There aren’t many people I would willingly wear lycra with.. or lunge with.. or indeed do any kind of exercise with. But I am delighted to say that I have already found a friend with whom the aforementioned is not scary but really rather funny.

A craze is sweeping the nation. (Well, there is one class near me anyway.) It’s called ZUMBA. It’s a kind of salsa exercise dancey thing. My Jon surprised me a while back by buying me all 67 of the DVD’s. Well, 6 at least. I popped one into the player last night and, in full view of poor passers-by, (my curtains are only for show and don’t actually shut) giggled my way through it with my friend. Much hilarity and perspiration ensued.

I knew I was going to get on with this girl when she shared one of her secret recipes with me. As a big fan of cooking (you don’t get to be my shape without enjoying your nosh) I am always on the look out for the next taste sensation.

Jo, very unselfishly, I thought, offered me this champion suggestion.
1. Take one packet of Chunion crisps. (Apparently Walkers are best)
2. Place on a warm radiator. Leave to ‘cook’ for a few minutes.
3. Enjoy with a beverage of your choice.

Honestly, you’ve not lived if you haven’t tried this. Should I ring Delia and Nigel now?? Seriously, get on to it. It’s a great feeling… a bit like a pasty on a cold day. In March.
Jo, I take my hat off to you Pal… You could be a food writer love.

Serving suggestions have always amused me. There was a great one on a tin of tuna I bought recently. The picture, helpfully containing the words ‘serving suggestion’ – bottom right – was of a tin of tuna upended on a plate with a tiny basil leaf on it. That was it! Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for plain food… but how long did it take them to come with that?? ‘We suggest you serve this line-caught fish by slopping it out onto a plain white plate, going to huge expense and buying a living Basil plant from your local supermarket and relieving it of only ONE of its most disappointingly-sized leaves.’ Come on chaps! A little ingenuity please?

Frankly it looked like more like a plate of IAMS cat food. (Fish in JELLY….eugh! Why is that EVER a good option?!!)

Occasionally there will be a serving suggestion that is helpful, one that gives you an idea and a new way to eat the food. But, most of the time, the company is trying desperately hard to avoid litigation by suggesting that you do not eat their cornflakes with a trowel whilst lying on a lit BBQ in case you accidentally brand yourself or give yourself a DIY tonsillectomy.

What are you like at serving others? Does it come naturally, or do you have to be reminded to think of other’s needs? One of my sons (who shall remain nameless (!) really struggles to remember that there are other people in the world. If he sees his plate ready on the table, he’ll trot off to get himself some cutlery and start eating. He won’t think to get 5 more sets of cutlery out. If I had a button for every time I’ve had to say ‘Think about other people!’ to him, I could be a pearly queen by next Tuesday. Cor’ Blimey Mary Pop-ins!

Some of us love to serve others, but we HATE it if people try to serve us. It makes us feel all uncomfortable and we itch to stand up and do it ourselves. This week one of my friends came to visit. He is a worship leader who travels all over the world. Last week, he was in the US and was struck again by how amazing the service is in restaurants out there. Livelihoods depend on it of course. Waiters get paid minimum wages and the only way they survive is on the tips they receive…

But what he said stuck with me. When he was ‘waited on’ it was not a passive experience for those looking after him. They were not waiting around doing nothing. They were attentive to his needs, aware of what they could do to help and ready with the next item. They were constantly watching.

How good are you at waiting like this? Do you wait passively, anxiously or apathetically? Or are you active and intentional in your waiting? How good are you at waiting on God, at serving Him and those He has called you to love?

Whether you are waiting today for the results of a CAT scan, or an audition, whether you are waiting to see whether your single hits the top ten, or whether the surveyor finds subsidence, or whether you are waiting for God to give you a green light for a much-prayed-for-dream, know this: Waiting ON God is different to waiting FOR Him. Its about taking your desires, failures, fears and passions and laying them at His feet. What He does may not be what you think you need or expect, but it will be worth waiting for.

Thats my serving suggestion for you today.
I’m off to buy some Chunion crisps. (low fat, of course)