Hit 2012 Kneeling

Training on Thursday involved a 7 mile run with the Datchet Dashers, everyone set out at such a pace that rather than a training run it felt more like a race. I decided to keep a comfortable pace and see how I felt later on. It paid off towards the end whilst a few were slowing down I felt reasonably good and was able to sprint the final 200 meters or so. It reminded me of Bishop Stephen Cottrell's book on leadership ‘hit the ground kneeling, in which he says “leadership is the ability to let things happen at the right pace”. Since the start of 2012 for me the opposite is true, in terms of work life balance things feel more like a non-stop tread mill. I am excited though because 2012 is one amazing year packed with so much potential. But like a marathon I need to pace myself and so do you.

There is no doubt that 2012 is a big year for UK, so it’s important to schedule our events well, and pace ourselves through the year. Putting key dates in the church diary now will allow those who are keen to make the most of the opportunities to have time for their holidays as well as fit in with what the church is doing. This will ensure a sustained programme of community engagement becomes manageable.

We all know that there are times when church life can indeed feel like a marathon but it’s not meant to be that way. In 1 Corinthians 9 24 -27 the Apostle Paul talks of the need for the self-discipline when he writes “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize"

One way to do this is ‘Don’t re-invent the wheel’ I know this goes against what Bishop Stephen says in his book  but there are times when I believe it’s justified. And it’s good news for all of us, because it will save us valuable time and effort.

There are a lot of help and resources out there to help churches with their quest to get involved. For example More than Gold  www.morethangold.org.uk and Traidcraft have produced a very helpful guide that will help with your plans. But every parish is different, and amongst all the activities we need to remember to pace ourselves.

Even in the midst of competition one thing athletes are good at is providing support for each other, perhaps that’s key to the churches approach to mission too.

Below are the key dates for your diary

11th February             200 days to Paralympics opening cenremony
14th April                   A day of prayer around Dorney Lake
18^th April                    100 days to go to the Olympic Games

18^th May                     Olympic Flame arrives

19   May                     Olympic Torch Relay begins

21^st May                     100 days to go to the Paralympic Games

1 st June                     57 days to go

21June                        London 2012 Festival begins

  9^th July                      Olympic Torch Relay Oxford…

 10^th July                     Olympic Torch Relay Reading…

27^th  July                     Olympic Opening Night

4^th August                   Super Saturday

27th August                Paralympic Flame Festival

29^th August                 Paralympic Opening Night

9^th September             Last Day of the Games

Get ready to run