The Toast Took Its Time

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The toast was taking a while.

Lyn, one of the Church Council Elder, was quick to point out there was nothing wrong with the toaster. It works perfectly well at home, so the power setup in the hall might have something to answer for.

With 23 people at Brekky Club, there was a bit of a wait.

So people talked while they waited. There was time for a catch-up, a giggle and another conversation around the kitchen bench. Eventually the toast popped up and someone else took their turn.

Later,  it tied in well with what Paul Ryan from Grampians Health had us thinking about.

Paul joined us for a session on wellbeing, meaning and action, including PACE: Pause, Act, Connect and Enjoy.  Four simple words, but there was plenty to them.

We thought about our values and strengths, what gives us a sense of meaning and connection, and how we filter some of the noise around us. 

Naming a strength in someone else seemed much easier than naming one in ourselves. There was no long list of things we should change either. We were asked to think about one small action. Something achievable and personal.

That seemed to be what people liked about the session. It gave us time to stop and think about what we are doing and where our energy is going. 

As one person put it, "It's an opportunity to stop, pause and think about the things that we do." Another comment summed up an important part of the morning.  "It's not confronting."

Nobody had to share anything they did not want to. There was time to think, write and talk.

Chip and Dan Heath write in The Power of Moments about the importance of moments of connection. Sometimes an ordinary interruption gives us one.

The slow toast was still slow. Nothing changed that. But while people waited, they talked. Meanwhile, Pastor Andrew and Aileen kept the plunger coffee coming. The instant coffee was sitting there too, although nobody seemed particularly interested in it.

Towards the end, Andrew reminded everyone there was no need to rush. "There's still food on the table, and we can still get toast."

There was.  You simply had time for another conversation while you waited.