 (29th November 1791), and of Thomas Condie aged 21 (5th September 1792); in the Canongate Register of Marriages20  the marriage of James Condie, bookbinder in Paisley and Elizabeth Mill, daughter of John Mill (11th June 1790); and in the Edinburgh Marriage Register21  St Andrew Parish, the wedding of Ann Condie,"daughter of deceased John Condie, labourer at Fosway, and Alexander Bonar, weaver." (2nd September 1797).

    In all the foregoing references there is a very pronounced distribution pattern for the Condie/Condy name in Scotland. This is reflected in a crude analysis of the IGI records for Perthshire and Kinross which gives the following breakdown by Parish :- 


Perthshire:  c 200 entries, of which	Forgandenny Parish	 30
					Perth 		" 	 52
					Forteviot	"	 31
					Dunning		"	 23
					Alyth		"	 10
					Arngask 	"	  9
					Culross		"	  8
					All others		 37
				                      Total     200

Kinrossshire:  c90 entries, of which    Orwell Parish		 60
					Fossaway and Tulliebole  13
					Portmoak		  8
					Kinross (Town)	          5
					All others	          4
					                Total    90

    These figures show a remarkable concentration of the name in a few small parishes in a limited area of central Scotland22 . The other area showing a strong concentration is in the contiguous parishes of Fife23 , with dispersed examples in Glasgow, Dunblane, and a few other places in the central belt. For many reasons the significance of these figures should be treated cautiously--the preservation of records varies very much from parish to parish.

    In an article of this length it is possible to include only a few references to Condies whose names are mentioned in published sources in the 19th century. Of these John Condie, in terms of Scottish,(if not indeed world), industrial history, is perhaps the most important and least recognised. In 1901 the British Association published a volume entitled " Local Industries of Glasgow and West of Scotland" edited by Angus McLean. In a reference to an ironworks at Calder owned by William Dixon Ltd. the following statement is made.

"This works was commenced in 1799. It was here Condie, who was experimenting with the hot blast, invented the water tuyere, without which the hot blast could never have become a success. The tuyere is used today exactly as designed by Condie. There are six furnaces, all in blast, one making silicon iron. The ammonia plant is Dempsters."24 
Perhaps this was the same John Condie who was "patentee and manufacturer of Condie's improved steam hammer, Govan Iron Works". The company address, 1 Dixon St., Glasgow, is the same for both companies. The Glasgow Trade Directories of the 1850s display his advertisements, complete with illustrations, and his claims to have provided the steam hammer which was used to build the steamship "The Great Eastern".25 

    Yet another Condy industrialist in Glasgow was the founder of "Henry Bollman Condy, Manufacturers of disinfectants" at St Vincent St. around 1861 and perhaps also founder of Condy Mitchell & Co, Vinegar manufacturers of the same address.26  "Condy's fluid", a strong solution of sodium manganate or permanganate, used as a disinfectant was sufficiently well-known to qualify as a mid 19th century phrase for inclusion in the dictionary!

    In the "Military History of Perthshire (1660 - 1902)" published in 1908 by Atholl, there is a reference to a "Lt. William Condie, formerly of the Perth Rifles, 9th May 1855, Capt. Perth Rifles 26th January 1856, and now of the Royal Perthshire Rifles (86th). Son of James Condie, Writer, Perth, he was commissioned in the East India Company's service shortly before the mutiny, and died in India on his way up country from Calcutta."27 

    In 1820 there occurred one of the better known radical uprisings in Scotland , an account of which is given in "the Scottish Insurrection of 1820" by Ellis and Goban, published by Gollanz. One of the principal leaders was Andrew Hardie who was arrested, tried and condemned to death. The last letter he wrote from prison was to Isobella Condie of Stirling, a young woman who had nursed the wounded prisoners in Stirling Castle, "a token of gratitude for her kind attention to him while a prisoner in Stirling Castle, who fell a martyr to the cause of truth and justice on the 8th September 1820". Hardie was executed in Broad St., in front of Stirling Jail28 

    Among Condies / Cundy's mentioned in published sources furth of Scotland, and which have not been researched, but noted in passing, are the following, taken from the British Biographical Index (Vol 1 A-C K.G. Saur 1990) :-29 


    • James Condie (fl. 1837) Merchant, Social reformer.
    • John Conduitt (1688 - 1737) Master of the Mint. He was a nephew by marriage of Sir Isaac Newton, educated at Westminster School and Trinity College. He died on the 23rd 0f May 1737 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His only daughter married the eldest son of the Earl of Portsmouth and their son became the second Earl of Portsmouth.
    • Nicholas Condy or Cundy and son :- Painters 1793 - 1857 and 1818- 1851.


