Well today is the day.  We set off on our great Daydream Island adventure.
Ok it is only 5 nights but we are looking forward to it.  It was an Aldi holiday.  I did not even know they did holidays.  Anyway it was a good price and our cruise earlier was a fizzer with Merril ending up in hospital just before we were to leave. 
We have upgraded the room we are staying in.  Ocean views.  We have one trip around the Islands booked.  I have gotten together some fishing gear.  We shall see if it is worth it.  It should be worth giving a go anyway in a nice environment.  Anyway I am used to sitting quietly with a fishing rod in hand.
I had decided yesterday was packing day.  I started it with a breakfast with a mate at a local food joint.  I always enjoy those times.  I thine went to the local kmart to see if they had any line with a decent breaking strain.  I found one that was 100 lbs.  That should do it.  I can dream anyway.  That has been put on the hand line.  Apparently with the bigger fish  it is not a matter of fighting them, it is just a matter of getting them before they get me by taking me under the coral.
Merril had already packed and was dealing with a last minute hick up submitting her assignment online.  She had already done it but it had disappeared. Turned out it she had used old technology that was still promoted as the way to do it.  She ended up getting it sorted.
I was getting together this and that.  I am a list person but I could not find the list I have that is as old as the hills.  So I have made another one.  I spent the morning compiling that.
We had to go out and get a couple of things and had lunch out.  Coming home I packed according to the list.  I think it is in about its 5th iteration as there were things to put on it I had over-looked.
Anyway if I do not have it now I do not have it.
I am up at the usual time and pretty well ready to go. 

I must admit we were a bit excited about what happened at our Market yesterday.
Merril and I had a time praying for lots of things and it included God prospering the market we were to hold.  We had basically just about run out of things to sell.  It had been a deliberate policy as there had been ginormous amounts for sale, to the point that at one stage we had almost too much to be stored.
The way we get stuff is to let people know we have a market where everything is $2 with a few bundles of stuff being $5.  We say that if people have anything they would like to donate we will sell it with all proceeds going to the food pantry we run.
We had asked again recently as we were light on goods.  Two people said they had stuff and left it for sale.  We ended up having three tables of things (we do not take furniture or cloths as we do not have storage room and clothes get out of hand really quick.)  We have just finished disposing of all the clothes that had been supplied.  We give that away and I must say it has proved to be a popular table.  However, this time we did not even have a table out as we had no clothes to give away. (I don’t think people listen to me as I say no clothes and they keep coming anyway. This time there were none.)
Our goal is a certain very modest amount per day.  We make that amount without fail and the average would be just higher. 
So after our pray time and putting stuff out we waited.  People just came and did not stop coming.  The pantry operator was agog at the outcome as were Merril and I and the secretary of the church.  We took more than three times as much as normal.  That had never happened before.
Ok I admit it I am one happy and thankful camper.  Merril and I head to Daydream Island this weekend, so we will not be having our usual Saturday market.  But we go knowing we took in for the pantry more than three times the usual daily taking.  The pantry is happy as are we. And so will the pantry patrons be. 

When my mum passed away in Ayr, I had time of work to arrange affairs.  It was done quicker that thought so when I came back to Brisbane, I still had several days leave.  I ended up forgoing the days off and heading back to work.
There was a simple reason for that.  I just did not think the time alone would do me any good.  I wanted people around.  I wanted to serve the way I knew.  I felt that would (and it did) take my mind off my grief.  Grieving was legitimate but there comes a time when it is counter productive.
I have seen people withdraw as a result of unforeseen difficult circumstances, or the pursuing of lifestyles that were not good – lifestyles that caught up with a person (like what seems to happen to a number of celebrities.  That is, success gives access to sex and drugs.  The excessive life-style costs.)
This ties into what I have been thinking about the last few days.  The value of serving.  One obvious benefit is that it takes the mind of excessively considering only oneself.  There is nothing like serving another and ensuring their needs are met to snap a person out of self- pity.
I will always recommend the caring for another as therapy.  My experience is that in serving another my difficulties take on realistic proportions.  I will never advocate not going through the necessary stages, but in my mind there can come a time that spending an un-necessary amount of time thinking about oneself is unhealthy.
As most know we run a market several times a month.  Our prices are ridiculously low.  But there is a method to our madness.  Not only do any proceeds go to our food pantry - what we do brings joy to many.  What is generally out of reach is within reach.  Instead of thinking “I can’t” many think “I can.”  That mindset inspires optimism rather than negativity.
It may be a cliché but that is so win/win.  Everyone benefits.  One of the most impactful benefits for me is the taking my mind off myself and serving others.  I know it is healthy.