I went to Boots to collect my new glasses [oh bliss- I can read easily again, after a week of holding my Bible at arm’s length and squinting!] so decided to pick up some groceries at the nearby Asda [which I admit is not my usual supermarket of choice]
Two girls from the County Council had set up a display in the entrance, and on my way out I stopped and had a chat with them. They were encouraging people to think about packaging – how to reduce the amount we use and recycle when we can.
Leicestershire has just been named the top county for recycling, narrowly beating Devon apparently. They said there was great variation in the different districts here – if every district council was as diligent as the one where I am, we would have won by a long way. Our ‘Bin day’ is Wednesday. Here in Blaby District we can sort and put out for collection and recycling an amazing selection of rubbish which the bin men remove
- general [for landfill]
- garden waste [composted]
- batteries [separated into plastics/metals/acids then recycled]
- glass [recycled]
- paper & card [recycled]
- plastics [recycled]
- cans [recycled]
- textiles [recycled]
We are able to take other stuff [eg electricals] to the extremely well organised council tip. Read about it all here.
When I collected my new glasses, I was able to donate the two older obsolete pairs to the collection bin in Boots, and they will be recycled through a Third World Charity – which pleased me. I am glad someone else can benefit from them.
This was the banner by the girls’ display…
It is an interesting thought if applied to people not packaging.
Last week in church we sang
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands, crafted into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence, guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart, I know you're drawing me to yourself
Lead me Lord I pray
Take me, Mould me, Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, Guide me, Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
It is all to easy to sing “Use me Lord” – but another thing altogether to let God use us. We may find ourselves drained and exhausted at the end of the day, and sometimes we can fall into the trap of resenting it when He does call us to serve Him. The last two weeks since Half Term have been very busy here, and there have been a lot of people needing pastoral support. But God is really gracious – and yesterday evening Bob and I had time to enjoy a special meal alone together and celebrate his birthday. God gives us time and energy for service – but also time for rest.
I was very challenged to read this story on Chris’ blog [here]
Today I carried 12 puzzles up the hill for a lady who was struggling with them to the charity shop. As I was in London and offered to carry them the lady was somewhat surprised, she explained that most people ‘around here’ wouldn’t help in such a way.
As we walked she spoke about her brother, how he had died suddenly and her painful role in having to clear out his flat of all his belongings including a huge pile of puzzles. She spoke about how much she missed him.
When we eventually got to the top of the hill she thanked me and as I passed her the tower of puzzles she asked me why I was kind. I spoke about being a Christian and then said, ‘just as I carried those puzzles up the hill….’ She finished off my sentence and with tears in her eyes said, ‘ that’s how God wants to carry me.’
Now I know his job is ‘evangelist and minister’ and you could say he is supposed to talk to people about God – but what struck me is that Chris could easily have gone rushing along to his meeting, and not stopped and spent time helping that lady. He didn’t have to carry her burden – but he saw an opportunity to be used. He not only carried the load, but through that was given the opportunity to speak of God’s love. Chris really lives out Matthew 5:16.
Jesus ‘went about doing good’ – don’t let us be satisfied at the end of the day with admitting that we simply ‘went about’
I so miss the recycling of Leicestershire, though to be fair the logistics in an old, industrial city preclude some of what is so easy in a rural/semi-rural setting. I recall the guy for NWLDC telling me that anything except cling-film and nappies can be recycled in Leics.... that's pretty inmpressive.
ReplyDeleteFacilities for recycling here are good - just kerbside from tennements and flats is not feasible, so you have to be willing to get invloved and take stuff to be recycled... my kitchen is currently knee deep in stuff! Job for next week maybe.
Great reminder - as Jesus lived for us, so we ought to live for others. Thanks for this! Blessings, Peg
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad reflection on the way we are now that ordinary people see an act of kindness as extraordinary.
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