This one makes me chuckle... not least as each day you are invited to share your choice on social media... I'm choosing to be a few hours gadget free... which will mean staying off social media and blogs and stuff...

Dinner (if not breakfast) is always tech free in my house, and I walk everywhere, with or without others!

It is no secret that I am a clutter-monkey, my office/vestry gives 'lived in' a whole new meaning!  But in the public spaces of church, I am pretty good, putting things back where I found them and even clearing away others' rubbish.  I'm afraid washing someone's car in this weather isn't going to happen, and i did a litter pick in lent so feel I've done that challenge... so I opted for the tidying up one... but the vestry won't be tidied today, way too much happening!!

This is a genuine challenge for a shy introvert - I am the person for whom email was invented because it means I can communicate at one remove!  Oh dear!!  I am also very aware that my friendship energies get spent in a quite a narrow arena... I have loads of loose friendships but not so many close ones, and of course those change over time.  So choosing to spend time with someone more to the fringes of my comfort zone in this regard is a genuine challenge.

Today I had two routine visitors to very elderly women who live in care homes.  Each was a blessing in its own way.

Firstly a visit to a woman who in her youth served with BMS in India and now, in her nineties sits quietly in the living room of the home and, inceasingly passes her day resting her eyes.  I sat next to her and she reached for my hand.  I held it as we chatted, and continued to as sleep overtook her.  A pianist came in to entertain the residents.  Another woman wandered to the piano and 'la la la-ed' along to the muisc, her voice clear and true even if the words of the songs, had she ever known them, were long gone.  The tune chaged to 'my Bonny lies over the ocean', my quiet comanion openned her eyes and sang along, her hand firm in my own as we swung them together.  A beautiful half hour, ministry as presence, quiet companionship... ministry as blessing.

And then to the widow of a Baptist minister, the oldest person with whom I currently have contact.  In great form today, she shared stories, held court and laughed lustily.  Memories of pastorates long past, opinions formed by experience of a lifetime, and enjoyment of the company of those who regularly visit at varying frequencies.  A very different experience, and just as precious.  Still ministry as presence, still quiet companionship... still ministry as blessing.

For an introvert who finds small talk tricky, these quiet, even silent, visits are precious indeed. 

This, from ALTERnativity is just brilliant, and you should follow the link and read it.  I wish I'd written it.  Instead I will try to find my own verse verse thirty-eight-and-three-quarters moment.  And maybe you will too.