One of our group this week shared how he saw his and Paul's life are connected. Both were wrongly accused and on trial before a jury. Both faced prison. Both were rejected at different times by other people and those who didn't understand. It was amazing to hear these connections of two people's lives being made. Along with other things it has given renewed confidence about sharing and being good news in difficult times. And there are some of those at present in our community as we grieve, struggle and try to discern what is to be left as we move into a different phase as a community together. We are learning from marginalised friends about their sleeping regularly in one of several local parks some nights and how a song can still be on their lips about the goodness of God in the morning. We are learning about the presence of uncertainty when we want certainties about our health, homes, safety, families and church. We are learning to mix and mingle more with the apostles, deacons, early movements of The Way of Jesus and to be who we are and who God continues to call us - people who are a funny mix of lovers of earth with heavenly hopes. Some of this is from our friends in this community, some of it is from our friends as we are introduced to them in Acts.
These things are changing our perspectives in small ways, our hearts too.
