#40acts – Day 20

Local causes are the focus of todays reflection from @40acts. As the reflection says…..who raises the profile of local causes if not local people!

The options for today were:

Green – chat to someone in your local area whether that is an isolated elderly person, a neighbour or a homeless person.

Amber – take part in some volunteering. Find something local and get involved.

Red – explore volunteering frequently for a local cause that is dear to your heart.

So today I had the opportunity to walk to school to collect my two children. Whilst I do pick them up from school I very rarely get the opportunity to actually walk to the school.

This gave me the perfect opportunity to chat to someone in my local community. There is an elderly gentleman who isn’t great on his feet but still gets out and about. I often see him walking up the road to his house and he stops often to take a rest and catch his breath. I saw him today and instead of just smiling and continuing on my way I said hello and stopped to see how he was as he took one of his short rests.

I dont know who was happier following the conversation – him or me!

#40acts

#40acts – Day 19

In today’s reflection @40acts talks about neighbours. Our lives are so busy that we rush in and out usually without a second glance. The post encourages us to stop and lift our heads up to notice our neighbours.

The challenges for today are:

Green – lift your head up for long enough to go beyond the usual greeting. Stop and talk, get to know them a little better.

Amber – whether it be a brew or food; invite a neighbour over.

Red – tell a neighbour about doing #40acts and see if there is anything you could do to help them.

I am blessed that we have good neighbours and we are well established in our home. It was opportune that I was on school pick up today as it meant that I was home before it went dark!

I nipped out to my car after the kids had gone to bed and one of our neighbours was outside so instead of the usual “hi” I asked how they were and had a conversation, albeit relatively brief, seeing how they were doing. Its surprising how good it can feel to offer and receive a friendly exchange.

#40acts

#40acts – Day 17 & 18

So I completely forgot to post yesterdays blog (*I have given myself a telling off!) so thought I’d write one post for both days.

Day 17 talks about those who choose to live on mission as a Christian and the sacrifices they often make.

Challenge options for Day 17 were:

Green – contact a missionary or youth worker you know and encourage them.

Amber – give a gift, whether that be a one off or a monthly contribution, to a missionary, youth worker or church intern.

Red – give your services to a missionary – using your skills to help them.

I chose amber and did some reading around different organisations locally. I stumbled across the Merseyside Youth Association.

Home

Their mission statement is to create positive and lasting change in the lives of Merseyside’s young people and they work to provide practical and positive support to children and young people across Merseyside. I have made a donation that will hopefully support them in their work.

Day 18 talks about the church family and supporting through prayer.

The challenges were:

Green – do some reading around the persecuted church. @40acts makes some suggestions about looking up Open Doors or Release International to view stories that will motivate you to pray.

Orange – make a plan for how you’ll pray for the persecuted on a daily basis for the next few months.

Red – research taking a mission trip with a persecuted church charity.

Today I chose Green and have spent the last hour reading through various stories that really bring home how hostile the world can be if you follow a religion that others dont recognise. It really does, in some circumstances, take great courage to stand up for the faith you hold.

#40acts

#40acts – Day 16

Weekend strikes again and I’m completely behind on this one.

My stomach sank when I read the title for this one….’Dirty Hands’. My head was filled with all manner of horrid tasks before I even read it.

Then upon reading seeing the words “grotty toilet” and “cleaning” I really wasnt looking forward to it!

The message being to do something inconvenient or uncomfortable. The challenges choices were:

Green – instead of avoiding a blocked public toilet flush it and give it a brush.

Amber – offer to do someone’s washing up or other chore.

Red – go door-to-door offering to clean kitchens or ask a local family.

Life is so busy and a while back I decided that I needed to carve time for my mum because leaving it to chance during the week meant that life got in the way. She is getting older now and I dont ever want to be in a position of her not being here and for my thoughts to be about “I wish I had…..” or “I should have……”.

So for quite a while now I have done her shopping at Tesco and then spent some time with her on Wednesdays. She has recently discovered online grocery shopping so now instead I’m going to be doing bits of housework, tidying, cleaning, jobs etc so that she doesn’t have to.

#40acts

#40acts – Day 15

Very late with this post!

So @40acts talks about giving something away that you could charge for. By that they are talking about your skills and knowledge – whether that be a hobby or just knowledge you have that someone else doesn’t.

Options for today were:

Green – think about skills you have and teach someone something.

Amber – if you normally charge for teaching something do it today for free.

Red – take on a new client or student, long term, for free.

I’ve had a hectic day and it’s as I type this I think about my skills and teaching others. There are a couple of things I’ve done today to help someone else through coaching them with issues that they are encountering.

I cant say it’s a skill but its definitely experience that may help others to succeed quicker / less painfully than I have!

