Conversation

Talking... I've been doing a lot of that lately... Talking with Olly and the kids... Talking with Bobby & Diane on Sunday night... Talking with Pauly at my work on Monday... Talking with my friends at Alpha on Monday night... Talking with Kenny on Tuesday and then spending time with Olly while she was reading in bed (she wasn't feeling too well)... Talking with Tony tonight at Starbucks in Borders at the Fort. I have conversations with Jojo, DJHaggis, the Soos and Rosco planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday...

A lot of talk... but also a lot of listening... and sharing... and being together... and accepting... and loving! Sometimes its great to stop talking and start doing - business is big on this... the whole "hardthought" blog is my way of making things happen in this way. But sometimes doing without talking is just a pointless... we need to share... we need challenge and discussion and entertainment too... Through talking we stop doing and start being.

Had a great conversation with Tony this evening... He is so on Olly and my wavelength... and is an asset to Dennistoun corps. Two key points came out of the conversation...

1) The church (the Salvation Army) needs to be in the community... It is too easy for us to have a "build it and they will come" attitude - we need to be the community We need to get out there and make an impact in the places we are situated in - tidy up... plant trees & flowers... get shopping for the elderly and do their gardens too... Demonstrate God's love by doing...

2) We need to be church... not do it. Our whole-of-life must reflect God... not part but all... We are called to be in the world but not of it... we focus too much in setting ourselves apart - the "of" part - that we forget about the "in" part. We need to be in the midst without losing our uniqueness and give back to a generous but broken world.

It was a great chat that had depth and meaning... one I hope to continue soon.