Today’s Advent challenge is all about making a difference in a small way. Quite often I get into thinking that in order to be a good Christian or a good person, I need to do some heroic life-changing action. That I need to volunteer, do missionary work, be the greatest ever example of humanity – it’s all a bit too much pressure. And today’s challenge reminds me it’s the little things that matter. Things like remembering someone’s name after meeting them the one time, or following up on a comment from a conversation earlier in the month. Being on the receiving end of that sort of attention to detail makes you feel like you matter to that person and it can make a real difference to you on any day, but especially on a bad day.

Today’s challenges were all about the simple things you can do to make someone else feel better:

• Hold the door open for someone
• Be quick to reply to text messages and emails
• Smile more!

I’ve chosen to smile more, although, I am also trying to work on the other two options when the opportunity arises. With my challenge in mind, I am joining the other members of my church outside one of the local underground stations. We are going to sing carols, smile a lot and hand out mulled wine to tired and weary commuters. I can’t read music and I am only familiar with most carols to the extent of hearing them on the radio on Christmas Eve, so this should be entertaining. If I can catch the eyes of as many grumpy London commuters as possible and get them to smile, even if it is for a bum note, then I’ll feel like I’ve spread a little Christmas cheer.