Not Just the Ordinary…

I was amused yesterday when I bought a sandwich. The wrapper told me ‘This is not just a honey roast ham and cheddar cheese sandwich. This is an M&S honey roast ham and cheddar cheese sandwich, in our soft vitamin D-enriched oatmeal bread.’ I was getting something better that I realised!

Not just the ordinary – something special!

I bought my sandwich at St Pancras Station in London. Rachel and I had got up early. Daughter-Jo had taken us to Lowestoft train-station. We’d travelled by train to London; at St Pancras we were waiting for Eurostar to take us to Paris.

Some of our friends said, ‘Have a nice holiday.’ But this was not just any holiday – we were going to Paris to see our lovely French relations whom we haven’t seen for a long time…

Whilst waiting at St Pancras we enjoyed people watching… Two teenage brothers annoying their younger sister in a loving way… extrovert, loud American tourists – we got chatting to a couple from Raleigh, North Carolina…

I watched an older man walking past. He was dressed in an eccentric fashion… he was playing with a yoyo… he had a ukelele sticking out of the top of his bag. He was not just ‘some old man’… I made up my own story about him.

Arriving safely in Paris we were met by Nephew-Joel and Sister-in-law-Geneviève. They took us to see Nephew-Benjamin and his family. Benjamin is pastor of a church in the North of Paris. It’s the oldest protestant church in Paris… founded by Ruben Saillens… links to Charles Spurgeon… in 1888.

This church building is not just some historic monument. It’s a living, growing church community, with a Sunday congregation of two-hundred, proving soup to the homeless, meals to poor families…

I read this morning of God’s love and faithfulness. In a multi-faith, multi-cultural area Nephew-Benjamin’s church is worshiping, serving and inspired by not just any god… Not just the ordinary. Their God… our God… is someone very special.