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© Ian H. Condie All rights reserved.
(this article reproduced here with the author's permission)


What is the significance of genealogy and

Christianity? 

This is a work in process, by Mark Condy (C)

There is the past, present and future, where you have come from and the future destination, from which our ancestry has its origin, coming to terms with this, will help us enter into our heritage and inheritances for the future.

The mix of fantasy, reality and the sacred, this mix that can allow a flow of thought that can unveil to allow us to see and understand more about who we are, you are, and the connection your family has in making us as people.

The pilgrimage of the heart, discovering, remembering, learning who we are, and from where we as an individual have come from, the ancestors, and the history, the family tree, the ancestry who makes you the person that is here today. What will you and I leave behind as our heritage that will have a lasting impact today tomorrow and forever?

Inspiring imagination

The music caught my attention it was haunting, drifting into my ears and making my emotions soar as if I was taking flight through the hills of the Scottish Highlands. The memories, my mind drifting to a time I was in those lush green hills of Scotland. Where the lock’s and glens kiss and unite, the view from my hotel was breathtaking, changing every moment of the day. The land of memories and history, if only the craggy mountains could speak the tales of the clans that lived and breathed in these glens, fighting to survive in the cruel but beautiful wilderness. The Golden eagle the king of the highland skies looking for prey to survive, only the tough survive, how did my ancestors live to tell the tale and continue the blood line? Crieff near Perth shire is where my family line is supposedly to have it’s beginning, so I’m told the search this is where the investigation has to begin to put some flesh on the bones, so as to breathe life into the past and discover more of my ancestry.

Like tartan the interweaving of threads of fantasy, reality and the sacred of our lives have to intertwine. The beauty of the weaving like a tapestry of life, bringing color and richness forming us into who we are, our heritage and present reality these form and shape us, past and present influence the future.
It is a wise man / woman who follow their dreams, the visions and desires given from God, it is being patient with God and self, that will allow the dreams to grow toward fulfillment.

This is like the core of genealogy research and discovery, being patient and enjoying the process, tracing our lineage and heritage, is a journey of discovery. Where this will it take you, the destination is unknown at times, most the time, like a parallel of the journey of our lives most of the time the destination is sometimes unknown and  or an unraveling at different stage at a time.

In tracing our heritage, linage, and ancestry, it is a process of discovery, discovering where it will take you, the thrill of destination unknown at times, most of the time this is the case in the journey of life. Don’t be afraid of the uncertainty of the unknown; see it as being allowed to soar, like that eagle in the wind currents, or like the description of the Holy Spirit described as the wind. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” Jon 3: 8 of the bible. Like a description of the unfolding of this book and writing style, cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going, elusive like memories, never sure when something will trigger something from your memory banks.

Do I want to be blown along by the Spirit, destination unknown? The Holy Spirit allows the sacred and the good and bad to resurface, by allowing the spiritual director to take control in our lives, inspiring and motivating us to go on forward, bring things to our remembrance, so as to enhance our lives, the process of the shaping and forming, ultimately toward being better people. We also have to be patient and persistent remembering a delay is not a denial from God always remembering how far you’ve come. Not just how far you have still to go, you just have to start and persevere. Inspiration is the key to keep you motivated, start where you are in spirit, the connecting point that motivates and invigorates you to continue, it just getting started that created the momentum. Scribble what you know in a note book, speak to a relative, start a search using the web, read a book on the subject, not many people can go to Scotland the land of my roots and the beginning of the ancestral trail, where ever this is for you, many go to the land of their origin to seek their ancestral roots because of immigration from this land being scattered around the globe descendants of long ago. The immigrants desire to return to capture the spirit of their forebears or just get captivated by the Scottish heritage in my case, the culture of poetry, history, music and innovation, those who have shaped the world and our lives without us even knowing.


