Day 145 to 152 – “I’m So Glad I Went to Church”

This weekend my Church held its semi-annual Stake Conference in Coventry. Whilst sitting in the congregation, listening to some inspiring and uplifting talks, someone passed me their mobile phone on which was a text message from a young family from our Church in Banbury.

The message stated that this family had caught a coach to Conference and whilst travelling the baby had been violently sick over all their clothes. They were in such a state that they had decided just to go home; as they were no condition to sit for two hours in a conference hall. After further clarification I ascertained they were still sitting in a waiting room at Coventry Railway Station waiting for a train.

I immediately grabbed my coat, left the conference centre and made my way to the railway station. I found a bedraggled, miserable and cold family in a waiting room on one of the platforms. I packed them into my car and, as they warmed themselves, took them safely back to their home in Banbury.

I’m so glad I went to Conference.

Other opportunities given to me to serve this week have included:

4 x Gave cash to a charity

5 x Gave a big smile and a hello to a stranger

24 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
1 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display
6 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood

6 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone

1 x Visited with a family in need of company and friendship

1 x Voluntary work within the Community
1x Rescued a stranded family
5 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
2 x Did some DIY for someone in need
2 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

Sub total: 58

Running total: 1428

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 142 to 144 – A Tale of Two Cities

Whilst driving through Buckingham today I was watching an elderly couple walking along the side of the road. They came across a piece of plastic which had been dropped on the ground. The gentleman bent down and picked up the rubbish and put it in a bin.

Whilst in Milton Keynes Shopping Centre I watched three lads looking at some merchandise on display. One of the items fell to the ground and one of the lads simply kicked it under the display stand.

I’m not going to judge anyone for what they did or didn’t do, but one event lifted my spirits and the other did not. It reminded me that we never know who is watching us and who will be inspired by the things we do; or don’t do!

Hopefully a few of these events have lifted someone’s Spirit:

2 x Gave cash to a charity

1 x Gave cash to a Big Issue seller

1 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

1 x Held the door open for someone
29 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
1 x Gave respite care to a family by looking after Harry
1 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display

2 x Used my umbrella to keep someone dry

Sub total: 38

Running total: 1370

Target: 3000+ in 12months



Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 131 to 141 – Just One Foot In Front of the Other

Sometimes life is simply a case of putting one foot in front of the other. Nothing extraordinary has happened to me over the past ten days, just a sense of quiet wellbeing in making other people’s life that little bit better.

The last ten days have given me the following opportunities:

11 x Gave cash to a charity

1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin-men had been
3 x Held the door open for someone
1 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
51 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver

2 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

6 x Voluntary work within the Community
1 x Gave my seat to another passenger on the train
1 x Went out for a curry and paid the bill for my friend
3 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Cut neighbours lawn
2 x Gave a cheery hello/good morning to a stranger/neighbour

Sub total: 86

Running total: 1332

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

 Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 115 to 130 – The Little Arab Boy

I have just recently got back from having a wonderful trip to Israel. The country is beautiful, from the rich green land in the north to the desert wilderness in the south.  
As with the difference in the geography, so it is with the people. The massive gulf between the rich and the poor is so stark and evident wherever you go.

Whilst I was in Bethany my group were approached by a round face, rather cute, Arab boy. He must have been about five or six. He took hold of the water bottle I was carrying and began to wrestle it out of my grasp. Initially I found the situation humorous, but I then realised he was forcibly taking the bottle from me. I released my hold on the bottle and he immediate went to another member of my group and did the same. Unfortunately for the boy, this tourist wasn’t so keen to let go of the bottle she was holding. I suggested that we all give-up our water bottles to the boy. He was then able to collect four or five bottles from us, put them in a pile on the path and then went looking for more tourists.

His behaviour was at best ‘aggressive’ begging and at worst minor robbery. I can only imagine the circumstances that boy has to live in to resort to that sort of behaviour. I fear that his cute looks will not last long and his current tactics of getting bottles of water of people will end up in him getting hurt.

Before I left the boy I tried to talk with him. I got down on my knees and looked him in the face and tried to let him know that someone cared. I'm not sure he understood me, but I felt a calm and peaceful feeling between us as I spoke.

Other acts of kindness included:

7x Gave cash to a charity

5 x Gave cash to a street beggar

7 x Struck-up a cheery conversation with a stranger

1 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin-men had been
4 x Held the door open for someone
1 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
19 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver

5 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

2 x Voluntary work within the Community
5 x Looked after a person in need

Sub total: 57

Running total: 1246

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”