Half way!

One of today's challenges is "against my religion" (not Christian or Baptist, mine) - putting up decorations before my birthday.  NO, NO, NO not doing it!

One that's already been done this week - singing carols. Although regretably I missed the Coffee Club carols and coffee morning, I have sung carols this week.

So it's the last one, reaching out to others... which actually I am doing every day of Advent in one way or another, but is good to be reminded to do so on a Saturday when I see fewer folk.

Which do you fancy...?

At this afternoon's fellowship meeting, people mostly older in years, though some in their 40s and 50s, for the devotions/epilogue bit, I invited them to tell me the Christmas story as it unfolds in the gospels of Luke and Matthew.  It was fascinating to hear the contributions, see the leaps in the narrative and the way that scripture and tradition are eleided in people's minds.

The kind of theme that emerged was around responses to fear... we noted that that

• the angel told Mary not to be afraid, suggesting she probably was
• Joseph's initial reaction suggests fear
• the shepherds were told to 'fear not', so they obviously were afraid
• Herod is described as being afraid

We noted also the responses...

• Mary was afraid but she said 'yes' anyway
• Joseph was afraid but he did the 'right thing'
• The shepherd's were afraid but they went to see if what they'd heard was true
• Herod was afraid, and allowed that fear to give way to anger, hatred and murder

Being afraid is normal, natural, everyone experiences it. What matters is what we let that fear do to us... will we give way to anger, hatred, revenge or attack, or will we choose the path that leads to life, hope and a future...

It was a great afternoon, a blagged reflection, and brilliant engagement/interaction.

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.