Last night's training yomp ended up a mile longer than intended, but was no less fun for that and, in fact, showed enough increase in speed that I completed 8 miles in the same time I was doing 7 a week ago.  The extra mile arose because it was pouring with rain and hood up, head down, I took the wrong side of a fork in the road and didn't realise until I was a good half mile along it and diverging further from my intended route.  Ah well.

All of which got me thinking a bit about metaphorical "extra miles", what they look like and whether they have to be consciously chosen or can arise simply by dint of circumstance.  No useful answers on that front, but it did lead me on to thinking about charity fundraising and wondering how much of it is associated with people walking, running, climbing, cycling, kayaking etc. lots and lots of miles.  From cancer to mental health, overseas mission to humanitarian aid, people are sponsored to participate in physical challenges that they may (or may not) enjoy.  Wouldn't it be good, I thought, if it wasn't necessary to raise money for these assorted charities - not because some mythical "they" should fund the research, support, welfare, aid etc. from a bottomless supply of money, but because there was no longer any need to raise money as the issues had been resolved.

I dream of day when the research instituions can close their doors

I dream of a day when the support charities can disconnect their helplines

I dream of a day when justgving and virgin money disappear from the web

I dream of a day when giftaid is a thing of the past

I dream of a day when no-one runs marathons, jumps out of planes or sits in a bath of beans

I dream of a day with no coffee mornings, strawberry teas or ethnically themed suppers

I dream of a day when there are no more tears, or sorrow, or death

I dream of a such  day - and I believe, if not in my lifetime, it will come

I dare to dream, not because I am naive or idealistic, but because I believe the promises of God to be trustworthy and my hope is centred upon them.

Walk an extra mile - too true I will, if it brings that dream a step closer, because I suspect until the eschaton the anticipation of that dream is dependent upon it.

This Sunday one of the activities I have planned is one that I have used in at least three other churches, and a variation upon which I did here nearly four years ago.  Whether anyone else will remember it remains to be seen.  Given that some of the children weren't born then, and several were under five at the time, I think it is safe enough to assume that they are unlikely to remember it, but if they do it's a bonus.  I am enjoying revisiting and revising it anyway.

I hope people enjoy the service - it is probably the most creative I've done for a long time - but I am aware that it does have marmite qualities and not everyone likes marmite...

On Saturday I had lunch with some friends, travelling with one of them by train between Glasgow and Falkirk.  In conversation it transpired that we both know, in very different contexts, the new rector of IBTS... she when he was a 'wee boy' and I from his time at SBC.  It made me chuckle, and it was good to discover yet another connection.

Then today I was out visting with some other folk and we got chatting about English teaching and the imapct of teachers on their pupils for good or ill.  A passing enquiry as to where one of them went to school revealed that they had been at the same schools as my mother, but three years behind her.

And so on and so-forth.  The world is smaller than we think, our lives intertwine more than we realise, the global village is maybe just that.

All good fun, and, if not very theological, it does make me mindful of how interconnected life really is, and how we should learn to care for one another.

This new venture sounds really exciting and full of potential.  Good to have been part of that story, albiet in a way that is now quite a distance in their past.  Wishing every blessing on this new project as a new season brings new growth, and in time another harvest to re-invest.

Today is going to be busy - and hopefully good fun.

Off in the next hour or so to church to lead worship on the theme of Ascension, with a side track via a quiz, some English literature and a couple of theologians.  Then over to the south-side for Sunday lunch.  Then back over the watter to an inter-church BBQ followed by a short, informal, communion service.  Then collect a house guest and bring her home - hope she can cope with the slightly chaotic state of my appalling house-keeping skills.

All good, all about communing and worshipping and relating and sharing and learng and growing...

But I will be glad of my lie-in tomorrow morning!