Make things better
It was a real surprise and a genuine honour for Jenny and me to be presented the Stead Community Award. The award recognises people who contribute to village life and the local community, and while our names may have been attached to it this year, we know full well that so much of what happens in this village is only possible because of many others. Our first thought was the incredible number of volunteers who help alongside us. Around the library and Assist groups alone, there are more than forty volunteers from across the area giving their time, energy, and care to help things run smoothly. Some are part of the church, many are not, but all share something important in common: they love this village and want to ‘make things better’.
That phrase: ‘make things better’ is the key. Over the years, I have had opportunities to sit with people in business, entrepreneurs, church leaders, and even those involved in politics. They have come from very different backgrounds and held very different opinions. Yet when asked why they do what they do, a common theme often emerges: a genuine desire to improve things for others, to ‘make things better’. In other words, service. Of course, we may not always agree with every approach people take, and some may be paid while others volunteer quietly behind the scenes, but the heart of service is still there. It is the decision to use what you have, your time, skills, influence, or energy, to help people, strengthen community, and ‘make things better.’
That kind of service is easy to overlook because it often happens quietly. It is people setting up chairs, making drinks, helping at events, listening to someone having a difficult day, or simply turning up week after week because they care. Most never expect recognition. They just get on with it. It reminds me of Queen Elizabeth II’s words that her life would be devoted to service. Those words still resonate because we value people who choose to serve rather than simply do the minimum required. For me as a Christian, that idea comes straight from Jesus. One of the most remarkable moments in the Bible is when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. It was not expected of Him or glamorous in any way. But He did it because serving people reflected His heart. He showed that greatness is not really about status or position, but about love expressed through action.
I think we still see glimpses of that same spirit all around our village today. Every volunteer, every act of kindness, every person who gives up time for others helps make this community stronger and kinder. And the good news is, there is always room for more people to get involved. Whether through the library, local groups, church activities, or community events, opportunities to volunteer are never far away, just look through this Cherry News, contact us or search the internet for organisations who would love you to serve. You may be surprised just how much a small act of service can make 'make things better’.
It's not really about the food
I’m really looking forward to a meal out this evening with some good friends. Nothing fancy; just a table, some decent food, and the chance to sit, talk, laugh, and properly catch up. If I’m honest, the food is only part of the draw. There’s something about sitting around a table that helps conversation go a bit deeper. You get past the usual “how’s things?” and, before long, you’re talking about what’s actually going on in life.
It struck me recently how often meals show up in the life of Jesus. He seemed to spend a remarkable amount of time sitting around tables with people, not just close friends, but all sorts. Those who were well respected and those who certainly weren’t. In fact, it caused quite a stir. Some people couldn’t understand why he would choose to eat with those considered outsiders or “not good enough.” For Jesus, it was never really about the food. It was about connection. In his culture, sharing a meal wasn’t casual; it meant acceptance. It said, “You’re welcome here.” And that’s what Jesus offered, again and again. Around those tables, people who felt on the outside found themselves included. People who had been written off were given another chance. Lives quietly, and sometimes dramatically, changed. And it didn’t have to be fancy. Jesus is well known for sharing a sardine sandwich with a few thousand people on a hillside. Bread and fish, not exactly fine dining, but it became something powerful because it brought people together and met them where they were. It does make me wonder whether we’ve made connection harder than it needs to be. We live in a time where we can message anyone instantly, and yet it’s surprisingly easy to lose touch. Weeks turn into months, and we realise we haven’t properly spoken to someone in far too long. Life fills up quickly. We’ve been promising to have tonight’s meal for months. So, here’s a simple nudge: who could you reconnect with this week?
It might be over a meal. It might be a coffee. It might just be picking up the phone instead of sending another message. It doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it’s often the simplest invitations that mean the most: “Fancy a catch-up?”
And perhaps there’s another connection worth thinking about too. Just as we can drift from one another, we can drift from God, quietly, without making a conscious decision to do so. Yet the invitation at the heart of the Christian faith is not about formality or getting everything right, but about relationship. A God who meets us where we are, not where we think we ought to be. In a world that can feel a bit fragmented at times, maybe one of the most meaningful things we can do is choose to reconnect with each other, and with God.
And it might just start with something as simple as sitting down together.
