Influence & consequences

Back in the late 1970s a Methodist Deaconess, who was living in the East Yorkshire village of Ottringham, was asked by a girl who was living in the same village whether she would be prepared to host a meeting for young people who were connected to some of the local village Methodist churches.  The idea was that the young people concerned could meet together and discuss matters of mutual interest.  The Deaconess ('Sister Gwen' as she was then known) agreed that the young people could meet in her home as long as she didn't need to get involved other than make the teas and coffees etc.

Several teenagers gathered for the first meeting.  When Gwen took in the refreshments, she discovered that the topic of conversation was euthanasia.  This so intrigued her that she stopped to listen and take part in the discussion.  By doing so she became 'hooked' and began to take part in future meetings, seeking to offer helpful insights and advice to the young people, and helped them to see how the Christian faith related to various topics under discussion.  

The group really began to gel; the youngsters formed a close bond, and developed in their Christian faith to such an extent that they formed a 'mission band' named the Ambassadors.  As a group they took services in a number of the local Methodist churches.  For many of them, this was a first step in any form of public speaking or worship leading.

This snippet of history is particularly relevant to me and Sue, because we were members of that youth group, and being invited to be part of that group was how we first met.  Sue lived in the same village (Ottringham), and I lived in the next village along the A1033 towards Hull.  The chances are that if the group had not been formed, Sue and I would never have met.  In due course I fell in love and eventually (after much effort on my part!) persuaded Sue to marry me.  Some 38 and a half years later, Sue and I have been blessed with 3 fantastic children and 4 amazing grandchildren (not to mention a wonderful son and daughter-in-law), and we are still very much in love.

In one sense we owe it all to Gwen.  If she hadn't been prepared to open her home to a disparate group of teenagers, all that Sue and I have shared together would probably never have happened.  We also owe so much to Gwen through the love, care, support and nurture which she offered to us all.  We really did grow in faith in so many ways, and a number of the group are today still involved in Christian ministry of various sorts.  We had the privilege of having Gwen to stay with us this weekend, and as we chatted all sorts of memories came flooding back, as the intervening years rolled away!

The weekend not only brought back some great memories, but also reminded me how important one decision can be.  The consequences of Gwen being willing to open her home were immense, and Sue and I can never fully express the gratitude we feel.  Not only that, but the influence which Gwen had on the lives of those of us who were part of the group, during our formative years, is impossible to gauge.

Every decision we make has consequences of some kind or another.  To be generous and open-hearted can make such a difference.  And whether we like it or not, our lives do influence others, for good or evil.  I thank God for Gwen and the part she has played in our lives.  And I pray that God will help me to be as generous and open-hearted as she was, to make good decisions, and to be a positive influence in the lives of other people.