The first week of 40acts is over and we’re 4 acts in so far to this year’s challenge. I’ve been looking forward to the email arriving in my inbox each morning which consists of a reflection by one of the 40 Christian writers who are involved this year followed by the day’s generosity challenge. This year has seen a slightly different format with three options for each days challenge, colour-coded green, yellow or red, depending on how much you want to push yourself (or are able to push yourself) each day.
The challenges for this week have been:
- Act 1: Starting line – preparing and planning for the generosity challenge
- Act 2: Chinwag – how well do you know your neighbours?
- Act 3: Clean – what can we do to make the world around us a more beautiful place?
- Act 4: Devise a surprise – doing something nice as a surprise for someone around us.
The green option for each day is the most accessible one – usually only requiring 5 minutes less of your time and being free (or really cheap) cost-wise. The yellow option is a little more challenging, requiring around 15 minutes to complete and perhaps costing a couple of pounds. Then there is the red option, which is the most challenging of the three options.
For example, the challenge for day 3 – clean – gives the following suggestions:
- Green – pick up any litter that you see lying about and drop into a bin (using a litter picker or wearing gloves) or sort out your kitchen so you can recycle more easily.
- Yellow – commit to keeping a patch of land near where you live litter-free and possibly plant a few bulbs to attract bees and butterflies
- Red – organise a community clean-up, find out about local conservation groups or organise a group to scrub some graffiti or do some litter-picking together.
So far, I’ve generally been sticking to the green or yellow options which are much more do-able with two small children in tow! I’ve started a journal to keep a list of those I’d like to bless during Lent (or beyond!) and to record my challenges for each day, had a lovely long chat with a neighbour whilst our kids played in the park (and made sure I found out her name and not just those of her children!), picked litter off our front garden and surprised my lovely hubby with a card just to say “I love you”.
Have you been taking part in 40acts? I’d love to hear how you’ve been getting on.
Having read your previous post about this, I did actually go straight to the site and register… I now have four unopened emails in my inbox from them (hanging head in shame). BUT!! Half term is now over so come tomorrow I am determined to take up this challenge!!
I’m normally like that with these things too and half-term can make it more difficult. Good luck with joining in this week! 🙂
Such a gorgeous post Louise! I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t got the time to focus on 40 Acts this year, maybe next year.
Totally inspired by you though, I am giving up something for Lent for the first time ever. My third coffee of the day, which might seem like nothing to some but with my lack of sleep most nights it’s become a crutch. I know that trying to give up coffee altogether would make me miserable, so this is a compromise I’m hoping I will be able to stick to. Wish me luck 🙂
Thank you Renee – good luck with giving up your third coffee. I know what you mean about trying to give up would make you miserable – I have to say, it has been quite tough some days but I’m allowing myself the occasional cup of a tea as a substitute which helps!
I’d not heard of the 40 acts challenge but what a lovely idea! It fits nicely with Karin Joyce’s #embracehappy challenges too a lot of which are about helping or thanking others and feeling the joy that it can give you. Congratulations on completing week one and thank you so much for linking this up at #sharethejoy x
Thank you – it is a great challenge. Lovely to link up again to #sharethejoy 🙂
I’d not heard of the 40 acts challenge before, what a wonderful idea it is though. Lovely post and congratulations on completing week one! #TheList
Thank you – it’s a great challenge 🙂
I would love to do this, but I am so short of time, fabulous post huni and well done for making the time to do it x
Thanks Aby – am enjoying doing it 🙂
Sounds like some wonderful challenges and so lovely to maybe do some of them with your kiddies! Good luck for the rest of the month 🙂 xx Thanks for linking up xx
#Thelist
Thank you, lovely to link up 🙂