customer care

Today's been a bit of a run around again.

Not that I mind. It's varied more than manic, which is fine.

The Wednesday lunchtime service is sort of the heart of the week. A midway point in the flow of weekly river of time. Like an island on which you can step ashore and get your bearings again.

For some, it's the only time in the week they get out. The only service of worship they can attend.

So I recognise that this short time of worship is a high point for many. And the lunch which follows, as well, of course.

There's a bit of preparation that I have to do. Apart from preparing the church, that is. Shifting some seats and moving the lectern, and getting the hymnbooks put out.

Not that that takes a lot of time. But it needs to be done, and I'm glad of the chance to spend a few moments in the building there, on my own, before all the people arrive.

We're still at the story of Joseph. Which we've been on for months. But it's challenging, relevant stuff.

I was struck today by how this guy had learned so much in the realm of his relationships. The first time we see him he's hopeless. A walking disaster area, when it comes to relationships.

But down there in Egypt the guy is transformed. He gets alongside the warden of the jail, his fellow prisoners, and the king of the land. None of whom I think I'd find it easy to relate to in that way.

I was challenged and excited by this aspect of his life. The part that these relationships play in the progress of the work of God. I think it's absolutely basic.

It's something we try to work on here. There were crowds and crowds of people in at lunch again! It was wonderful to see. And it's great to be able to chat with them and get to know some different folk and hopefully make them welcome.

There was a trip out to the garage again. Steven had rung. The guy at 'Service Reception'. Good at his job and strong on his customer care. Relationships again.

He was calling to say that they'd fixed the fault I'd alerted them to, but the part that they'd ordered and fitted in place was itself plainly faulty. So they'd have to keep the car another day and order up another part.

He would give me a courtesy car he said. If I needed one.

Which I did. Well, I didn't exactly need a car. I could have walked out to Kirkliston as I'd walked there once before.

But I got into some trouble over that. People said that walking there is dangerous. Which it is, I accept, if you don't take care.

Anyway, I went across to get the courtesy car. And stopped en route to get all the bits of documentation that I'd need. Driver's licence, insurance documents, etc. And then there were the forms to fill in, and the self-same forms to sign.

And by the timeit was done I was thinking along the lines of the old Michael Flanders/Donald Swan song - "The gas man cometh".

You fix one fault and create in the process another. Most of the time I think it would be a whole load easier simply not to have a car at all. And a good deal cheaper as well!

But I got the car and it got me out to Kirkliston. A meeting of the leaders there.

They're a good, hard-working group of folk. Kind and always welcoming. And good fun as well.

One of the older men, Joe, explained how just at the moment he's in between two e-mail addresses. He's changed to a btinternet address. And he's found that there are seven different people with his name (that btinternet know about, at least).

One of whom's in prison. It made me think. Another Joe in prison.

I wonder if this modern Joe will find that the Lord opens up a whole new future for him too.

Not without relationships, I guess.

Not without there being some folk who get beside the man and somehow earn his confidence and trust.

And that takes time and effort. And usually means a pretty non-stop cycle of these busy, run -round days.