Rubbish Actor

With Lent 2016 barely out of infancy I feel I have let it down. Especially in the context of participating in #40acts. This thing developed by @stewardship to help pilgrims in life live a more generous way by challenging them through thought, scripture and challenges.

The acts I am supposed to have done so far include:

Draw my friendship circles - fail

Do chores for someone - fail

Cook a meal - fail

Honestly I've become rubbing at acting - no BAFTA for me!

But importantly I won't be judged by anyone for not doing these things except myself. The folks at #40acts don't send a condemning email, my friends don't know I didn't do a doodle about them, the people who I should have been generous too are not aware - and that's a generosity in itself: not condemning, not judging.

So I have received great generosity from people who don't even know they are giving which makes me so very thankful that so many of them know the God who is most generous of all - the end of the Lent Road shows that above anything else.

Fresh start today then...

Happy 'catch up' New Year!

If you share regularly in this blog - and I have no idea who does or doesn't read it apart from the occasional 'favourite' or RT on Twitter or a 'like' or short comment on Facebook - you will know that principally, at this time of year it is a journey through Lent reflecting on #40acts activities.

The last few days have been very strange in my life as we said goodbye to my Father in Law and celebrated his life in his funeral and celebration service last Thursday. As a result of these events myself and Catherine decided that we would treat March 1st as New Years Day and move on. It has already proved to be a cathartic thing to do. We are now looking forward to this new year as one of hope and optimism having left the old one of sickness and sadness in the past. 

However, what cannot be changed, is the incredible generosity we have experienced along with other members of our family. It's indicative that generosity is for life not just for Lent! From the cousin who loaned a pair of black shoes to one of my sons who had forgotten his,  to the church where we held the celebration not accepting any payment for the mass of refreshments for the three hundred or so folks who attended. We have be recipients of great generosity given graciously.

It is a model that I can learn from and reflect on as I strive to be more generous as I get on with life.

So I have some catching up to do - some post-it notes to leave, a gift to give and an engagement across cultural boundaries. They'll all happen because God has awakened in me a spirit of generosity through #40acts, I have experienced generosity through his Spirit in others and I have plenty of opportunities ahead of me!

Generosity and journeying

So the Advent series has drawn to a conclusion - much like the birth of a child: there is much anticipation and climax building and then, when here all must quieten in order for the babe to sleep. It is a time for even more pondering...

Over the last four weeks I have travelled with the excellent people of Stewardship on their #adventwonder series and on the way we have paused to wonder about angels, shepherds, innkeepers, gifts, Mary, Joseph, and so much more that fills the story of anticipation and arrival of the Messiah. I have deliberately set aside time to wonder about all of these aspects (I've been assisted at times by also using a little book called 'C is for Christmas' (Wiersbe and Wiersbe)) and I have become rich for the experience. My preparation for advent and Christmas itself in times past has often been the place for commenting 'I just don't feel Christmassy yet!' - on this journey I felt ready physically, emotionally and spiritually for the joyous celebration of Christ's coming to earth. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and the journeying with my friends across the world who have used the same way by using #adventwonder.

Thanks for travelling with me! (See you in February for #40acts !)

It's all over... Almost

This Lent, instead of giving up something, I took part in #40acts - 40 days of generosity.

Honestly I thought it was just a simple way of engaging, principally through social media, with other people who wanted to pursue Lent a bit differently.

Oh how wrong I was!

It has been a wonderful time of inspiration, and experiencing the generosity of others and returning to a generous spirit myself. I have loved all of the tasks, even the ones that I wasn't, for one reason or another, able to complete. I have met new friends throughout these forty days, some virtually and some  in reality.

At the beginning of the challenges I commenced blogging on the daily experiences - I am given to understand that some people have found this helpful - I am blessed that anyone would do so and also very grateful that you have let me know.

I have been hugely inspired by turning numerous times in each day to the website and particularly the 'caring is sharing' tab: you #40act-ers are incredible, creative and most importantly generous people. 

Today's act is to throw a party! Although I'm not even at home a party is being planned for a few weeks time when I will invite friends, neighbours and others to celebrate - you may even get an invitation!

Knock, knock

A day of visiting people pastorally gave me a couple of opportunities for generosity... Of time and of space particularly. Waiting for the visited to fill the space instead of me leaping in and sharing opinion. While becoming more aware of others I became aware of myself. How often I open my mouth without really there being a need for me to.

I think of the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery when he stopped and drew in the sand, or the occasion when he asked the blind beggar 'what do you want me to do for you?' Jesus allowed others to fill the space and then in his own way, because he was there initially used the space in order to bring about healing and wholeness.

When I knock on someone else's door there is an opportunity for generosity on so many levels. When I pick up the phone it's the same. It's about making a personal connection.

Generosity and extravagance have got much more to do with quality of every day living than they have with possessions or gifts - much as it is very nice to be able to bestow these on others - they are about reinforcing the positives in ones life and creating enough space for Christ to fill.

There is an act of extravagance to come - but it's not to shout about!