#40acts

#40acts – Day 14

Today’s act talks about our environment and protecting it for the generations go to come.

The 3 options for today were:

Green – research an environmental charity that you know of – maybe they tried to stop you in the street and you walked by….

Amber – reuse a plastic bag as many times as possible in the week. Pass it on to someone else and see if they want to continue.

Red – go meat free at least one day a week.

So I’m a sucker for a reusable bag! I have several of them in my boot and all of my carrier bags get saved too! So based on that I’m going to try the meat free option.

Not tonight though. Tonight is about chicken curry! One to do tomorrow.

#40acts

#40acts – Day 13

@40acts today talks about dull grey tasks and the acts of kindness that we can do related to these. To take responsibility for someone elses mundane problem or task. Generosity that makes a difference.

The options for today were:

Green – clean something that isn’t yours to do – the suggestion in the post is the office/staffroom/church sink.

Amber – taking responsibility for a chore that’s not being done where you live or elsewhere.

Red – take responsibility for an undone chore for the entire month.

So today I have tried to be mindful of the actions I take (or dont) and whether there is something that I can do that will make someone elses life easier.

I’ve cleared away cups after meetings, tidied away equipment and picked up litter. It’s so easy to walk away after a meeting and leave someone else to clear up!

This challenge also came on an apt day as Wednesday is the day I go and see my mum. She is very independent but there are definitely things she would rather not have to do. She’d rather be in the garden than doing housework, she’d rather be sewing or doing craft than shopping and I have to say I can’t blame her!

So on Wednesdays I usually do her shopping but there was only 1 item she needed. What she needed more was the lounge and kitchen floors vacuuming. Job done!

#40acts

#40acts – Day 12

The reflection for todays act can be found here:

Act 12: Prayer Circle

It talks about prayer and walking within the community, taking note of those around us whether in the street or those we cant see behind a closed door we pass.

The options for today were:

Green – take a walk around your neighbourhood, notice what is around you and pray. Whether that be for peace, for community relationships or for guidance and support to solve problems.

Amber – use one of the lamppost signs from the @40acts website, print it our and put it up in your neighbourhood. Check back to see what people have taken and let these guide your prayers.

Red – take your prayer walk to the next level and draw a map of your neighbourhood and add notes with ideas of how you can be generous in your community.

I chose Green. Partly because I felt that the reflective time would be useful for me today. I used the opportunity to slow down as I walked into work from the car park. This is about a 10 minute walk when you aren’t rushing and I really enjoyed the fact that I was paying attention to the world around me.

I prayed for good health for the elderly couple that were leaving their house. I prayed for the young children at the nursery that they should be blessed with opportunities to grow and learn. I prayed for the lady setting up the cafe in the park that her business would thrive. And lastly I prayed for all those that enter our hospital whether that be as a visitor or a patient. I prayed that they find whatever they need whether that be peace, hope, comfort or care.

#40acts

#40acts – Day 11

Urgh Monday! How did you come around so quickly!

Today’s act from @40acts is about saying thank you to the unsung heroes; saying thank you to people that we only really notice when things go wrong!

You can read the full reflection here:

Act 11: Hidden Heroes

The 3 challenges for today were:

Green – write a card to a hidden hero to let them know that they’re noticed.

Amber – grab a coffee or fizzy drink and take it to a hidden hero as they work.

Red – what would make their job easier? Think of a creative fix to help them.

As I work in a hospital I am lucky as I’m surrounded by unsung heroes all day every day! The WHOLE staff team are heroes in my eyes – whether that be:

• the domestic staff making sure the hospital is clean for our patients
• the catering staff making sure our patients are fed
• the porters who move our patients round the hospital
• the volunteers that greet and signpost patients and visitors
• all of the support functions that play a vital role in the running of the hospital, doing tests or working in the labs
• all the clinical staff from health care assistants right through to our Doctors for caring for our patients

I try to regularly give something back to support our staff whether that be treats for ED, lending an ear or abseiling to raise money for the hospital.

Todays diary meant I couldn’t complete the act but tomorrow I will be spreading the goodwill once again at work to say #thankyou to our NHS unsung heroes.

#40acts

#40 Acts – Day 10

So Day 10 sees @40acts talk about resources that we have at our disposal and gifting them to others.

The full reflection is here:

Act 10: Drop Everything

Green – give away an everyday item that’s in good condition.

Amber – give a lift to a friend.

Red – give something away that you cant undo/take back. Bless someone else with something that means something to you.

We regularly go through all of our things and pass as much as we can to others whether that be through charity shops, local churches or people we know. We are in the process of doing this room by room but for today’s act I have chosen Green and specifically taken a good look at the things I have around me and selected some things to pass to others.

I’ve done it before and thoroughly enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to gifting these things to others!

#40acts