Skip to main content

The to do list

 

Well Christmas is less than two weeks away. The year always seems to go so quickly, filled with activity as it is, and being retired hasn’t changed that. I am struggling a little currently at some expectations that have been laid on me. I simply have enough to do at the moment. I find it hard to say ‘no’ and am just congratulating myself at saying that very word to my church minister. He is a lovely man and works extremely hard. He does, however, feel that every member of the congregation should be fully involved in the life of the church. I’m not sure that I disagree with that, it is simply that somehow much of what needs to be done falls on my age group. Younger families are busy with children and most parents have jobs. Then there are those much older than me who simply no longer have the physical ability or the energy to do much. Add to that a congregation that has shrunk and is mainly older people – and that’s why it is mostly my age group who are busy volunteering and who are asked to do the extras. Because of course, we are retired and have nothing else to do! Ring a bell?

So having just had two extra responsibilities thrust on me by that lovely man, and then asked to do a third I simply said ‘no’.

I have to admit I had a moan to God about all I’ve been asked to do and was convicted to change my attitude. Oh dear! So I have changed my attitude but still have to be realistic about how much I can do at any one time—so the ‘no’ stands.

Actually, I am feeling quite a load off my shoulders now I have made that decision.

I truly want to serve and expect to serve in my church; but you all know the 20 / 80 rule I’m sure. So there I am, feeling relieved.

I am big on lists which is how I get through such a lot in my day. Unfortunately it is easy to have too much on the list. However, I have completed a reasonable list of what I have to get through by Christmas and have made some decisions about what can be crossed off. Does it matter if the gardens are a mess at Christmas? Will the family care if I don’t get the streamers up? Maybe I need to make a resolution next year to cross off more?

Well, whatever happens, I hope and pray that you are being kind to yourselves and not trying to do too much in the lead-up to Christmas. God bless.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Time to relax

  Another update on the ongoing saga of the renovations. The new kitchen has now been pushed out until September with no date given. The flooring has now been pushed out until the 19 September and wallpapering sometime after that. We have to wait for the wallpapering before we install the new heat pump and the range-hood. The new lounge suite will take three to four months to be ready in the colour we want. Family are coming for our 140 th church celebrations the second week in October. I’m praying that the heat pump is up! There will literally be no chairs for them to sit on. Hopefully the new kitchen will at least be installed so I can unpack all the boxes that are currently stored in the spare bedrooms otherwise I have no place for them to sleep. I am laughing at the thought of sleeping bags in the lounge around the piano which is currently right in the middle where we moved it to allow painters to get around it. But today, I had a lovely relaxing morning. My friend is stil...
Post a Comment
Read more

Planting Seeds

  Carrying on from last week, I was wondering how I am sowing seeds. I realised that we can all sow seeds everywhere we go. I don’t go out that often actually, I don’t belong to any secular groups but I can still be responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Under his leading I made a determined effort to get to know the names of all the staff at my two favourite cafés that I visit at least weekly. I ask about their families; I support where I can. My friends and I find opportunities to give them all a little gift of chocolate and a card with a verse of scripture written on it. They all know we are Christians. I guess that might be called planting seeds. I converse with the supermarket checkout operators just to have a chance to bring a blessing to them. Some of them now know I am a Christian. I can easily bring God into conversations with unsaved family members, neighbours and strangers I stop and talk to in the park—with the leading of the Holy Spirit. I do not adopt a heavy...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Importance of Unity

  What do you do when you think the Pastor or Senior Leadership Team have got it wrong! A friend was recently talking about a decision made by our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) including the Pastor. We are a small church community, so decisions affect every member there. However, unless directly involved in a programme or initiative the SLT do not know how a decision they make might impact on the on-the-ground day-to-day running of that programme or initiative. It is important to talk to those involved to get their perspective and even in a small church this might not necessarily happen. Having said that, our SLT are generally very good at consulting. So, what do you do if you think it’s an unwise decision? This will of course depend on size of the church, whether the Pastor is a good listener and is prepared to talk about it and I’m sure, many other factors. My perspective is that I do not want to be talking about the Pastor behind his back. I do not want to gossip about him ...
Post a Comment
Read more