Latest column from Irvine Minister the Rev Neil Urquhart

IT'S good to notice the positive things people do and further, to let them know you noticed.

Not often enough do I take that extra step to tell someone that I value their contribution, like telling the council parks’ department that I appreciate their magnificent shows of blooming colour, against huge budget cuts.  

“Catch your teenagers doing good!” is advice I’ve tried to live by, though some times the best I managed was to sarcastically compliment them on how tidy their ‘bedroom ceiling’ was.

Are we Scots more critical than other nations? Does our regular cloudy, wet weather dull our outlook?

Certainly, the consistent stretch of sunshine enjoyed lately has brightened many a face, appreciated all the more when rain is soaking England and other parts of Europe. Sorry, there I’ve done it again and managed to get a negative from a positive. 

In church we try to encourage each other in the good we notice each other doing and it’s something we want to overflow with those we daily rub shoulders with.

‘Excellent Service in the Community’ awards have been a grand way to celebrate the good others are doing, like Irvine’s brawsome ‘Clean-up Crew’ and others who quietly take time to litter-pick off their own bat. 

As Paul puts it in his letter to the Philippians: “I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”