just another day

I had a kind and thoughtful e-mail on Saturday past in relation to my having spoken at the Men's Meal last week.

"Many thanks for speaking at the Men's supper, which finished off the occasion on just the right note. Not easy to do, after another 12 hour working day for you...."

The guy is always very gracious and I appreciate enormously his constant courtesy in the way he's always careful to articulate his thanks.

But I laughed out loud at the last little bit of his thanks.

".. after another 12 hour working day .."

I wish!

Most of my days are a good deal longer than a mere 12 hours. Not that I object at all. I love what I do. And there's always a great variety in what's to be done.

Today's been another long day. Already it's almost 11 at night and I'm still not done. I never am!

The morning was sorting some admin out, then meeting with various folk, and trying to address some computer issues (they're great when they work, but a bind when there's something askew).

Back to the Halls (it's afternoon now) to attend to some e-mails; then meeting again with some people regarding our youth.

Some preparation next for Wednesday's lunchtime service. Then preparation, too, for this coming Sunday evening.

I'll be away up north myself that night where I'm preaching at a service elsewhere. We've Jonathan de Groot (from St Stephen's Comely Bank) preaching here at night, so I'm starting to put the service together for that.

There's a song he's requested which will tie in well with the thrust of what he'll be saying. O Church arise, by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. I know the song. The lyrics and music are good.

But we don't have the song in the books that we use - and we haven't sung it here before. So I'm working to get both the music and words, and arranging for folk who will give us the lead that we need in singing the song through the service, come Sunday night.

By the end of the afternoon, I'm beginning to get that sorted.

A quick bit to eat then I'm out again. Helping ensure that an evening meeting here in the halls runs smoothly - in terms of microphones and things like that.

A lengthy time of pastoral help to one of our people here. Life is far from easy for any of us.

More visits. Back to the halls to be putting the mikes away. Some further pressing admin to attend to. And some preparation too.

Where has the day just gone?

Just another day, as the Beatles once sang. Well, yes. Just another day. But every day is different. And every day is full of the Lord and his gracious, unseen presence through it all.

He's at work. Quietly. Marvelously. Sovereignly.

And in amongst the pieces which comprise each day, I'm remembering that - and thrilled by that as well.