Going The Extra Mile
Last night, I was out with some friends, and as we all live in various parts of Oxfordshire, we agreed to meet in Oxford. It was about 11 o’clock in the evening when we decided to head back, and my friend offered to drive us all home, as buses would have stopped running. This meant that she had to go 15 miles in the opposite direction from her house to take me home, and she had to drop others off too, this, plus the fact that we got lost, meant that she didn’t get home till about 2 o’clock in the morning, on top of using a tone of fuel! Talk about going the extra mile!
I really appreciated my friends generosity, and it got me thinking, about how we take the friends and family we see everyday, for granted. I love my friends and family dearly, but how often do I show it, or tell them? I think most of my friends and family do know that I love them, and I know that they love me; but I also know that it would mean a lot more if the told me, or demonstrated, once in a while, how they felt. So, with Gods help, I’m going to try to let my friends and family know that I love, value and appreciate them; even if they know it already; I want to leave them in no doubt.
Jesus hung out with all the “low lives” of society, why? Because they were the people who needed him: “It’s the sick who need a doctor”. Jesus looked beyond what they had done, to the person inside of them; a child of God! Jesus was all about the people, He didn’t care about what people thought of Him; He just wanted the people who felt lonely, hurt and broken that they are loved!
He’s still in that business today, and He invites us to work alongside Him.
To loves others, for His glory. That’s the challenge I’ve set myself and the one I’m putting to you.
Check this song out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExJ9od-0zQ
P.S) My friend who drove us all home, isn’t a Christian; and there are Christians, who wouldn’t do what she did!
For Zoe…
Zoe is my friend, and it turns out we’re in very similar places in life: she’s just finished school and is going onto to further education, I’ve just finished college and about to head out on my gap year. However, at the moment, we’re both waiting for these new adventures to happen and looking back on the ones we’ve already had. I wrote a song called “Between Chapters”, which is all about the tension of anticipating the future and letting go of the past. So here are the lyrics (dedicated to Zoe):
Is this the start, or is this the end?
I feel pulled in both directions;
The challenge of letting go
And the invitation to move on.
I’ve crossed the finished line,
But the race is about to begin.
Caught between the chapters
Of a book that’s still being written.
Tying up loose ends
And making new connections.
This time has a purpose, a reason:
To rest, to prepare, to be filled, to be sent out.
Where do I go from here?
Where do I go from here?
The path winds on,
But my feet won’t move.
I look over my shoulder
And all I can see…is home.
The Game We Play 