Is it me?

Is it me?

Well here we are then; it’s Friday morning and all’s quiet and peaceful, by the end of today schools will be out for their summer vacation and there will be the sounds of children playing with great excitement and when I walk the dog in the late afternoon sun joyful calls from children across the park – ‘Revd. David, how are you’ or more like ‘oi, vicar wha ya doin’.

Our responses vary, don’t they? And it all depends on how we are addressed. My response to the first will be, ‘I am fine; are you enjoying your holiday?’ To the second one it could be ‘mind your own b***** business’.

Of course I shall be more refined; smiling nicely and wishing them a happy holiday in the hope it may lead to a pleasant chat, which more often it does.

'You tha vica bloke tha comes t ar school?’ I am reminded that I was young once and many people gave me such patience and room to grow, in fact they still do. And of course, this young child, eager to make conversation may one day be my boss or someone who will provide support in need.

One happy family, God’s happy family – the crime would be not to respond to the call. There are unfortunately many families that don’t communicate at all – what a crime!