Looking to the Side

I went to Coffee Society tonight in the next "suburb" over. It's a small coffeehouse with just a few tables including some outside on the main street and a couple out back which mostly seat smokers. (I love the public indoor smoking ban in Ireland. You really notice a difference.)

There are only two armchairs, but they were both empty which was good. What was not so good, however, was the Apple and Five Spice muffin. Dry.

To read I took along 'The Jesus Creed' by Scot McKnight. It's ok. It's a book about spiritual formation around the commandment of Jesus to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbour. A very good creed to live by - it boils religion down to a minimum, but with the potential for huge impact.

I liked the phrase that McKnight uses for community and social action. Referring to the story of the Good Samaritan he writes that we should be "looking to the side" for an opportunity to serve people in need in acts of neighbourly love. We see the ministry that my wife and I lead as very much neighbourhood based. McKnight presented a good reminder that "our home is also in our neighbourhood." We shouldn't neglect service and ministry under our own roof.

I'm sure I'll comment more on this book again. I drove home praying for my neighbourhood and community, asking God to show me people with needs.