Scotland the brave
Land of my high endeavor, land of the shinning river, land of my heart forever, Scotland the brave.

The next place I want to visit for inspiration is the Isle of Sky, to make me feel mare (more) at hame (home) to visit bonnie (pretty) Scotland to see the Ben = mountain peaks the drizzle = that rain like mist creating that gloomy mist that can last for days, giving some folk that grumpy mood. But without it we would not have the Nevis = the mountains covered by fog, and giving us the dreich = cold damp weather condition, once it has past making us appreciate the sun so much more.

The heather covered hills where men and women from generation to generation have survived on the crofts, with the salmon filled rivers, surviving of the land, barley, wheat. Oats, potatoes and rye, also their faith, and trust in a God that will provide their needs to sustain them. Knowing that man cannot survive on bread alone but by every word from the mouth of God, the word of illumination, a word of God at every season of life, in those life stages. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet a lamp unto my life, the revelation that brought about one of the national flags the saltire or St Andrew’s flag, in a vision or dream.

God is the guide by his Holy Spirit, leading for he is the shepherd and we are the sheep of his fold, leading and going ahead of us each step of the way. Showing step by step, stage by stage, process and progress, by being obedient to the leading of God, for we have a limited sense of knowledge to know where we are in our life and where we have to go next, destination unknown at times. We need the guide, the Holy Spirit, giving an inner pressure, intense prayer so as to fulfill the purpose of God, driving us if we are not yielding to God’s desire, resulting in knowing a peace that surpasses all understanding, a witness of God when we have gone the right way forward in the right direction. We have to give God time, to lead and guide us to receive the insight for living, by listening too, and experiencing the gentle breeze and a touch of the wind of the Holy Spirit. It’s being sensitive not to miss his moving in your life, we could miss out on so much, of what the sovereign God has planned for our life.

Take a deep breath, and breathe in the possibilities, exhale the negativity and doubts, breath in life, creativity, having a confidence that God is for you, having a confidence in your God who wants your best, desiring the best for you and me from the very beginning of time, we have to dive into the plan, being inspired, and allowing the unfolding of this mystery, a passion, becoming revelation and reality, getting caught in the breeze, blown along by the breeze of the warm spring air, caught in the moment when God gets your attention.

