Ye of little faith...

What good is a man
Who won't take a stand
What good is a cynic
With no better plan Ben Harper, Better Way

What good is a cynic? I would describe myself as cynical. I can't help it. I think most British people are. According to one friend, it's a result of us being 'bruised and damaged idealists', never the same after 2 world wars. Whatever the reason, we're a miserable nation. Now, I don't mind being cynical. It's part of me, and I quite like me. But what good am I without a better plan?

I was eating lunch today and Ben Harper's music video came on the TV and that lyric really struck me. The song wasn't even supposed to be on. The presenter had announced a Flaming Lips song, and it's title came up in front of Ben Harper's face. What good is a cynic with no better plan.

This week we have been hosting 31 Canadians (if any of you are reading this, thank you SO much!) who are associated with Agape (Campus for Christ as it's called) over there. If I'm honest, I was a bit nervous about them coming and being a burden and a pain to look after. In reality, they couldn't have been a bigger blessing. They came with expectation, faith and positivity, blowing my cynicism out of the water. Over the course of the week 8 (EIGHT) people decided to follow Jesus for the first time. That's more than I've heard about directly for the last 4 months.

It's easy to be pessimistic about our culture, the spiritual climate and lame Christian attitudes (myself included). And there are somethings its good to be cynical about because it may well drive change (and if you've got an hour maybe I'll share them with you). But there is a better plan, and if I don't have one, God certainly does. For all of us.

I'm learning.