Today I visited a project that is supported by the Sheffield Methodist Circuit, with Christmas approaching I was delivering hampers that had been put together by one of my churches, hampers that contained all manner of goodies, but not washing up liquid…

Today I am challenged, so much of our current Christmas are centered around luxury items and treats, and yet we forget that within the push to have fun, to celebrate and to indulge, that for some washing up liquid will be a gift beyond our imagining.

That this should be the truth, the fact of 21st Century Britain is very sobering, but as always, I received much more than I gave, I received attention, a real deep conversation with someone I hadn’t known before. I received acceptance from those I knew, I received trust from one whose story I knew a little of, and yet she humbled me…

I witnessed a community pulling together, I witnessed love and deep care from many volunteers and I witnessed the fact that sometimes , more times than we might think real, that washing-up-liquid is a deeper need and more appreciated than any luxuries than I/ we can imagine…

Washing_up-liquid , carrots and dog food were on offer today, offered and graciously,and gratefully received….

When we give perhaps there should always be space to listen to the actual need, washing up liquid, dog food, and other seemingly mundane things can meet that need, as can eye contact, an interest in a name, and simple allowance of dignity can make a huge difference…

Today I had a conversation about washing-up-liquid, I remembered that some folk are allergic to it, or to certain types of it, I recognise that giving people choice is giving people dignity, and that, that gift of dignity is worth so much more than a bottle of washing-up-liquid, or a can of beans.

Within each one of us there dwells within a divine spark, and when spark meets spark as with my encounter today, we find God, deeply and truly at work within us! If we dare to look…..