Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 17th and 18th October, 2009.

Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 17th and 18th October, 2009.

SMILE

I missed the first part of the Volunteers’ Meeting at the hospital where I work this week because I was at another meeting. I walked into the Volunteers’ Meeting just as the movie they were watching came to the point where it showed “The End”. The room broke into immediate enthusiastic applause. The Volunteer Manager explained he had found the movie on You Tube and immediately knew he had to show it to the volunteers.

During the coffee break and following the meeting, everybody was talking about the movie and I had to admit I had not seen it. Even later the other Chaplains who were at the meeting told me I must see it. Now I am not one for watching movies as I tend to drop off to sleep but I did do a search of You Tube and I found it. As it only goes for about 15 minutes, I decided to watch it. I noticed it is described on You Tube as “a fable about the magic of free parking”. I wondered what is magic about free parking.

I am quite excited about the movie and I am sure its message is worth sharing. You can see it here:

[Can I suggest you download it with the sound turned off and have a cup of coffee while it downloads or do other things on your computer? If not it will probably keep pausing while the next bit downloads. When it is completely downloaded you can hit the play (replay) button and turn up the sound to see it without interruption. ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

Do you see why everyone was excited about it? I do and I want to share its message.

We can share the message in the movie in many ways. We, of course, can share the movie as I have done but we can best share the message by putting it into practice.

The movie made me think about Ida who was the cook at the Seniors Group at our first Corps (church) as commissioned Officers. We found that we had many management issues with Ida but the women, in particular, loved her. I remember my wife and I discussed why and really she was just like the young man in this movie. As each woman arrived each week they passed close to the kitchen and Ida would greet each one personally. She would tell them how nice they looked or what a lovely dress they were wearing. It was only a few seconds of conversation but it certainly mattered to our seniors. By the way, Ida was a community volunteer and told me she was “not into religion” but I think many of our ladies saw her as having a “lovely Christian attitude”. It was a lesson my wife and I learnt well.

Someone drew my attention to the “Sign off” on a recent email to the SalvationArmy3 group. It said simply “We pray that God will bless your socks off!” My correspondent was a little puzzled by it. I thought it was something like the phrase we use in Oz “Bless your cotton socks”. I got my research assistant Mr Google to look at the phrase and he found many websites.

One I noted was a Christian book called “Bless your socks off” It seemed to me the subtitle says it all: “Unleashing the power of encouragement” The author is Sandra P. Aldrich and it is published by Focus on the Family / Tyndale House Publishers.
(http://www.sandraaldrich.com/bysoex.html) To see something of the author click on books at the bottom of that page.

I like what Paul says to his friends in the Church at Thessalonica :

(1 Thessalonians 5:10-15 The Message)
9-11 God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.
12-13 And now, friends, we ask you to honour those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

We don’t need to do mission, we need to live mission.

Miriam Richards gives us encouragement. Most of us don’t have to manufacture opportunities to encourage and cheer people in the name of Christ. The people who need our encouragement are right where we are! (Or on your email address book, mobile phone, Facebook or read your blog).


What can I say to cheer a world of sorrow?
How bring back hope where men have sorely failed?
Just where I am I'll speak the word of comfort,
Tell how for me Christ's sacrifice availed.

Chorus
Just where he needs me, my Lord has placed me,
Just where he needs me, there would I be!
And since he found me, by love he's bound me
To serve him joyfully.

What can I do to ease life's heavy burdens?
What can I do to help mankind in need?
Just where I am I'll share my neighbor's hardship,
Lighten his load, and prove a friend indeed.

What can I do to justify my living?
What can I be to worthwhile?
I'll be a voice to call men to the Saviour,
Just where I am, and win my Father's smile.
Author: Miriam M. Richards
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 706

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