Don't you love it when you go along to an event, and it just seems to be filled with lots of little individual occurrences that show how God has been quietly preparing the way for ages, often even before the event came on our radar?
Well Wednesday last week was one of those days for me. I was so encouraged by the series of events and I hope that through sharing it you are similarly encouraged in the knowledge that God is also preparing things for you.
The event in question was a Service of Remembrance at the open-air Woodland Memorial Gardens. I had been invited to lay a wreath as representing the local community, and Tim was accompanying me as my consort (a role that until now he has declined to take up).
So we drive up to the carpark, I pop my chain of office on, and we walk towards the reception area. As we are going I'm very aware that everyone knows who I am, thanks to the chain around my neck, but Tim doesn't really know anyone, and his role in this instance is seen as 'the mayors other half'.
Imagine my delight when we get towards the reception and find that the Army Padre who will be leading the service is Paul Green, a chaplain serving in the army and a member of Thornbury Baptist, our church! At that point there wasn't much time for chatting together, but it was great to have that immediate connection, one based on Tim and I as church members rather than me as mayor.
After the service we got a chance to chat and catch up with Paul properly, and at that point I found out that ordinarily the chaplain who leads this service is a different Padre, one whom I don't know at all. It was only 2 weeks prior to the service that Paul got drafted in, as the original Padre realised he would be in Iraq visiting his troops. For me, that was a sign that God is taking care of all the details, including ensuring there is someone at the service who Tim can relate to in his own capacity.
There were 3 other little examples of God paving the way -
The first was the presence of Erica, the Chair of South Glos council who I happened to have met at 2 different occasions in the past 2 months, but prior to that had never met. As a result she knew me and vice versa, and so rather than me having no clue about what was happening when, I was able to tag along with Erica and be guided by her.
The second was the timing of this event with another one. The previous Friday I had attended a celebration of the Queens 90th birthday at one of the local primary schools. As a result I had met all the staff, and also the students had seen me in my robes, but also seen me happy to get stuck in and take part in the activities. When Tim and I arrived at the service of remembrance, a staff member and 3 pupils from this particular school were also there, but looking slightly unsure as to what the order of events was. I was so glad that I'd been at their school the previous week, as it made for a quick and relaxed hello, and allowed me to help them sort out where to be when, without my chain of office being a barrier or making me seem unapproachable.
Similarly the other primary school represented was the school that I am a governor at, so again they all know me, and I was able to calm nerves by being a familiar face in an unfamiliar setting.
It was a lovely service, a special day, and a wonderful reminder that God is always at work, quietly, behind the scenes, paving the way. Our role in it all - to be open and alert to His guiding, responding to the opportunities He provides, and willing to walk the way He is paving.
I'm doing my best on that front - failing miserably at times I admit, but doing my best!
Thanking God for His forgiving nature and His grace and patience.Setting the pieces in place from way back - the ultimate logistics planner!
Don't you love it when you go along to an event, and it just seems to be filled with lots of little individual occurrences that show how God has been quietly preparing the way for ages, often even before the event came on our radar?
Well Wednesday last week was one of those days for me. I was so encouraged by the series of events and I hope that through sharing it you are similarly encouraged in the knowledge that God is also preparing things for you.
The event in question was a Service of Remembrance at the open-air Woodland Memorial Gardens. I had been invited to lay a wreath as representing the local community, and Tim was accompanying me as my consort (a role that until now he has declined to take up).
So we drive up to the carpark, I pop my chain of office on, and we walk towards the reception area. As we are going I'm very aware that everyone knows who I am, thanks to the chain around my neck, but Tim doesn't really know anyone, and his role in this instance is seen as 'the mayors other half'.
Imagine my delight when we get towards the reception and find that the Army Padre who will be leading the service is Paul Green, a chaplain serving in the army and a member of Thornbury Baptist, our church! At that point there wasn't much time for chatting together, but it was great to have that immediate connection, one based on Tim and I as church members rather than me as mayor.
After the service we got a chance to chat and catch up with Paul properly, and at that point I found out that ordinarily the chaplain who leads this service is a different Padre, one whom I don't know at all. It was only 2 weeks prior to the service that Paul got drafted in, as the original Padre realised he would be in Iraq visiting his troops. For me, that was a sign that God is taking care of all the details, including ensuring there is someone at the service who Tim can relate to in his own capacity.
There were 3 other little examples of God paving the way -
The first was the presence of Erica, the Chair of South Glos council who I happened to have met at 2 different occasions in the past 2 months, but prior to that had never met. As a result she knew me and vice versa, and so rather than me having no clue about what was happening when, I was able to tag along with Erica and be guided by her.
The second was the timing of this event with another one. The previous Friday I had attended a celebration of the Queens 90th birthday at one of the local primary schools. As a result I had met all the staff, and also the students had seen me in my robes, but also seen me happy to get stuck in and take part in the activities. When Tim and I arrived at the service of remembrance, a staff member and 3 pupils from this particular school were also there, but looking slightly unsure as to what the order of events was. I was so glad that I'd been at their school the previous week, as it made for a quick and relaxed hello, and allowed me to help them sort out where to be when, without my chain of office being a barrier or making me seem unapproachable.
Similarly the other primary school represented was the school that I am a governor at, so again they all know me, and I was able to calm nerves by being a familiar face in an unfamiliar setting.
It was a lovely service, a special day, and a wonderful reminder that God is always at work, quietly, behind the scenes, paving the way. Our role in it all - to be open and alert to His guiding, responding to the opportunities He provides, and willing to walk the way He is paving.
I'm doing my best on that front - failing miserably at times I admit, but doing my best!
Thanking God for His forgiving nature and His grace and patience.
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