It all started with a prayer: how how to use a special birthday to somehow connect the concepts of poverty - food - celebration, and enjoy myself in an unforgettable and unregrettable way.
And Saturday 23rd Feb looms every nearer, bringing a wave of joy as I think about the incredible generosity of friends, family and colleagues, and also a nervousness that all will go well.
The food is bought, the cakes are on order, the guitar is being tuned, the decorations are awaiting their glorious moment, gifts are ready for boxing and tying with ribbon... We wait for 1pm (in 186 hours time) when 70 Rally Project clients and 20 friends come together for a unique birthday lunch. The setting is St Peter's Hall, Radford, where Rally serves free, hot evening meals 4 times a week. It will be transformed with music, balloons and paper chains, welcoming friends and future friends into the warmth of a party.
It is humbling to know that friends have donated over £1,000 towards the event, sponsoring 'birthday boxes' filled with food, toiletries and chocolate for each of the 100 clients, and giving money towards lunch.
This event is inspired completely by the words of Jesus in Luke 14:
'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.'
It started with a prayer, and now it continues with a prayer, that people may come and eat and enjoy, and celebrate with me my 30th birthday.
