The Blurb: January 2007

The end of January

Wednesday 31 January 2007  10.30 am

I think I must get in one more blurb entry before the first month of 2007 is out.  The most depressing month of the year, apparently.  I guess once Christmas is done and dusted, winter isn't quite so appealing any more until the great snows of February arrive!

January hasn't been too depressing for me, actually.

The Lee Abbey Promotions Team (me) has finally discovered what really sells at an exhibition stand.  Wheel in the crowds with little squares of home-made brownie (now you see why the image above), and while their mouths are full and they can't object, suggest to them that they come and visit the place where it came from!  Magic. :o)

We tried this technique, with much success, at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Exeter last week.

Also in January, though, our family lost a generation as my last grandparent (my Mum's dad) died, aged 88.  He had outlived his wife by a week short of seven years, so it was a grand old age.  But it was so good, in retrospect, that the whole family were able to join him for his last Christmas, so we have a lot to praise God for!
 
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The dark side

Sunday 14 January 2007  11.56 am

Every year while we are closed to guests in January, all the leadership, Pastoral Team and team leaders at Lee Abbey go away for about 48 hours to be refreshed and re-envisioned and grow together (something like that anyway).

And every year the remaining Community, under the leadership of Dave Hopwood and Keith Bennett, make it their business to get up to mischief.

This year's plan, codenamed "Operation Celeste", was the biggest yet.  Planned way back at the beginning of December by me and a group of fellow conspirators, the premise was simple.  The Rapture was to happen and the leadership would return to find they had been left behind.  A huge plan was drawn up.

Then just a few days before the action began, Chris, our Warden, invited me to join the leadership on their time away!  I had 24 hours to respond.  I was genuinely torn.  What of the plan?  What of the fun?  What of my reputation?  And what of turning from the Community to join the "dark side"?

Actually, when I went and asked God about it, the decision became easy.  In fact, for someone who usually struggles with decisions, it was scary how easy it became.  Despite horrified reactions from my friends, I had to say yes.  All the reasons to stay had to do with pride, popularity and self, while all the reasons to go smacked of significance, timeliness and, well, God, really.

So I went with them.  (Though I took my mobile phone and kept the Community informed as to their exact time of return, of course!)

The time was indeed very significant - not just for Lee Abbey, for us as leaders, and for the Promotions team, but for me personally as well.  I'll explain that later, but suffice to say I learnt a lot from the experience and don't regret the decision for a minute.

Coming back was a great joy - I was so proud of everyone!  The plan had been executed more painstakingly and effectively than I had imagined, with lots of ideas added to my/our original ones.  From the entrance sign to crashed vehicles, screams and music, sets of clothes, walkie talkies on white noise and banners saying things like "Jesus is coming: look busy" to the memos, signs and details, it was incredible how well everyone had worked together.  Building community?  Oh yes.

As for the glowing angel in the Green Staircase, and the whole Community dressed in white in the Chapel with a cake and the Hallelujah Chorus, that just blew me away.
 
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