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	December 2004				No Left Over: Charlie Russell in his large vegetable garden in September, 2004. Fifty years ago he helped build St Luke's Church, Judbury.
		Just left overs by Rosemary Perrott-Russell
			It happened a few years ago when I was living in Launceston. It was Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, we were gathered for worship, the residents and family members at an Aged Care Facility. A member of the nearby parish church arrived with bunches of flowers, left overs from the morning service. Our service commenced much later than theirs and I was grateful for these bunches of flowers as I now had something to give to the residents at the end of the service. I learnt a very important lesson that Sunday. During the service I made mention that we had been given the leftover flowers from the parish church. I can remember the words used enen though it is a number of years ago. I said: 'isn't this wonderful that the parish church has given us these leftover bunches of flowers.' How I wished the words had never been said. After the service, as I was standing at the door, shaking hands, greeting the residents as they moved out of the room, one of the independent living residents, whose husband was in the high-care section of the home said: 'This is exactly how we feel, we are "just left-overs" ready for the rubbish tip, we have passed our use-by date.' Those words have stayed with me. The passing years have brought me to feel just like that woman and yet I know that the leftovers from a previous meal can be tastier. The fallen petals from the roses make a lovely pot pourri: they give off a fragrance that lasts for years until they become part of the compost, which adds nourishment to the soil. The 'leftovers' have so much to offer. They have experiences, history and wisdom to share with the younger generation. The leftovers will never be 'left over,' because God needs them to be part of a faith community, of a society that functions. These people are the 'salt of the earth.' Their stories are fascinating, giving each one a purpose for existing, tapping into a bygone era. Important people How we love to share experiences and insights we have gained over the years. We who think we are past our use-by date, who might think we are 'just leftovers' need never feel like that because we are special. We are important people. God wants to use our gifts, our experiences, our wisdom until we die. Maybe we might have much more to offer than first realised because the leftovers are tastier and very useful.