At our Seagull Theatre meeting Des presented his ‘Management Report’. We heard about the events and performances over the past three months, ticket sales, bar takings, community activities, new projects. It was all good news.
He moved on to plans for the future, including progress on next year’s proposed Lowestoft Carnival. There hasn’t been one for a number of years… He described its proposed route, road closures and diversions, licencing, formal event plans, risk assessments, marshals, vehicles, statutory agencies, local partnerships… the list went on.
Everybody says they want a carnival; organising it and putting it on isn’t so straightforward. Desirable but difficult.
I’ve been reading about the Victorian social reformer Octavia Hill. Believing that everyone should have access to open spaces, she campaigned against building on suburban woodlands. In 1875 she was the first to describe protected rural areas surrounding London as the ‘Green Belt’.
In 1893 she was a founder of the ‘National Trust’, set up to protect and preserve places of natural beauty and endangered buildings of historic interest.
Her greatest work was in the reform of social housing. Strongly opposed to impersonal bureaucratic organisations and bad greedy landlords, Hill herself become a landlord. She maintained close personal contact with all her tenants, becoming involved with their social needs and concerns through a weekly visit. Desirable but difficult?
Musing this morning…
…The desirable but difficult in my life… clearing autumn leaves as they fall in our garden… sorting through and throwing out ‘old treasures’ in our loft… remaining patient and with a trying neighbour… prioritising the demands on my time today…
…When a disciple asks Jesus if he could first bury his Father before following him, Jesus replies: ‘Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.’ Desirable but difficult?
…I’ve read explanations of what Jesus might have meant… and Jesus’ other statements about giving up your rights, leaving everything, taking up your cross… Following Jesus was – and is – desirable but difficult.
…Des and Octavia weren’t put off when the desirable appeared difficult…
malcolmsmusings.org 
Malcolm, as always, this is a “home run”. This morning my devotion was about motivated by love. Although not exactly as this, it aligns because the “difficult” is putting aside human desire to please and obeying God because …well, He first loved me. It’s not emotional blackmail. Is it difficult? What never fails is when I do the difficult things he desires, I see the evidence of love that grew out of the grace. Kudos to the mountain movers you shared about. Yesterday, I “thought” I’d have some time,…I was not subbing. What I desired wasn’t even in God’s plan because a friend needed help. Yet, I was so blessed and thankful last night. Will you pray for me? I’m wanting to do something difficult ~ and one neighbor is a bit of a “challenge”, but I want to bring my neighbors together for a fall party. Political lines have been drawn. Why do I want to do this? Because the signs they’re displaying shouldn’t be what keeps us isolated~ but perhaps, kindness might keep us interested in each other. I appreciate your wisdom, perspective, and walk! Thank you, Malcolm!
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Great point, Karla. The fact that love comes through God’s grace, not our efforts, is perhaps opne reason that it can be difficult. The party sounds like a great idea, Karla. Bringing people together with kindness in their differences has the potential to have a huge positive effect. I pray that it will do.
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Thank you, my friend. it’s so true that we are “performance-based” right? I’m thinking of schools—and my religious and doctrine-oozing upbringing! Thank you for your prayers as I attempt this! God bless you!
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