Stop, look and listen we are told as children and we tell our children before crossing the road, making sure there is no danger. Do we take the same advice with our spiritual road? Do we stop: to be silent, to reflect, ask the question for whose will is this for? Look: there is a need to look where you are going, know your destination, if you don’t know where you are going, how can you get there? Then Listen: we can do the others sometimes more easily but to listen, you may not get the answer you would like to hear, God saying yes or no or not yet, giving you the advice saying this is the way you have need to go. There is a tendency just to go to God to get the seal of approval, saying this what I’m going to do, I’ve decided, God bless it., and not actually sought God at all. If we have taken the time to stop, look, and listen, we have taken the steps to seek God and our conscience is clear before God, we are them able to cross the road with confidence, knowing there is less danger, rather than rushing ahead into a possible calamity that causes pain for yourself and others.
We can look at our family, observe how they manage and make decisions, about the big things of life. We can learn by looking at family backgrounds, ancestry, their natures, desires, inclinations, their relationship toward God, what part have they played that has had an influence on the world, the community they are a part of and their involvement with in the community and with in their family life. This will be part of the process of discovery of who you are, have been, and help with the course you will plot out for your life!  Ephesians 5: 15 be careful then how you live (or walk), not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. It’s making the effort to discover your destiny, discovery and understanding is good, but if you do nothing with the discovery, what was the point, this is why action has to be taken, one step at a time, being obedient with what God has revealed for you to do, and accept what you discover about yourself, accept your weaknesses and excel in those areas your are gifted in acknowledging they are a gift from God. Your destiny has to be placed in the hands of God on a daily basis, and there are times we have just to stop, before any more damage is caused, stop and breathe, as mentioned earlier, breathe in God, exhale the negativity, anger, confusion, fear and doubt, bitterness, resentment, allow peace to flow over your soul, stop, look at your life and listen to what your body is telling you! The God given gauge, informing you how you are doing, tired, sick, frustrated, angry, or calm, peaceful, patient. Being loving rather than hating, full of bitterness because you are in the wrong job, or in a wrong relationship, or just plain old simple wrong motives and desires, being selfish rather than having a servant heart, looking out for the interests of self rather than the interests of others. Have you ever noticed if you raise a subject of interest in someone, how easily the conversation will flow, because it is an interest and an area of strength, understanding, and knowledge, being and area of confidence, they relax, they are in their element allowing then to glow, radiate and shine. It is discovering and knowing your area of strength, and expertise, because you are at ease when you are and expert in your God given gifting and talent, know they self, so as to excel, gain confidence, have hope, share and serve others, because it is your gift and talent, it’s your passion. You can’t help yourself, you have to give rather than take, because you find so much more fulfillment, because it is a blessing to give rather than receive. Both are enjoyed but which have the lasting effect on you as a person? And molds and shapes you as a person! If you are not serving others with your gifts and talents, you are only existing, and not reaching your full potential. The donation of your life, time, money, talents, God can use to bless others and ultimately be a blessing to yourself and a blessing to God.
What prevents you from going forward, giving to others, giving yourself to your dreams what prevents you from taking the journey you would like to take? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13: 12. Is it that your dreams have not come to pass as quickly as you had thought, or the expectations have not come to pass? The confidence in self, has diminished, fear of failure, the what if’s, if only’s, and I don’t have’s all these crowd in and drown out the expectations and there are many more barriers can be added to the list of hope killers, that prevent you from reaching your full potential. We always have to remember that God is on our side, and more people are on your side that you realize, it is the taking of one step at a time, creating the momentum to go forward, and the potential to get to your destination, and this all starts with choosing where you want to go! But always involve God and choose an aim that you are passionate about, enthusiastic and knowledgeable and have confidence in. For doubt will rear it’s head sooner or later to  extract from you all your hopes and dreams, and confidence, it is the joy, hope and confidence killer. This is why what you are trying to achieve has to be something you can believe is possible, for you to achieve, not your friend but you, for you are able to do all things through Christ who strengthens and all things are possible to those who believe. So the question is what do you believe in that you can achieve? We are waiting in expectation for the fulfillment of the desire being fulfilled and the tree the symbol of life, growth, provision, shelter, the blossom of potential, and new life coming to maturity.
Jesus is always calling all to follow him if you believe or not, it is a call or a summons to new horizons, new possibilities, each and every day an invitation into new freedom or a new creative possibilities, help from God the one who can create out of nothing the something, who spoke, and the impossible was made possible. From the void of nothing, darkness, the Spirit, the “ruach” the one who is breath, wind, that breathe of life, and existence into being, we are the human beings, and we need to be the beings finding meaning when we rest in God, enter into the new creation, daily being regenerated, renewed by the Holy Spirit. It being in that place with God that the desires and insights of God are being fulfilled, when we yield to the possibilities, seeing through the limitless possibilities through God, when we walk in obedience and yield to the dreams and desires of God. Let us walk in obedience being led by the Spirit in our daily life, then there will be vibrancy, passion, creativity, anticipation, and also excitement because of the possibilities. When God say’s something it is done, no procrastination, in the beginning God said let there be light and there was light. God wants to illuminate your life to allow each one of us to enter into all that is good, fruitful, we also have to remember the seasons that God put into place for a reason, and also discover what season we are in as individuals. Which season is God taking you through at this present time? There will be less frustration if you understand the season God is taking you through, trying to grow new buds in the heart of winter, it just will not happen, it’s the time for rest, the ground id dormant being allowed to recuperate. Do you allow time for rest, or do you expect to be producing non stop like a production line, this is not the creative manner of God, but the mentality of a world of productivity and mass production demanding duplication rather than individuality and creative unique master pieces. God allows his one of kind creations to create more one of kind expressions to meet the needs of a world that does not have a carbon copy fix for all the human sole needs, the solutions are only met when his creation seeks the face of God for wisdom, to find answers, humbly going to the one who has the answers, demonstrating a dependence on God, rather that the independent spirit that is taking over the world.  