CLOSE PROXIMI

I came into close proximity with a cup of tea today. It was a near thing. With just a few days to go, I feel like I've done really well to make it this far without going completely loopy.

I gave up tea for Lent.

I've had various reactions to this over the last month or so. Jack's was probably my favourite. Jack is a guy who comes to our group at Calcot sometimes. To say he wears his heart on his sleeve would be a bit like saying Antarctica gets a bit nippy in the winter.

"You what??" he exploded.

"Yeah, I've given up tea."

"How could you give up.. tea?" He was outraged. It was as though I'd said I were fasting from oxygen.

"Well, it ought to be something difficult to give up," I said. "I think that's the point of it; well, part of the point of it - so you're more focused and you've proven that there is something... well, more important in your life."

"Yeah Matt," he flustered, "But tea, I mean... come on? You seriously gave up tea?"

I seriously did - and it's been great actually. I've felt a lot lighter without it and it hasn't really crossed my mind too much. On the day we went to London, I got back with sore feet and collapsed on the sofa - that was a moment for a cuppa if ever there had been one, but apart from that... I've coped alright.

I'm looking forward to Sunday though.

As I've said before, there is a huge power in giving up stuff - especially when it's important to you. I think it's sort of sewn into the way we work - it's counterintuitive and crazy to do such difficult things, to sacrifice something that hurts.

Megan, a friend of mine, is raising money at the moment by shaving off her hair - well, at least she will when she's raised enough. It's in aid of cancer research, I think. I'm not sure I would do that - and it's much easier for guys to get the clipper-treatment. She is crazybrave is Megan. I take my hat off to her... but then, I can put it straight back on again I suppose. Here is the link to her Just Giving page if you want to find out more.

I think I might go for a darjeeling on Sunday. Maybe with a jaffa cake, perched on the saucer.