Experience

In England you think Tesco, but in Cape Town you think Pick and Pay. A brand new Pick and Pay supermarket opened shortly before our arrival here and it is just a 5 minute drive away - very convenient. It’s situated in a complex that includes other shops, a gym, some residential flats and a car park. Not surprisingly the multi purpose use of the building has produced a few teething troubles, especially when refunds can be obtained for the parking if you’ve shopped in the Supermarket, though through a slightly contorted system.  All of this was discussed in a letter to a local newspaper last week. Responsibly there was an immediate answer from the Manager of Pick and Pay, part apology, part pointing out the efforts being made to perfect the system and also part best wishes for all Pick and Pay customers whom they want to have a happy parking experience. I have never really previously considered the need for an experience when I park. But I notice that ‘experience’ is a buzz word these days. For your birthday, don’t have a boring present of socks or bath gel, go for an experience. There are companies that will drop you of a plane (with parachute) or arrange for you to make your own CD etc. It’s important to have an experience. I must admit a slight dislike of the approach of a Christian recording company in issuing its CDs under the heading of A Worship Experience. Why can’t I just worship?

We had one of those interesting conversations the other day that still surprises even after 41 years of marriage. I know this will bring in a shoal of emails expressing disgust and advice like, do it yourself, and shocked of Hove, but we have a family tradition that Sue always makes my sandwiches for me to take for my lunch. (Yes, I know - terrible isn’t it). So the other morning Sue was short of time and I was doing something extremely important for the advance of the Kingdom on the Computer and my wife says, “why aren’t you making your sandwich”. The truthful answer was that I didn’t know I was supposed to make my sandwich that morning after 41 years of not making a sandwich, so it came as a bit of a shock. I have obviously missed out in my married life on the whole valuable sandwich making experience.

Since last week we have had another very successful Senior Leaders Training morning. again, good attendance and I feel very good content for those that came. We looked at the Doctrine of Salvation, Applying the gospel and the Leader’s Devotional life. Another good Sunday too, enthusiastic worship and people seeming to appreciate the message on the Faithfulness of God.

Our Monday off took us on 90 minute drive to the coastal resort of Hermanus; a favourite of ours that we have visited many times in the years that we have been coming here. It is genuinely the best place in the world to view whales from the shore and they were so close to the beach that you could almost touch them. Others were spouting and jumping out at sea; it’s really quite a moving experience - there we go again.

Now we are packing and getting ready for about 10 days with the church in Dubai. This will include at least 2 Leaders’ meetings and preaching on the 2 Fridays that we are there. The trouble is I have now been to Dubai so often I begin to worry that I’ve told them everything that I’ve ever had to say. But we always so enjoy being with the church there; it’s a real privelege to think we can be with them again. So for the next few days we expect to be involved in the Dubai experience and neither of us will be making sandwiches.

Tweet This