eightsome reel

Some days are like a good old fashioned eightsome reel!

This was one of them. A non-stop round of different 'steps' or 'movements', with barely a moment to breathe between each one.

(If you've ever danced an eightsome reel, you'll know what I mean! If you haven't .. you can probably guess!)

From start to close there was one thing after another. All part of the 'dance' that living with the Lord involves each day. And I love it all!

The school assembly was the first of the 'steps'. Primary 4-7.

I tend to play a low-key role in these affairs. Handing out certificates and saying the prayer. But not the talk itself. I'm not sure why. But since the Head's the one who almost always gives the talk - I guess he simply likes to do it all himself!

He's got these basic 'values', one a month, he wants to have instilled into the school's whole life. And I guess because he knows himself just what he means and what he wants the school in its entirety to grasp, he takes the talk upon himself each time.

Maybe next year will be different once the pattern's been imposed.

Not that I mind at all! I'm happy to be there, to share in these times and to have the sort of input that I do.

From there I moved on to an hour with the P5 children once again. This time on 'the covenant'.

Not the easiest theme. Especially since the teachers were keen to have some sort of 'time-line' taught as well.

But I think I got the point across and helped them see a little bit the nature of the promise that God's made. And how the ten commandments tie in with it all. And just where Jesus comes in, too.

All in an hour, as I say! With questions, too!

You can see what I mean about the eightsome reel. I was starting to sweat (as it were) and the time was only half-past ten!

I was barely back from the school before a slowly growing problem was rehearsed before my ears. There are times when situations sort of reach a 'tipping' point. And something has to give.

Action is required. And it's important that the action that is taken is appropriate and wise. The temptation's always there, as well, to try and somehow sweep the whole thing right beneath the carpet and just hope it goes away. Which it doesn't, of course.

It was a day for addressing problems. Some of a personal nature in the lives of some of our folk. Some more centred round the life we seek to live here in community.

Problems. Issues. Challenges.

It was that sort of day. Three lengthy sessions with three different folk which took me through from half past eleven to well on after six o'clock. But I think in the case of each of the folk - three very different issues being addressed - it was time well spent. (And the midweek lunch-time service in betyween, of course!)

And in each of the situations, it was trying under God to tease out where and how his future's brought to pass.

Because that's who he is and that's what he does. He's the God who opens up a future when there sometimes doesn't seem much hope of that at all.

And a large amount of time, so far as I'm concerned, is spent in figuring out before the Lord just what the next step is. And then having the courage to take the step and follow where he leads.

Like the dance. A thousand different steps. And you end up where you're meant to be.

Exhausted. But enormously fulfilled!