Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 October 2004 22:09:53
It's a funny old world, if you'll excuse the cliche. The way the church in general is forever wracking its collective brain to think of ever new and innovative ways to 'reach,' the poor, unsaved, (and generally young) out there. And yet we seem to so often overlook a vital part of its existing 'clientele.' Did my usual stint at the shop today. I don't know who they thought they'd be attracting when they started up, but a good few of the 'regulars' are on the elderly side. And from the odd remark let slip, and even the odd conversation, there are not a few lonely people out there. We had two this morning, widowed ladies who needed to decide whether or not to stay living in town or upsticks and move ; nearer to other members of the family, but away from the places and people they'd known during their marriages. We got talking, and I discovered that not only did one , such a sweet lady, go to the same church as myself, but that she lives just round the corner from me. How on earth can you worship in the same place for six years, (likely at the same SERVICE), and yet not have met each other before?! The fact that she said she recognised me (from the rogues' gallery, no doubt), makes me feel worse about it. And yet another person who'd relied on hubby to deal with all the financial and administrative practicalities. Shades of my mother in law. Why I should be so surprised, I don't know. That age group - the youngest must have been at school during WW11, others helping with the war effort, surely those experiences would have stuck and given people some sense of autonomy?
Anyway, hardly the cutting edge of evangelism, but I'd rather put my money on this group before I go rushing off worrying about anyone elses' current salvation status. Of course, some of this is probably guilt (misplaced or otherwise) about the situation MIL is in at the moment. Phoned up last night just as I was about to go out. So far, so good, as far as her new flat is concerned. There's still much to be sorted out, and I'm sure we'll find more to be done when we go up there at the weekend. She seemed quite positive, (for her), and I managed to steer the conversation away from too much talks of her various ills.
And talking of ills, last week's fluey cold came back with a vengeance, hitting both myself and Ms Miffy. Thank goodness it held off for just long enough for Mr M and myself to enjoy a certain blogger's birthday celebrations last weekend! If any other guests are reading this, my apologies for treading on your corns and bunions, or for wrenching shoulders out of sockets in my inept attempts to wring out dishcloths. It was a great evening. Plus we managed to get in our eight hours sleep and be up in time for a full English breakfast the next day!