Act 17 - Propose

The idea of today being a 'free' day due to the leap year is an interesting one, because it isn't. It's still a Monday, the kids had to go to school, my husband had to work an early shift and I had to work on an assignment. The time we have is all marked out, portioned off and given away. Before we know it, it's time for bed and my head has turned towards tomorrow. Day in, day out. Time is precious.

I recently listened to a podcast which spoke about how we spend our time (it might have been a Robcast) and a very interesting point was made; time is the one commodity we have that we cannot get back, so what we choose to do with it is so important- there's no buying more or topping it up. It made me reflect upon how many years of my life I and my friends have given to training for the priesthood, and how glad I am to spend my precious time this way. It also made me ponder upon the ways I waste time. Which activities are really worth spending something so precious upon?

Gandalf, in Tolkien's Lord of The Rings (sorry- I'm a geek), tells Frodo "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us". Wise words indeed. Today I took just a few moments of time to let a few folk who I've been praying for know they were in my thoughts. No big generous gesture, just small stuff, but small stuff matters too.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’ (Matthew 6:3) and ‘Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you’ (Matthew 5:42 NIV).

Act 7 - All Ears

I'm not a great listener. I have to concentrate really hard but because my concentration span can be really short I have to really work at it.
Nomad podcast, which I'm very fond of, recently did an interview with Terry Waite and what particularly struck me was a comment the guys made afterwards about how Terry was totally present with them in their conservation. That sort of present and generous listening is certainly something I can learn from.

‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’ (Luke 8:8 NIV)

Be More Generous

I like this task as it gives me a chance to use my imagination. I decided a couple of weeks ago who would be the recipient of my random gift, which I won't get to give until Friday, but it's all ready.
Generosity is such an amazing thing because everyone involved wins! The receiver of generosity feels good, which makes the giver of generosity feel good. I do honestly feel happier when I give something, it's a wonderful and peculiar sort of magic. For it to be a random gift- no expectation on either side- is even better. Giving just for sake of being generous. That's how I believe God gives, and delights when we do the same.

2 Corinthians 8:7
Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

Be More Giving

Confession time- I have a large jar half-filled with loose change that I started to fill during Love Life Live Advent that is still sat in my hallway...so now I maybe get the chance to fill it to the top during Lent! The children want the money to go to the hospital where I work.
I think, on the whole, we can be quite a generous nation. We only need to look at the money Comic Relief, Sport Relief and Children in Need raise to confirm this. We don't all have money to give, yet LLLL throughout Lent gives us so many suggestions of other things we can give- time, kindness, a smile, hospitality. There are so many ways in which, with a little thought, we can be generous to each other.
A world where generosity of spirit was prized over all else would look like a rather spectacular thing.

john 2:9-10
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have now become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until .’

Be More Generous

I must admit I don't feel very generous today. I feel tired, run down and thoroughly worn out. I have an essay to finish, sermon to write and Lent breakfast to lead. Then I have a retreat to go on where I'm supposed to put all this out of my mind, and because of that I can't attend my nieces baptism this weekend.
I worked a 14 hour day today and thought I'd completely fail today's task- until I remembered that I'd randomly bought a present for my husband, for no reason, which never happens (it's a Qwertee t-shirt).
I've mentioned before in my blog that my husband gets a raw deal when it comes to my time and affection, so it felt good to buy him something for no reason, with no purpose other than for him to feel a little more appreciated. The upside of this was I felt better because I'd done something lovely for someone- random acts of generosity definitely benefit to giver as well as the recipient. Doing good feels good!

2 corinthians 8:7

Now as you excel in everything...so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.