another rule of thumb

Here's another 'rule of thumb' to add to the others I gave.

If I haven't posted anything here for a good few days it'll generally be for one of the following good reasons -

1. I've died.

2. I'm on holiday.

3. I don't have internet access.

4. I've sliced all my fingers off in the mower while cutting the grass.

5. I've just become a grandfather and am still on cloud nine.

6. I'm struggling with things too personal, private or highly confidential to be shared in this 'public' arena.

7. I'm rushed off my feet.

Unless you've assumed I'm really 'ghost-writing' this blog, you can rule out number 1 as the reason for there being no post these last few days.

You'll have to take my word for it that I'm not in fact on holiday; and you'd probably have heard the whoops of glee if I'd finally become a grandfather! The baby's not due for another month, anyway.

Most of the time the absence of posts on this blog is explained by 6 and 7. This recent spell of cyberspace silence is a case in point. More 7 than 6, but a bit of the latter as well.

Busy in other words. Too busy to 'blog': which means (I know, I know) too busy.

There are signs on the motorway you sometimes see which say

TIREDNESS CAN KILL

Busy-ness can lead to some similar disastrous effects.

It did today. It led on my part to a deeply regrettable mistake. A lapse of memory. I omitted to include an item at a funeral which the family had specifically asked I'd read.

These things happen, I know. No one's perfect. We all make mistakes.

But I still felt dreadful at failing the family like that. You don't really get a second chance with occasions like that.

The rest of the service was fine. And most of those present would simply not know there had been an omission at all.

But the family .. well, they were aware. And upset, I can well imagine. Deeply upset.

And it was pure and simple my busy-ness that led to such a lapse. I know that. It wouldn't normally have happened. It happened because I've been chasing the clock all week.

I wrote them a letter immediately, expressing my real regret and apologising profusely. I can't undo the past. I don't get a second chance. And I took the letter round to the house later on and spoke to the person in person.

I'm praying hard as well that the Lord will over-rule. His grace is such he makes even our memory lapses, failures and sin to work for his good and his glory in others' lives.

But the reason remains that busy-ness.

And it's all really part of the days in which we live. The crises that seem to arise. The fires that require to be doused.

Days of spiritual conflict. The Lord at work and all hell being daily let loose.