Thoughts & opinion from the southampton vineyard team
What are we looking at?
by Matt Hyam on 17th January, 2010
It took EIGHT months to get into the Old Chemist. EIGHT!
The longer it went on the more I prayed and the more dependent on God I became. Even if it was just to bang my fists against his chest and shout at him for not making it happen quicker. But that’s just because I am so godly and patient!
Then it all just happened. Suddenly. One minute it’s not happening, the next I am literally running up and down the high street in Southampton getting documents signed by lawyers and bankers drafts from banks to lawyers and then keys from agents.
It has felt as though I have been pretty much running ever since then. Crazy! Fix the roof; fix the boiler; electricity on; gas on; water on; alarm reset; rubbish cleared out; shelves up; move stuff over; clean the place; cut keys; cut keys again because they were done wrong in the first place; buy stuff etc. etc.
In the midst of it, in the rare moments where I can think, I remember that it was Jesus’ idea in the first place, and that in the middle of the “stuff” it is so easy to lose sight of him. Often, people talk about how busy they are as some kind of badge to say how important they must be. Or maybe that is just me? Honestly, I think this is the opposite of the values of the kingdom. I think that when I feel the most busy, it is when I am least focussed on Jesus.
We have a race to run. Ours (Southampton Vineyard) seems to have taken us (as least for the moment) to a shop front in Bitterne Triangle, but if I fix my eyes on the shop front and not on the author and perfector of my faith then I am seriously going to get lost.
We’re nearly ready now. It can so easily feel as though you’ve reached the end of the race, when all that has happened is that you’ve made it to the starting blocks. The scariest thing now is that we actually have to deliver. We can all talk a good race. I’m great at that – talking – but what about the doing.
So, what am I looking at? The Old Chemist? The jobs that need doing? What we’ve achieved? The exciting ideas? Or Jesus – you know, the one who had the idea (in this case the Old Chemist, but for you, please slot in the appropriate words) in the first place.
Something in me just keeps nagging that if I’d kept my eyes fixed on him throughout this entire process then the whole thing may just have been a LOT more fun and a LOT less stressful. I am sure that my stubbornness will prevent me from learning from this, but it would be good if I did though.
Hmmm.
Eight months? Now you come to mention it I do remember the idea of various people spending their summer holidays sorting out stuff in “The OC” (which is a familiar sounding moniker… if only I could think where I’d heard it) – as it turned out it was the Christmas holidays instead.
I’m excited about where this has taken us, even though I don’t live in Bitterne Park. I look forward to where it leads us… or possibly what it drops us in!
Matthew – The OC was a teen American programme on TV a few years ago – perhaps that’s where you recognise it from?
Matt – 8 months? almost the time between blog posts!!!
What a great sense of humour, so nice to find the ramblings of a godly man, I realise a couple of months have passed since the above ramblings, it occurs to me that from conception to birth is 9 months, you have had 8 months of labouring, keeping focused on the Jesus, you are in the birthing period, after the labour pains, comes the joy of helping and watching your child grow, i pray God really reveals His plans to you that you keep your eyes on Jesus, hE truely will carry the load.
An update would be nice
Not so sure about the godly bit, but its very encouraging, all the same.
Things have been pregressing nicely. Actually, they are progressing so fast that it has exceeded all expectations. It is actually happening. People are actually using the Old Chemist for community stuff. It is really exciting to see that it is getting so booked up.
Am I any more focused on Jesus. Hmmm. Ask me next month.
Matt
mmm a work in progress then? arent we all!
Good to hear your expectations have been exceeded. i am personally encouraged when i hear God is moving in other peoples lives, my faith seems that little bit stronger, it makes me feel that even though i am still waiting for my breakthrough, God is moving.
So what exactly is the *stuff* that the communtiy centre is being used for? I know, i should probably go and read your whole Vineyard website,,, lol,,,i was distracted by your blog with the ramblings and glass of wine and to think all i was doing was surfing the web looking for a good Spirit filled church to visit one sunday when i am in the UK later in the year.(lol… Holy Spirit that is!)