Is there room for creativity, the free spirit, unique and spontaneous, however repetition and emulation is easier and consistent plus predictable and is safe. That is why we have to enter the journey not on our own, but with God by our side, for it is God who knows the destination for this His world, and the part God would have us contribute unique to us. We want the road map and not the personal guide, the independent spirit or pride, not wanting to be taken by the hand, thinking we can make it on our own, and God does at times put us on a long leash, like those retractable dog leashes, when we get to far from our destination, God reels us back in again, giving us room to explore but it takes so much longer and is not the most direct route, and is not as relational wandering of on our own hinders fellowship and companionship, it is so much more fun having a friend with you being so much more enjoyable, less lonely, and able to share and discus on the way. What better companionship can we have other than God, who knows where you are and where you are going and wants to help each step of the way? Like at the very beginning, this would have happened on a regular basis, God walking in the garden with Adam and Eve, God is calling in the garden still today looking for those who want to have fellowship and enjoy each others company and presence. The new righteousness through Christ is bringing us back to a place that fellowship can once again happen; sin is no longer the barrier, but our mind, belief, and desire to walk once again with God and not in our selfish independent nature. Our spiritual inheritance, given to us if we take hold of and enter, moving away from the pauper and be the heirs to the inheritance, being the princes and princesses and friend. We do go back to Adam and Eve in our deep longings, yearning for that sweet fellowship of the past that had been severed off by sin, breaking relationship, like a family feud or quarrel that has not been resolved through reconciliation and love. The mending and restoration through Jesus Christ only brought about by death, a sacrifice, the denying of self that will allow for healing to occur naturally and spiritually, let us enter into our inheritance becoming co-heirs with Christ.
There is always the fear that all our skeletons will be seen that have been hidden in the closet, God forgives and forgets all the past and the future and the present, we just have to enter in, be courageous and like any genealogy research there is a dream of being an heir of a fortune not claimed. We miss our spiritual inheritance if we don’t go and claim. We need to claim what is rightfully ours to claim. We need to receive and accept all that has been given to us and through the blood line of Jesus Christ. His genealogy was not perfect, yet he was without fault. Giving us hope for our future, we have faults, but forgiveness is available, the inheritance given to all who want to claim and receive, but do you want to inherit these riches?
Once you go down this path there is not turning back the clock, you have entered into your inheritance, you have entered into the family, you are an heir of the clan of earthly origin as well as spiritual descent. Like the family estate there are hidden things to discover the good and the bad the necessary prerequisites of the inheritance. The skeletons in the closet mentality, with God as our father, that is wonderful and comforting, not like the cut throat mentality or the murder mystery scenario, family members wanting to do away with other family member to receive a larger portion of the inherent estate. We can see the skeleton in the closet of our lives and worry that everyone else can see them also, we have to remember God can see right through us as if we are transparent there is nothing hid from God and that is a good thing, for only God can deal with those areas we have kept hidden for years, and this is why we need to go to God, and by the Holy Spirit the comforter, the one who leads into all truth about our lives will start the healing process, healing the rifts that time and separation from God have caused, we can’t be in any better hands than God. The wind of the spirit will blow through the areas of our lives that need the fresh air, to blow throughout the stale un-attended areas of our lives, without the spirit we become stagnant. The wind of the spirit gives a freedom and liberation, the spontaneity, of being lead with confidence into the correct path that God intended for your life, being in harmony or in line with the purpose that was intended from the beginning, before you where conceived in the womb, do we believe God had it all worked out?
There is however a different wind that can have the opposite result, you are seeking the wisdom of God, for the right path to take, God gives wisdom insight generously, but when we ask we must believe and not doubt, because the doubt can be like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind that James in his epistle refers too. This being tossed around causes uncertainty half heartedness to second guess the word of God, we can be in danger of talking our self out of the revelation that God has given, of deceiving ourselves by looking for bigger and greater insight, we have to remember that God gives enough insight or guidance for you to take the next step toward the purpose God intended, by being obedient with the small, we have already been given, we can’t be given further insight and responsibility. We have to be faithful with what we have been given, and we wonder why we are not getting any further insight, possibly due to the fact that you and I have not taken any further steps with what we have already been given.
I remember walking along the beach of the east coast of Scotland, just near Holy Island, the wind was exceptionally sweet, a breeze that was unusually pleasant, not bitter cold that can be the caser on most occasions experienced at that location. It was a beautiful sunny day and the wind was blowing the foam off the sea onto the beach where I was walking a froth that was being blown along the sand, it’s destination unknown, having no control, it is a little like the scripture about the wind not knowing where it comes from or where it is going, just see the effects. Or leaving you out of control, but one is yielded and allowing the spirit to have control not resisting, destination unknown but you are in the care of God, not being battered around becoming more and more worse for wear, exhausted and wind beaten, finding it hard to breath. The other is the gentle breeze, guiding you and being exhilarated by the view each step of the way.

