Conversational Theology

I am very, very grateful to all the people who have given in the past, and are continuing to give now, towards the cost of my studies. It is a wonderful thing to be blessed by God’s generous provision in this way. I continue to be amazed at just how well he knows my needs and moves his people to supply them.

But there is one thing that is unexpectedly hard about being in this position of dependence. It’s not often that I am in a position to give generously and freely to other people. It’s hard to show hospitality, it’s hard to give the kind of presents you’d like to be able to, it’s hard to know how much one ought to give to church. And so on.

So, it’s been lovely today to be able to give things away. I’m moving at the end of the month, and I’m not planning on taking any of the furniture or household things I’ve collected up here with me. A lot of it was given to me, and the rest was all bought cheaply in charity shops and the like, so I wouldn’t want to try and sell it. I just need to be rid of it. Which is where Freecycle comes in. I joined up a few weeks ago and I’ve been watching people’s requests and responding to them when I can – a chest of drawers for a new baby’s room, my TV to someone who’s just moved house, my bed promised to someone who has just got his first flat. Today I put up a list of the rest of the furniture I need to be taken – and within a few hours, all of it has been claimed. I’m helping a couple who’ve just got married, a woman who is expecting her third child and moving to a bigger house, another woman who has just left her husband and needs to furnish a home for her and her children, and several others. I’ve just had a request from a charity who help to rehouse homeless teenagers. You know, nothing I have would sell for more than a few pounds. It’s functional furniture, not fashionable. And in the past, it would probably have ended up at the tip, because I wouldn’t have had a way of finding all these people who can use it. It seems like this is a win/win service in all respects.

Plus, it’s hilarious reading some of the requests. I was particularly amused by one today from someone in Aviemore (where the roads are closed because of the snow) looking for cross-country skis (can travel to collect).