Walking home from school
Today I had my first 15 minute Revolution as I was walking home from school.
It had not been a particularly enjoyable day due to the pressures of my upcoming exams, and the overall oppressiveness of living in a school consumed by darkness had overwhelmed me yet again. As a result, I sneaked out of the bottom entrance of school so I could walk home alone. Well, my idea of a peaceful walk home in the sunlight listening to Casting Crowns and praying, was soon shattered as I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned around to find out that a girl from my year group whom I had spoken to once or twice before, decided that she wanted company on her walk home. (This particular girl was seen as one of the outcasts in the school. She is by no means, ranked as popular and has few friends at school). I have to say that I was somewhat less than amused by this new arrival. But, frustrated though I was, I pulled out my earpiece to listen to her.
She began to ask me a slew of questions, things like how my weekend had gone and what I was up to, all the general small talk questions. She was sweet enough about it but I really did not feel like talking. It was then that I remembered Paul’s message about inconveniencing myself for the benefit of someone else. I then thought, ‘Ok God, I get it, I hear you’, so I began to also ask her some of the similar questions that she asked me. I got one opportunity to share a little bit of my faith with her on the topic of the music that I enjoy listening to. After we split to go our separate routes home, I began to thank God for the experience. I realised that not only did she seem to benefit from the small chat we had (her expression had become happier by the time we parted) but I too became particularly pleased and was very grateful for the experience.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
At the beginning of this school year I was handed an amazing opportunity. My school was organising a trip to Romania to work with orphans in Mangalia. Having turned this down in previous years, this year I decided to take an application form and fill it in. At the beginning of January I had an interview with the teacher running the project. The interview only lasted about 15 minutes. However, I remember being sat in a church meeting only weeks before when Abs Niblock was speaking. She recalled a time when she was my age and took it upon herself to step outside of her comfort zone and go to a poorer country to offer a helping hand. This deeply inspired me and during those 15 minutes of my interview all I had running through my head was “Here I am, send me.” which was a bible verse Abs shared with us that night. My 15 minute revolution was a revolution to step outside of my comfort zone. It was a chance to inconvenience myself to help others. I realise at times it may be heart breaking and extremely hard but I’m more than willing to put myself in that position because I know God can use me and I’m praying with all my heart that me and the rest of my group are able to make a difference.