Thanks and Goodbye...

Well there's a title that will encourage people to read!

Just thinking and working through the whole #40acts task for today and yesterday and it felt that those two expressions sum up well what I need to be doing. 

So quite apart from those people who I needs to say thank you to yesterday because they made a meal or coffee or some other provision made - and I hope I thanked them well and sincerely, I was certainly mindful of trying to - I wanted to look back and thank through this medium those who have made me who I am. Some have influenced my mental development or physical progress, many have helped me grow spiritually. Each of these people have my admiration, my love and most importantly my heartfelt thanks:

David and Margaret Wyles 

Joyce Smith 

Catherine Wyles

Linda Hasking

Kath and Derek Dolling

Alan Bateman

Steve Pallant

Estelle Blake

John and Freda Larsson

George Pilkington 

Wendy and Melvyn Knott

Jack Tutton

Peter and Brenda Ward

Mike and Joan Parker

I am sure there are others but these spring immediately to mind and I am grateful from the depth of my heart and thank God for these people.

Now what about the 'Goodbye '?

I like nice things - I have some very nice things - but they are only things. Over the next few days I am going to identify some things to move on - maybe as gifts to those who may appreciate them, maybe into a charity shop - sharing what is valued by me is a good way of letting others know that they are more precious than all the stuff in the world.

Thank you!

Thankfulness. Appreciativeness. Gratitude.

Saying "thank you" is something I do every day many times. When someone opens a door, when someone makes me a cup of coffee, when I receive service in a shop or restaurant. Often in emails to those in ministry with me. Thank you is part of my 'staple verbal diet'.

I think that whenever I say it I really mean it. But sometimes it may be an automatic reaction - and it should be that whenever someone does something I appreciate that I do say the words - but maybe I should just hit my internal pause button so that I am really registering what they have done and why they have done it.

Sometimes people do things simply because they happen to be in the right place, other people do things because they are being paid to do so, yet again others do things because they want to serve, even in some small way. I guess most of these don't do it for thanks but simply from their own humanity.

I am currently on a spiritual retreat with other church leaders. There are ample opportunities to say 'thank you' to those who are serving us and to my friends here. I also have the space and time to think seriously about what I am saying and my motivation in saying it. Perhaps through this task I will deepen not only my appreciation of others but possibly my relationship with them.

Maybe tomorrow I'll list out those who I was able to thank - hopefully the list will be too long!

Is it fair?

Today's #40acts is about using fair trade. To help they have quoted one of my favourite verses from Micah:

 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Just after I read today's task I worked through my normal devotional pattern and came across words from Leviticus (if I'm honest not a book that I turn to regularly !) and there were words about ensuring that people act with justice especially the workman and his pay.

There was a time when I received a document from my church administrator which argued against the use of fair trade coffee. It was during the time when, if we're honest, most fair trade products tasted pretty bad but made us feel good by using them. So I read the document, which was quite compelling, and then asked him to buy a bulk tin of Nescafé. When it arrived we decanted the Nescafé out and replaced it with fair trade coffee. No one ever commented!

I know what some people will think - deceptive, sly - and they would be right. I don't defend my actions for my sake but for the sake of the labourer who is worth their pay.

There are high street shops that I refuse to buy from because their fair trade track record is very poor. There are others I would avoid if possible as well.

So today's task is maybe something I try to embrace already - why don't you?

Have a chat...

Yesterday's #40acts task was to get into conversation with someone we wouldn't normally talk to and be generous with our time and listening...

This would not normally be a problem for me - I like to chat with pretty much anyone! In a queue, walking down the street, the waiter or waitress in a restaurant. I like to have a conversation with people - and people are fascinating.

This would be an easy task - or so I thought!

You need to know I had to travel yesterday from Glasgow to London for a meeting and then, of course return. Lots of people - no problem.

Nice chat with the baristas in the coffee shop at the airport. But very early and a bit lightweight in content.

On the flight - wouldn't you believe it! For the first time in as long as I can recall I was sat by myself on the flight!

On the train to my destination was my next opportunity. A lady sat down next to me and coughed vociferously. 'That sounds like a nasty cough. Are you OK?' 'Fine'. Conversation over !

I got to my meeting just as it started and we worked through coffee break and during lunch I was phoned three times. This was proving much more difficult than I ever thought. I heede to leave early to train/plane back to Glasgow.

And then Stephen turned up. He had arrived as I had at the meeting, we'd said hushed 'good mornings' as the meeting started and quick 'Great sandwiches!' at lunchtime but that was it. But because he was travelling back to Belfast he, too, needed to leave early he caught up with me at the railway station and we started to chat. He was a real blessing to me, he listened, he talked of his own preparation for ministry, what he had gained from our meeting through the day. We got separated on the very busy train and I thought I would catch him at the airport to talk some more but I couldn't see him anywhere.

So today I have given myself an additional task - to contact Stephen, thank him for the conversation and to build a friendship with him for the future.

Today's task is about litter picking - surely that must be easier!

Generosity

As some of you will know I will be following #40acts once again this year through Lent. Last year I found this to be a very enriching experience and helped me to keep looking out wards in my life, to be giving out through Lent as well as, possibly, giving up. The whole idea of being generous appeals to me because I have sen the difference that generosity makes. When people around you are generous it isn't difficult to be generous as a reflection of those actions.

Today I will scope out my generosity plan and probably share it tomorrow but before I do that I just want to stop and consider a few things...

Last Thursday morning my Father in Law died. Quite suddenly as we had been speaking to him the day previously about him leaving hospital. He was looking forward to getting back to his little bungalow and getting on with life. I guess when he woke up in heaven he was as surprised as we were. 

We were devastated. In the last six days many tears have fallen, there has been some laughter, undoubtedly lots of memories. Throughout it all my family have been the recipients of great generosity. You can imagine the many cards we have received, phone calls, texts, emails from all parts of the world. Everyone a blessing. Flowers arriving bring beauty to a place of sadness.

And then there are those who will say nothing, a squeeze of the hand or shoulder, the look that says 'I know'. 

People's generosity in other practical, tangible ways have made the last few days easier as has generosity in the last few months made the passage easier - Derek was able to spend a blessed holiday with his adoring daughter, my wife, Catherine, because of incredible generosity. Catherine could share a meal and laughter with precious friends while she was visiting him in hospital on a daily basis.

We have experienced in earthly terms great generosity - and because of God's great generous heart we got to spend time with this giant of faith for much of our lives.

So, having received at first hand, it's time to focus on giving out as well as giving up. 

I'm off to make a plan!