It’s really easy to be a Christian…when there’s no tests. But then, that would be too easy, wouldn’t it? In a world full of choices, free will, temptations, emotions, likes and dislikes there is much to make our journey hard. But the end result is much more fulfilling if we put that hard work in.

Some time ago, walking back into church bringing the Sunday School back in, I looked up and saw a neighbour – someone who lived in our building and whom was not a “model neighbour”.

That sinking feeling when you see someone you don’t really want to because you have to be nice. The “did you have to come through our door when there’s many many churches in the High Street, only yards away” feeling.

The answer that we don’t want to listen to but must is “Yes. They are my children too”!

And it is so worth it – to just put in that tiny tiny effort. A smile, a “Good Morning”, a “Welcome, it’s nice to see you here”.

And one day, we might be visiting their church and the best thing will be, regardless of whether they remember that you were kind to them or not, when they welcome you in return. And the most important thing that you’ll remember about that visit was that when you walked through the door of somewhere that you never expected would become a second home, someone, whether they wanted to see you there or not, was kind to you and made you feel that it was okay, good even, for you to be there! And all we can hope is that the tiny tiny effort that we made, that smile that cost us nothing, those kind words at just the right moment, maybe also meant as much to them!