I know Siobhan and she is a doer rather than a self-publiciser, so I will say this for her:She is disabled herself. During the past two weeks she has: helped an acquaintance with internet and other research for: a basic funeral as he has terminal cancer in both lungs and the local age charities and doctors have been of little use (passing him on to other organisation; hospices; and medication and treatment options. She has photographed and tried to get something done damage caused by a local crime that the police and local authorities are trying to ignore. She has helped a different friend who is the carer for a disabled child to return and exchange a rooster that was purchased in error thinking it was a hen and has also helped that friend with the construction of a log store for firewood and helped cut up firewood. This evening she is going out to leaflet for a good cause.She is a believer that charity starts at home and we are measured eventually not for the big publicised actions that gain us kudos in society, but by the way in which we deal with the "little" things like the upublicised welfare and support of those around us. As Christ taught is, public actions count for nothing, it is what we do when we do not seek adulation and approval for that is important.Matthew 6:1New International Version (NIV)Matthew 6Giving to the Needy "1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.""To her it is more important that someone with no remaining relatives has a decent funeral and some support while they are dying than that we have a local development plan (hubris) and an arts centre.I know that she thinks that in terms of "working with the council" rather than getting it to "do what is right" is a Faustian pact with the devil and a sell-out.Romans 3:7-9 (New International Version)New International Version (NIV) "7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!"Romans 6:1Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ "1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" Especially now that you have been given the £20,000 to start the localism initiative in West Ealing she cautions:Job 36:18"Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside."It is such a shame that we have already forgotten about the closure of the Albert Dabe Centre day centre for the disabled and the LINKS Project for the mentally by Ealing Council yet the type of windows in people houses and the preservation and creation of elite arts centres continue to be campaigned for by those without any humanity.
Mick O'Reilly ● 5108d