Like a picture or photo

A snap shot in time, a moment taken and captured to remind us where we have been or have gone, a time that may not ever be captured and experienced again, the way it was at that very moment in time. We capture and experience those moments with God that shape us and remain with us, when God by the Holy Spirit allows that holy moment to happen that transforms you for ever in that moment when human  and holy interact. We need spiritual eyes open to see, or we may miss that encounter, not even recognizing it as an encounter with God. It’s learning to enjoy the moment, each moment as a gift from God, and not to rush through life, realizing it has passed us by like a blink of the eye, or with each breath we take, we can take that moment for granted, may my / our walk with God just happen as naturally as we breathe and blink our eyes, effortless but complex.

We are complex beings, created by a God beyond our comprehension that our finite minds grapple with trying to understand the mystery. Our families our lives can take time to unravel, and the tale or story is still being written a work in progress.

There are many visitors in the story of our lives they come and go leaving there mark for a moment or for a life time. This is a snap shot of my family, not many of my family members have visited the story of our history this being a scarce event, not many people came to visit my past family ancestry in Perthshire around the 1600 the 17th century and earlier, my family clan had its origin possibly from the French Huguenots who immigrated to the British Isles some settling in Ireland others in Scotland on the estate of Condie from which more Condies probably have their origin in the Forgandenny town or village the area the Ochils.  All this information has come from people with curiosity leaving their mark on the next generation via the world wide web.

I remember my family stories when relatives did happen to stop by, on a rare occasion, the talk was that our family ancestry came from Ireland others say France, but not going any further than the guessing and imagination going wild from tales and family lore. The stories I do recall of the Condy family of the most recent generation, being a large family on the move looking for work, going from farm to farm, my Grandfather Archie trying to make ends meet, by having food on the table, nothing was wasted, if there wa left overs it would be made into a stew or soup being fed to you at a later date. The Grandmother Agnes, my father would say, drank sour milk straight from the bottle, so lumpy it would pour out in chunks, just about like cheese, those days have long gone, many a tale I have missed. All the brothers and sisters together amounted to 13, and 13 was said to be a lucky number for the Condy clan. My family line of Condies are mostly located in the borders of Scotland or the Lowlands a green hilly countryside, small town life, what most of the condies are still accustomed too. I moved to America, my name is mark Edward Condy, my fathers name Edward Blades Condy the 8th child of 13 siblings, a master craftsman of stone, his passion, his life second to my mother I hope, who is Emily Stewart Condy (Maiden name Newton). They met at a local dance in Lauder at a weekly village dance. Edward lived at Westruther at the time and Emily at Oxton. After they got married they lived in their first home at Newtown St. Boswells.

