I SOMETIMES WONDER...

...if I am getting too old for all this!!  

First of all, I apologise for not commenting on anyone’s Blips yesterday - but by the time I got home from Worship Group Practice for the two services at the weekend, I was very tired and went straight to bed.

This morning, I was up with the lark - well, perhaps not with the lark, but at least with some of the birds - and then just after 9 o’clock was back at the Church to spend some time in the Prayer Room before the Community Fridge started.

Then it was full on from opening until closing time at 2 p.m. but it doesn’t stop there, because there is still a lot to do after our lovely customers have gone.  So by the time I had cleared part of the hall, washed the trays from the dishwasher, cleared and cleaned three sinks in the kitchen and numerous other small jobs that needed to be done, it was almost 3 o’clock.  When I got out to the car, I realised that we had a Bag of Hope in the boot to be delivered, so rang and asked if someone could meet me at the bottom of the stairs in the block of flats, because I was unable to carry the bag up the stairs.  That was sorted and I delivered it on my way home to save coming out again.  Phew!

You can see from my collage what a lot of produce and beautiful flowers we had today and we are so grateful to the local supermarkets who help us by donating their “waste”, but of course, if we didn’t take it, this would all end up in landfill.  

The other thing I need to say is that this stuff doesn’t just drop into the Church - if only it did - but someone has to collect it all so once again it is down to the hard-working volunteers to do this. If we added up all the hours that our volunteers spend, collecting the produce, sorting it, making up the Bags of Hope and delivering them, sorting it all out in the storeroom ready for the Community Fridge on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, returning the crates to the various supermarkets etc etc, the whole operation would never be able to keep running, but we praise God for the willingness of ALL our volunteers every week.  Without doubt, our “Head Honcho, Heather”, keeps us all on track, inspires us all and spends far more than her few paid hours sorting out all things Community Fridge related.

I had some lovely conversations this morning - pointing several people to the Prayer Room - and as we get to know our customers week by week, it is always good to catch up with them as they come in.  The bottom middle shot I took just after I left the Prayer Room and before the Community Fridge opened - from up above - and you can see the lovely Meg - the lady in red - who I sometimes think LIVES at the Church!  It is great to be part of this fantastic organisation, but by the end of a Thursday afternoon I am wiped out, so although I wondered if I was too old for all of this, I will keep doing it until I can do it no longer! 

I am reminded of the verse which says:

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
     but God remains the strength of my heart;
          he is mine forever.”
Psalm 73:26 : New Living Translation