people

Today's been a day filled with people. A good day, as such. But not much time for anything else.

Like some quiet and extended time alone to hear what God is saying in these days. That sort of thing I've been doing on the hoof. Listening to him as I've gone around.

Thursday's the day I try to get in to the school at the coffee break. A chance for a chat with the teaching staff. Though I also got time with two of the girls from Primary 5 whom I happened to meet on arrival. It was good to chat with them.

Little, fleeting conversations. With the girls. With some members of staff. With the Head himself. Fleeting. But sometimes they're the means by which relationships are gently built.


Then on from there to spend some time with Ian's family. The undertaker was there at the time which was why I'd gone there then. It sometimes makes it easier to coincide my visit with his own.


It was good to be with Ian's family. They're very close, of course. All of them. And all the generations, too. He was that sort of man. Adored by them all.

And now, with his passing, creating a huge big void in all of their hearts and their lives.


I know the family well and counted Ian a friend. I've shared with them all now down through the years in weddings and baptisms and all of the ups and the downs of their lives. Friendship like that as followers of Christ is very much a privilege and a joy.


They make me part of the family, too. Which is humbling - and heart-warming as well.


I was glad of the time with them all. And we managed through all of the laughter and tears to address all the things needing done.


Back here at the halls when I returned I had a rapid turn-around. A quick five minutes to see some folk who were in to sort the computer.


They've not been well the past two months, this couple who were in. So it was good to see them and have a chance to catch up with their news. And good that they've the expertise to sort things out computer-wise!


It was off to the school once again. The SU group for Primary 4 and 5 meets now for a quick half hour. This was the third week that we've run it and each week there've been a few more children there.


Including a girl from Primary 7 this week, who seemed to want to stay! It's going well and I think the children who are coming really like it quite a lot.


Another chance to sit and get to know them just a bit. And share with them what matters most to us!


There were calls to make in the afternoon - and e-mails needing answered too. And a chat with a man whose mother is ill and who's now back home needing 24 hour attention and care.


I don't think she's long to live. And I guess he needed to chat. To know he wasn't alone. I'll call by and see his mother and him. These days will be hard for them both.


At night I was round with the family of Ian. Touching base, catching up on how the day'd gone and arranging to meet with his grandchildren, too, to go over with them what will happen next week at the short committal service which we'll hold.


The children were pretty high. And I don't think I exactly helped them down the mini-mountainside of non-stop action and of chatter which there was! But they're a lovely crowd of growing girls and boys and I've seen them off and on, I guess, across the years.

Before I'd gone round there, I'd taken time, in another connection entirely, to try and write a piece about the picture we were going to give to Norman who had led us in the music at the service of tanksgiving for my Mum.


We wanted to give him something, as a way of saying thanks. His playing was really quite out of this world. And we wished that he as well would have some means of remembering a special day.


Hence the framed photo which we'd got. A photo of the cross down on the shore at Innean Mor, far down the Kintyre peninsula. So I'd written a piece to explain with the gift just why the place was always so significant for us.


And so later on my sister and I went out to his home to give him this gift. I enjoy doing that! There's a lovely sort of joy in ... well, simply giving. I think he was pleased with what we'd got. And I hope that it helps him remember with pleasure a day that was special indeed.


So, as I say, a day that was filled with people. Like the heart of God himself.


People. He loves us. And in that love he came to be with us. Spend time with us. Share life with us. To laugh and cry and live and die. To bring the grace of heaven to the griefs and trials of earth.


And I'm just slowly learning that true life is found in daily following him.