So here's the thing...

Wow - what a few days doing #40acts!


Firstly there was an 'off grid' day - no real problem with laying my phone on one side so I can engage with the local community - but I did really discover how much I use it for all sorts of things: diet, exercise, Dr Google (obviously), Social Media, music - but seriously felt better for laying to one side even if only for a few hours. Definitely something I will be doing again.


Today I will be avoiding staying behind my desk to communicate - so I'll be getting up, engaging, phoning, shouting across the office - you get the idea! Having consciously done this before I know how easy it is to slip back into the bad habits of just doing everything from a distance - so today is the start of a new approach: again!!


All of that is fine but for the fact that yesterday the challenge was around engaging with prisoners through one of the prison charities. Upon reading the challenge yesterday morning I was transported back twenty years or so to Cardiff when myself and Catherine were ministering principally to prisoners families: wives, girlfriends and parents and so on. How their lives were imprisoned just as much as their loved ones was something that became apparent very quickly.


We tried to do all we could to support them - today I will be redoubling that connection with these people, or at least those like them today, by donating to a charity that works with offenders to stay connected and build relationships with their families.


I'll give you an update on the other tasks that are taking a little longer vey soon!

Wanna talk? You need to listen...

Today I was preparing myself for my morning prayers (I use Pray As You Go as then basis of this time as well as some reflective Bible journaling). I was impressed immediately that the Holy Spirit was telling me to listen: listen very carefully.

So I did. While scripture was being read I listened. In the space following the scripture I listened and the two themes of 'mercy' and 'grace' came strongly to me. 

I prayed that I would now and show these qualities in the same measure as I have experienced them - which is massively.

Then I turned to @40acts to see what today task is and what the teaching is and there, in black and white, is the story of prayer working and the challenge to pray for others, to let them know, to seek out specific prayer subjects. 

When I meet with my work colleagues at around 9am we will be praying for each other and for several other people and situations in the absolute knowledge that we are doing the best thing in bringing them to God - anything we can do after that is simply being used by Him. 

I'm listening...

Today's task for #40acts is about active listening and perhaps initiating a conversation with someone who I have not spoken to for a while and chatting (but mostly listening!) to them.

I have a famous ear - in fact probably everyone who reads this blog in the UK (and I don't know whether that is many or few) will have seen a picture of my ear on a Salvation Army Clothing Bin. 

Maybe as a result of that I have been told I am a good listener, good eye contact and empathic responses. But I know the truth. Yes, eye contact is something I ensure I do, I know how to make the right sounds in answer to statements and questions, I can even think of things to say when there is a lull in the conversation. In truth, however, I am very often already thinking about what I will say as my next point, or how I can shoehorn a funny one liner, or, sadly, how I can draw the conversation to a close.

Today will be different, I will clearly listen, I won't be thinking of me I will be focusing on YOU - whoever you may be.

As an addition I will deliberately seek out people on the edge of my friendship and influence groups, people I spend very little time with and listen to them. They will have wisdom that I have yet to encounter because I have not taken time to really listen to them.

More Plastic - and more Prompting!

I started to carry out a 'plastic inventory' as part of yesterday's task:

Milk Bottle,

toothpaste tube,

Toothbrush,

Light switch,

Recycling box(!)

Wheelie Bin (!!)

Car dash board (actually a large amount of the car)

The list goes on and on...

I even bought some metal screws from a hardware shop and they were in a little plastic bag - as if they were going to be protected by it! Obviously it was used to keep them together.

As I became more aware because I was consciously looking for the plastic I became more concerned at the over use of this very versatile product. Equally concerned that people sleep walk into using plastic unnecessarily. Fortunately we have a cost attached to plastic carriers in Scotland. I would always avoid usin one in favour of a personal bag anyway - but nowadays you see many less supermarket bags. So that's good - but I guess it's often because of the accumulated added cost rather than some newfound Eco-awareness that may be going on.

Awareness - that's the key for me. This is my fathers world - I don't want to mess it up or break it, or even add to someone else's mess. Awareness for me means changing habits of a lifetime and looking after this amazing space He has provided for us. So I'm still going to try to ditch even more plastic and be careful with the resources that are mine - because they are a gift from Him.

That 'Awareness' needs to move beyond the resources and out to the people in this world, being aware of opportunities - or rather promptings from the Holy Spirit - to help others, make their day easier, their burden of life a little lighter.

When Catherine preaches she will sometimes say that if we are walking closely with God the first response to a situation will be spiritual because Jesus is within us, then almost immediately our selfish voice persuades us away from and action. 'Go with the first voice - it's God' she will say. 

How many people have gone without because I have not responded generously at God's instruction? Today I am on high alert to hear and act...