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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.
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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. I was thinking yesterday of how important attitude is.
Yet when I looked it up it became clear to me that it is important to define what I have in mind when I use the word attitude. It became obvious that when I say attitude it can mean different things to different people. For example, it is often said that someone has an “attitude.” It is seen as a negative thing. Something that puts a distance between the one with the “attitude” and those they are addressing. It made me think that in so much a clear definition is important. Like the word “father”. I may use it based on a good experience. Others on the other hand may have had a very bad experience of father, and my using that word is like waving a red flag to a bull. So I have not changed my thinking but I realize that when I say the word “attitude” I am talking about an “open, teachable” thing. One that does not assume they all there is to know about something, but is willing to hear another out and learn things. It is funny that when I am taught something I deliberately come for a place of knowing nothing (sometimes that is real easy as I really do know nothing). But at other times I know enough to be able to do a certain task, but I deliberately do not let on as I find it is the best way to learn something new. It may be just one or two things, but it is a key for me to doing something better. So when I say “attitude” is the key, I think it is probably “teachable attitude” is the key. For me that matters a lot. Generally, I can pick up very quickly if someone is closed or open. Either way I know I can learn, but to me it is only with a “teachable attitude” anyone can learn something. Closed can only become open if there is a willingness to consider. Consideration can be at the time of being made aware of something, or it can be at a later time when something is though about. Either way progress can only be made when a thought is considered without prejudice. Maybe a conclusion has been reached a long time ago or maybe a conclusion is invited for the first time. Too me a “teachable attitude” considers a matter and draws its own conclusions based on the evidence at hand. While a closed attitude refuses to consider anything but what the person believes to be true based on nothing but having been told something and holding to that line. Having a “teachable attitude” may lead down an unpopular lane or to places previously unexplored (I think Galileo saying the earth revolved around the sun) but is always leads to personal freedom (despite when silenced) and there is never anything worthwhile to be gained by shunning it. |
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