Bumping into Bill

After bumping into Bill Gates in a BBC studio on Wednesday morning, I found myself following the debates at the Global Economic Forum in Davos through prejudiced eyes. The Forum is a who's who collection of politicians, economists, academics, celebrities and opinion formers who meet in Switzerland each year to examine and shape economic trends in our world.

But this year I was mainly tuned into what Mr. Gates had to say at the event. It's amazing what the personal touch can do. I have always found Gates something of an inspiration. Potentially the richest man in the world, he has been a towering model of genuine generosity. And it comes across, not just because his foundation gives away millions of dollars each year to fight poverty, but also because he approaches it without the shackles of political complications. He can afford to do so!

So imagine my amazement when I walked into the green room of the BBC studio to find him waiting for his interview, and ending up sat next to him with just enough time to shake hands and say a 'thank you' before watching his interview a few glass panes away in the interview room.

I promise you I didn't let you down by dribbling like a schoolboy with his first pocket money. It was all very grown up.

So Gates' presentation at Davos on Thursday took on special meaning for me. It was important to hear him challenge world leaders about remembering the poor in the midst of our economic crisis. "These are tough economic times," he said, "but that is no excuse for cutting aid to the world's poorest." And I was intrigued to hear his commitment to fighting disease in Africa, his controversial ideas on genetic crops, and his unflappable response to the allegations about mismanagement of the Global Fund to which he gives millions of dollars each year.

But what kept going through my head as I trailed the reports was what he said in the BBC studio about "having so much fun" giving his money away to fight poverty. It seemed to echo so much of what the Bible means by "loving mercy". (Micah 6:8)