Reducing our carbon footprint is important and as today includes 'earth hour' (which I forgot about becuase it's been a very long and busy day)  this one is highly appropriate

Be honest, how lightly do you tread on the earth? Our lifestyle choices make up our carbon footprint and there’s merit in knowing whether we’re wearing dainty slippers or clod-hopping boots. This act is about taking the first steps in being generous to God’s creation.

SIMPLES:

Flick the switch! It’s earth hour today, so make a point of unplugging everything – or perhaps just your lights – whenever you’re not using them.

GET INVOLVED:

Using the ‘links we love’ for today, research ways to make more of a permanent impact on lowering your carbon footprint this Lent and beyond.

GET CONCRETE: Make a commitment to something. It might be vowing not to use plastic bags again, or committing to offset any travel emissions from now on, or agreeing a carpooling plan.

Posting this a day late seems deliciously ironic... I was indeed so busy yesterday that posting just didn't happen!

“Busy” is nearly overtaking “Fine” as the standard response to “How are you?” There aren't enough hours in the day; you're rushed off your feet; you simply haven't got time. We're all a little guilty of making ourselves too busy. It’s probably high time we slowed down and refocused our energies on the people & things that matter. Spend today doing what someone else wants.

I'VE GOT 5 MINUTES:

Today’s act might come smack bang in the middle of one of those absolutely impossible-to-rejig days. No worries. Have a quick flick through your diary and find the next available date to make someone else a priority. Drop them a message to make it a date.

I'VE GOT 15 MINUTES: A good amount of time to have a quick catch-up with somebody. Take a colleague for a coffee; get on the phone to that relative, and then set a date for a day dedicated to doing the stuff they love to do.

I CAN FREE UP A WHOLE DAY: Brilliant. Go big: think hard about who you've really been overlooking lately, and make a fuss of them. Put that person at the centre of your day. Give them a choice of activities you know they’d like, and delight them with some quality time.

Blowing someone's trumpet... if I did that more anyone I know they'd probably curl up and die of embarrassment; I'm fairly sure I would (even if secretly I was pleased to be mentioned).  And how do I choose one person rather than another?  Hmm.  And the third challenge, well I'm hardly going to do that publicly am I!!

Oh dear, this one will need some careful thinking about...

We’re turning bragging on its head. This act is about blowing someone else’s trumpet and telling others how great they are. It’s the generous antidote to gossip and criticism – talking up someone’s good points and letting others know what you appreciate about them. Think about who adds a spark to your life just by being uniquely them. Got someone in mind? Great, now go shout to the world about them.

ACKNOWLEDGE:

This one can be done in the simplest of ways and still have a huge impact. Declare their brilliance through a quick tweet, post a knockout photo of them in a (slightly) mushy instagram post, casually mention in conversation at work how brilliant another member of staff is. Simple but effective. #bestiebrag

UTILISE:

Maybe they would be perfect for an upcoming position at work or in church. Maybe they've achieved something recently that deserves to be publicly declared. If you can think of even the smallest specific reason why bragging about this person could lead to greater things, then don’t hold that information back.

OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE:

It's easy to spot ten ways in which your bestie is brilliant, but what about the people you find it a little harder to gel with? What's great about them? We can guarantee you can find something. Take time to really consider this, and then be as brave and bold as possible and let this person and those around them know.

Using this beautiful tear-jerker in our final Lent study this evening.

"To love another person is to see the face of God"

This week is one of very mixed emotions as I have a wedding, an All Age service for Palm Sunday, a funeral, and a traditional Easter Service all whirling in my brain along with the last Lent Study, meetings with professional advisers, pastoral meetings and all the usual trappings of ministerial life.

My first job today was to pick up the emailed music for Saturday's wedding which included the wonderful song 'Sunshine on Leith' which somehow blesses me in the midst of it all...

Jesus said that God makes the sun to shine on the righteous and unrighteous alike - I'd like to extend that to claim a promise of sunshine for those who are glad and those who are sad, those who rest, those who are busy...

Thanking the Chief for sunshine on Leith, and Glasgow and anyhwere it is needed.

Anyway, enjoy: