Small steps to a different life

Just wanted to update people - in my last post I mentioned Julie and how much meeting her impacted me. Well last night, our church had a Bingo and chips night (brilliantly attended with over 100 there) and Julie was among them, with her daughter and grandson. One of the members of our church volunteered to be put on her car insurance and came, picked them up and took them to the event. It was just good for her to be out and doing something normal. It wasn't a huge thing, no miracles, just ordinary people doing ordinary things and including those who for whatever reason would otherwise have been excluded. Who knows where it will end? I hope it will lead to changed lives...

The need for hope bringers is still there

On Tuesday I went down to Ditherington to take part in the Council organised Pride in Shrewsbury initiative. They had organised a litter pick and rubbish removal day and I decided to tag along and see how the families we had helped during the last Soul Purpose were getting on. Some are doing, some gardens are still clear and show signs of being cared for, others are back to the state they were in - that's quite depressing.

But I had my heart-broken, as I met Julie again. For the last two years we have Julie by doing some work in her garden. We'll definitely make it three in a row. Julie is in a wheelchair having had both legs and one arm amputated. Before I say anything else, that is more suffering and pain than I can comprehend. Her husband Mike made appearances on the last two Soul Purpose DVDs saying how much he appreciated our help. Mike was diagnosed with cancer last May just before the last Soul Purpose. Mike died in October. Julie has a car outside which can take her wheelchair but she has no-one to drive it. The only place she gets to go out to, is the hospital. Think about that.

So, I'm going to give Julie a copy of the Soul Purpose DVD because her husband is on it and it's a good memory. We're going to help Julie, decorate her hall, tidy up her garden and we're going to drive her to the evening events (if she feels able to come) so she can be out.

I don't know of any organisation on earth other than the church of Jesus Christ that can offer hope to Julie and others like her, but if we do nothing nothing will change. Jesus said the banquet of the kingdom of God is open to the crippled and the lame, they are not excluded they are invited but it is the task of the disciples of Jesus to go out into the highways and byways and find those who are excluded and invite them to the banquet of the King.