Monday 16 July 2012

The rules of multiplication

       
 This morning in the midst of a busy Monday morning drop in shift, whilst in the throws of a discussion I'd provoked on the sanctity of life vs the right of the individual to choose to die (why do I start these provocative God spots on a Monday morning?!) I was called to the window by a young man whose face I recognised but couldn't place. I knew I'd met him recently at the Jesus Centre but until he started to speak I couldn't remember where; "I just wanted to come in to say thank you for helping me the other week".. (I mentally polished my Mother Theresa halo, but still couldn't remember what I'd done or said!) "I feel much better now.. " Ping suddenly I remembered him... Lonely, depressed, drinking too much after a relationship break up,no job, feeling like there was no future no, hope. He didn't have any faith & he wasn't looking for any so he didn't want any prayer. When he went away 1/2hr later after I'd listened and given him a word of philosophical encouragement, I didn't know whether he'd go out & throw himself into the canal or drink himself to oblivion; "I've got a job (I'd suggested he drop his CV into every employment agency in Northampton) and I have to be up at 5am so I don't go out drinking in the evenings anymore. I just wanted to come in and let you know and say thank you."


Last week was the last English class for speakers of other languages until after the summer break. Some of the students have been with the class for the whole 9 months. When the tutor asked what they had valued about the class the answer she was given was "we feel so loved by you"

The same week a guy came into the drop in we hadn't seen for months to tell the whole assembled drop in crew that he'd found God in rehab and it had changed his life.


Jesus told a story in the Bible about a boy who brought 5 loaves and 2 fish to Him when he was looking for a lunch snack for at least 5 thousand people. (Now that's my definition of an optimist!) Some times we can feel very like that young boy with his lunch;  helpless and able to do so little to meet all the demands and needs we encounter in an average week but we bring the little that we can do and then watch as God steps in and multiplies our efforts. Sometimes we never get to hear how the story ends but every so often, usually when we're really stretched and most need the encouragement God blesses us with the gift of seeing how what He was able to add to our small effort, changed the whole story of someones life. 

We never hear what effect Jesus using that boy's lunch that day had on him; He never came back to say "hey because of that day, Jesus, I became a Rabbi or a priest." But I like to think that, like any young boy would, he went home and he kept sharing with people what happened so that not just his life was touched by what Jesus had done but many of his friends and families too. And I hope the same is true for those people who we help here at the Jesus Centre. That because of the small things we do out of love many more people will be given hope and their story will change.

Reflecting back on the discussion in the drop in this morning which I concluded by challenging folk to think about what lies beyond this life and to consider whether they believe in a life after death... maybe that's where we'll meet all the people we never knew who we're touched by our small acts of love.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

TEAM works

"If you want to go fast go alone; if you want to go far go with others- African proverb




        I've had cause to reflect, recently on this African proverb through a set of circumstances which has meant that all 3 members of staff trained to open up and oversee the daily management of the Jesus Centre were either off sick or away. Since it's never happened in 8 1/2years we've never had to work out what to do! As our evening & weekend deputies responded to the call to step in and provide cover I considered how important it is for projects and the people concerned that we don't become over reliant on one or two people to keep things running

 What I've noticed is that, in the face of adversity everyone has risen to the challenge and suddenly instead of being a group of individuals, each 'doing our bit' we are working together; everyone aware that their contribution is making a difference to the big picture. We tend to fall into relying on the same few people because it's easier than taking the time to work out if there's another solution but this is not a good strategy for the long term sustainability of a project.


 As Christians we believe that we have a 'father in heaven' who wants to supply the resources, wisdom, grace that we need but how often do we forget to ask Him? Sometimes it seems quicker or easier to rely on ourselves or others, rather than God Himself. Sometimes, that's precisely why, I believe, God allows crises or hindrances to crop up in our projects; He wants to remind us that we can rely on Him. He wants to be at the centre of what we do and as a loving father He enjoys being asked to help out.


And the same thing that is true for our projects and the visitors we try and help is true in our own lives too. The church is a team; the Bible talks about it as a 'body with many parts'. When we go through difficult circumstances God doesn't mean for us to suffer on our own. 

Often I meet people in our drop in, through our listening service, or amongst our volunteers and staff who were cruising along in the fast lane, unaware that they were leaving their family and friends behind until one day they crashed mentally, emotionally or physically and woke up to discover they didn't like where they'd ended up and worse still they had arrived there all alone. 



Often they had never given God, or the church any thought; they were living life in the fast lane and these things seemed irrelevant and unnecessary to their journey.  Then suddenly feeling aware of their aloneness they got to a crisis point where they couldn't find any motivation or sense in continuing the journey at all. Some descend into addictions, depression, illness or even contemplate ending their life completely; that's the point which as 'church' we ought to be there ready and waiting to to encourage them that the next stage in their journey does not need to be on their own, but with others. The Bible also talks about that as a body 'if one suffers, all suffer together'. 


 Here at the Jesus Centre we aim to provide a place where fellow sufferers can pause on their journey and work out where they want to go next. Sometimes that involves considering faith and asking questions about what is the purpose of their journey, where their journey will end up and what is their ultimate destination in life? We run small groups for people who are asking these searching questions and help them to find the answer for themselves.


So that's why it's been so important to be able to keep the Jesus Centre open during this time of high staff absences. Just as we will go farther if we learn to go together, so we can more effectively help those who come looking for an antidote for their loneliness and suffering, sharing the lessons we've learnt in the hope that many will decide to join the exciting journey that we're on, knowing that we'll get where we're meant to be......together.


for more information check out www.jesuscentre.org.uk, www.newcreation.org.uk, www.jesus.org.uk