Tea with the Bedouins
Hello dear friend,
Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you are doing well!
As I write, COP27 is taking place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik - a place I visited for a travel feature. Swimming in the clear, warm Red Sea, spying, through the glass bottom of a small boat, shoals of colourful fish darting amid off-shore coral reefs, and taking tea with the Bedouins in their camp in the hills. Highly memorable and fun! But COP 27 is a very serious business and we pray for a good outcome. A real commitment to reducing the rise in global temperature.
As a journalist in Athens I interviewed a number of environmental activists. They had a common message: Don't expect THEM (whoever you consider Them to be) to do something about IT (whatever It is annoying you at the time) but instead take personal responsibility for whatever environmental issue you come up against. For instance, in Greece there were lots of complaints about the rubbish on the beaches. Some of this came from high winds and waves bringing in jetsam from boats - including lots of plastic bottles that had been dropped overboard by tourists and locals. The rest was left behind by visitors to the beaches. The message from the interviewees was: Take responsibility for your rubbish and either put it in a bin or take it home. You get the idea!
This winter, with Putin trying to senselessly annihilate Ukraine, the cost of fuel is eye-watering! Industry, businesses, and even schools are struggling. Then, we are worrying about heating our homes. But unless you are frail, for whatever reason, or have very young children, there are things you can do to keep yourself warm at home. Actually, central heating only became widespread in the UK in the 1980s, so I, for one, grew up without it. (See history of heating link below.) That meant that in the winter we dressed warmly - both inside and outside the home. I recommend it - both for comfort and doing your bit for saving fuel; saving the planet!
Of course, like everyone else, I became dependent on central heating to keep warm in winter. But when I began living in Athens the first winter was a shock. Yes, it does get cold there. But the apartments are set up for a warm climate so my flooring was marble one side and wooden the other = very cold in winter. Traditionally the Greeks lay rugs in winter (which are then collected by small companies in spring to clean and store until next winter). In many apartments the central heating is oil-fired, and centrally controlled. This meant that, in mine (and commonly), it was timed to come on for an hour each morning and evening. It was a shock to my system. I bought a fan heater as soon as possible and hung over it shivering. This is what many people are facing now in the UK.
But let me tell you what happened next. I soon found ways to be warm again. I dressed warmly - both inside and outside the home. On top of that I bought a big fluffy dressing gown and a couple of hot water bottles. And if, for example, working at my desk in a draughty hallway, I felt chilled, I pulled on the dressing gown with a hot water bottle tucked inside it and drank a mug of steaming tea. And I was soon feeling toasty! Or, I simply got active. And the fan heater? It was consigned to a cupboard and I discovered it when I was packing up to leave, years later. Back in Wales I do the same thing: dress for the weather. I don't like my home too warm, it doesn't feel healthy. So I use my central heating with care. This way, I am also doing my bit for the planet...
My message to you is this: If you are fit and healthy it is amazing how quickly you can adapt to a cooler home, and even prefer it. Oh, and I popped into Primark and bought, what I now know is a Snuddie (see BBC news link below) and it is fantastically warm and snuggly!! And the savings in my energy bills as well as my contribution towards reducing the impact on the environment make me feel better all-round - including mentally!
Try the following prayer to think this over;
Dear Heavenly Father, I don't like being cold but I do want to only use my fair share of the world's energy. So please will you help me to be creative about this, finding ways to be warm and contented this winter as the world faces many problems. And then, as I also save money doing this, please help me to help others in need. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here's hoping you try this out for yourself. Let me know how you get on!
God bless
Teresa x
PS When I read the Nehemiah Factors I learned that in South Africa it is the custom to wear coats at home in the winter. And nobody moans about it. (Sharon Nobuhle Williams's The Nehemiah Factors - see my blog "Up your leadership skills through Nehemiah" published February 22)
For more information on loving your neighbour check out my new prayer guide:
https://www.amazon.com/Pray-Then-Listen-Heart-Heart/dp/1789043697
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pray-Then-Listen-heart-heart/dp/1789043697
Please visit my website for more info and inspiration https://www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk/
https://www.myuniquehome.co.uk/the-history-of-heating-a-home/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63553057
