Garden of the soul

On Sunday I noticed a creeper had started to encroach on one of the café windows and I got the idea that today would be the day for some gardening. In the morning I got started. There has been no gardening done here for 6 months or more and it had become really overgrown. The weeds had begun taking over, strangling some of the beautiful but fragile plants that had been planted there in the past. Everything was so entangled that it did take quite a bit of time and care to get all the weeds out. I unfortunately damaged some digitalis in the process and I do hope it manages to restore itself. It is an amazing thing to do gardening, almost as soon as I begin it is as if a doorway into my mind has opened up, a divine aural passage! I can see through this garden how when we neglect our spiritual life, and ignore sins, they grow; the sin grows on us, choking the truth from our lives, and we become bent and crippled. If it is not for the gardener coming and removing the weeds we would be soon overcome. Thanks for second etc...chances God! But seriously, if we stop looking into the garden of our soul, if we stop taking time to make sure that we are well, that there is nothing choking our spiritual life, we will eventually perish spiritually. It is so easy to become complacent.

When I was finished doing the weeding I filled 2 dustbin bags and took it to the dump. I thought it would have been a really nice lesson for the children, and I decided to proceed no further until school was out. I planned to get some of the children involved in the hope of talking to them. In the afternoon, after school, Zaina came and helped me, we purchased some discounted plants from ASDA and then planted them in the garden. She was particularly interested in bugs, and one small chrysalis that we found. Time will tell if the planting is a success and if anyone learns anything.
Another wonderful thing happened today. I could see Declan  was itching to talk to me. I spoke with him on the way to collect my car to dump the garden debris. He seemed happy. He said that he was reading the bible and that Carol had given him a commentary that was helpful. Most importantly he said that he was not reading the bible looking to prove or disprove it; that there was too much information that was unproven scientifically, but that he was finding it very helpful on a personal level. Very encouraging to hear.
Wednesday we had a team meeting to discuss the plans for the Autumn, reflect on past events etc.. It seems as if there's consensus that the 6 week events we had at Café Forever were successful and will be repeated, though we'll emphasize the parent and toddlers groups more and perhaps make some sort of accommodation for them after the 6 weeks period, particularly as the morning slots around the area are sparse.
Thursday was a busy day, the weather was fantastic and normally that indicates a drop in sales, but this day we did really well! I also got to chat with an atheist friend who agreed with me on one irrational point, that love is crucial in making the world a better place. Since then I have been thinking how rationality and love are easily opposites. When we love somebody, what matters TO THEM is important to us, but rationality is about surviving, and often then love has to take a second place. So often I find I am very rational; I order what God, and others desire at second place, indicating I am not quite as loving as I would like to be.

Today I have had the idea to work further on the garden. It is currently looking good, but we could actually make it a sales point. It is VERY secluded. The perfect place to have a quiet business lunch or children's party, so I am going to try and make the garden a safe place for children to be, and a nice pretty place for a small business lunch. Look forward to the changes and hope to be promoting them in the week!

Are you rational or relational

We have had a team of volunteers from Boston City Life Presbyterian Church this last week, and as always they have been really useful and good company for us and the locals. Their main task is to put on a fun-day in St John's park (though I did manage to use Jess as a data capturer - and I am very grateful). The fun-day looked like it was going to be a wash out from the beginning of the week (the weather reports all indicated that particularly the Friday would be about 3 inches of rain all day!) and Marlene told them that if there was rain then she knows that they haven't been praying. Though the weather reports may be useful, they are based on rational logical information that looks at historical data to project the future. The bible tells us that if we have a relationship with God we have a relationship with the author of life. The team went ahead with the fun-day (I was sceptical) but Tom and Marlene more faithful. It happened, there was no rain, and many people in the park had an amazing day!

My little Hannah has had another birthday party and it was attended by some old friends and some new one's from her school. I think they all had a wonderful time though Hannah was not feeling very well - paracetamol helped!

On Sunday we had a visiting preacher, Andrew Latimer from St Peter's Barge. Andrew is also the father of one of the girls in the same class as Hannah. These are all really important links. He gave us such a good lesson on the dysfunctional family of Jacob and how Joseph was part of God's rescue plan for his people.

I find it difficult to function effectively at Café Forever when I think of my duties as work, it is really just an extended weekend. For a start most of my 'work' is talking to people. When I talk to people I get to know them, their background, their fun. I also find in me something that makes for a common bond. It is in friendships that we are able to talk about our lives, the things that are most important to us. I would hate to be a converter of people - that makes you into somebody who is interested in targets and goals. Somebody who does the targets and goals thing is very businesslike and rational. I think perhaps the two hardest things for people to come to faith are firstly that they have to begin living relationally and not rationally, and that they will seem ridiculous when they do. This is why following Jesus is 'a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks'. I had an opportunity to share my 'Damascus moment' with a friend yesterday. I was glad of an opportunity to share my hope and what God has done in my life already. It may seem manipulative, but the truth of the matter is I was able to talk about my experience because we are friends. My start point is I need friends, I really need people to help me deal with this life, and this person is somebody who is always ready to give me useful advice and I welcome his input; friendships develop around mutual trust.