Leaving reality for a moment we stop at the ‘Pilgrims cottage’ a stopping place to rest to take a breather from on the way of discovery, the journey to find the ancestral root and linage of your family name. We all need those places to stop, so as to catch our breath, to reminisce from where you have come from and ponder where you are going, a goal toward the next decided location, this destination may be the only clue you have. However, it is still going forward creating momentum, and when you get there you realize this is where you are meant to be. As some will say the stars have lined up correctly for you, or you have found your God given purpose and destination. The next step of the genealogy adventure is to find who my great grandparents where, oral tradition say from family lore, that my great grandmother was from the Midlothians and there is knowledge that she went to the Bathgate Schools near Edinburgh in Scotland, This was the very last location of my Grandparents Archebauld and Agnes in a council house where they lived until they departed this earth. Talking about departing this earth, as a child I enjoyed taking a short cut through the grave yard while walking home from school. There was peacefulness there and a mystery of those tomb stone inscriptions, the only record of that person’s existence on the earth to the passer by. I enjoyed reading the inscriptions, giving a brief snapshot of that person and also their belief in the after life or not. Many grave stones having reference to scripture that gave hope and comfort to those who are left behind. Time seams to stop in a grave yard as you go from grave stone to grave stone, gleaning tidbits of information and being caught in the artistry of the sculpting of the various stones. In most cases you are on you own, occasionally see a person passing through paying their respect or remembering a loved one or like myself just passing through, seeing it as a way to get home more quickly. We do have to remember we are just passing through this life, are we prepared for what comes after this?

The grave yard id like a porthole of the past, present, and the future, the memories of loved one, or information of a loved one you have no recollection off. The future is altered by how to live life, in the light of eternity, our mortality, and the mortality of those who have gone ahead of us. Those who gave us life survived so that we might live, and gave us the mix of genes we presently posses today. Ultimately it was God who knew us and formed us 13 “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14    I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.” Psalm 139: 13-16. It was chosen of God for me to be knit together and have the land of my birth in Scotland. That landscape, culture, and heritage I never fully grasped until leaving behind all that was familiar to me, and marrying an American lass. The land of my birth many miles away but still very close to my heart, the beauty, the rolling hills, Ruberslaw the extinct volcano that I could see from my family home still vivid in my memory, that I just took for granted, and the weather so changeable, at the blink of any eye, sun to rain and that lazy wind that won’t go around you but right through you, that can chill you through to the bones. Working as a stone mason in my early years, the weather certainly played a part in the enjoyment of the days work, the words of my uncle ringing in my ears, “it’s a snell day” as he tries to keep warm, before the activity of the day, puffing on a cigarette as if trying to inhale some extra warmth, and forecasting the weather from the aches in his arthritic bones. Talking about bones, those are probably all what is left of some of our ancestors it that at all, having gone back to the dust from where they originally came. But it is our job and responsibility to breathe in life, to the ancestors and relatives of the past, and as weird as it may sound, trampling around the grave yard, hunting for another part of the puzzle may be part of the process, it can be fun and crazy and exhilarating all at the same time. Taking pictures of tombstones, a record of a person, a link to those who had a part to play in you being here, it can be freezing and blowing snow, disappointing when nothing is found, frustrating when those loose ends just don’t look to match up or even make sense, but you just have to press on, just like the Scottish weather you bink again and the sun has appeared to warm and encourage you as you find another possible link, that you hope is not just another wild goose chase.

The sources have become endless with the resource of the internet, allowing you to dig deeper into the understanding of your heritage, starting from home in the comfort of your own home, but eventually the need or the urge will come upon you, that you will have to go, save your pennies and pound as well as those dollars and cense for it is not cheep to travel Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, or the nation of your ancestral origin.

This is your earthly origin, what of your spiritual existence, finding your roots will give you satisfaction and understanding from where you had your cultural formation. We will eventually have to go back further that even this to find the existence and meaning of your life, connecting the spiritual need and link to your life. We are spirit, soul, and body, and to find balance and harmony, we need to enrich all aspects of our life.

It begins with connecting with our God, for may have realized by now there is more to life that the past and present, but we also have to consider our future mixing all of this with how we live presently. Life is not all about finite things that pass away like family and friends, perishable things like gold and silver, you can be redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the relationship toward God through Jesus Christ, making us right with God and giving us access to enter into our spiritual inheritance, becoming co-heirs with Christ, all because we believe and accept what Jesus Christ did for us, dying on a cross, we are given the gift of eternal life and all the inheritance that comes along with this loving act on our behalf. We have always to remember to live, not being caught in the past, that has past, we can learn so much, in tracing our roots, but always remember to discover your spiritual roots which will also bring about a richness to your life adding a further piece to the jigsaw puzzle of your life, adding one piece at a time, allowing the picture to become apparent and recognizable.

The process of discovery who you are is a challenge


 
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