066 - Chapter 66

(Illustrations: Thousands queue for food as Red Cross lorries arrive: picture by Tom Stoppard, a war correspondent, from his book ‘I Witness' * Here's a tribute to Tom who died of cancer in 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt8Cth1P2GU

I was invited to do a music workshop in Bedlington, not having done anything like this before. When I got there I found a group of musicians, with ages ranging from 10 to 70+, and I decided to run it in a folk club style, sitting in a circle, and passing a tankard around. Whoever had the tankard had the opportunity to sing or play any song or hymn once just by themselves, and then a second time with any of the others who were able to join in with voices or instruments. Each person had the option of opting out or handing the cup on to the next person, but no-one did. They all took part. It was so enjoyable and so freeing, and the music everyone produced was lovely, with each person supporting each other’s preferred style. The outside world can often show us church folk a thing or two about enjoying and celebrating our gifts.

One sometimes finds in churches that the established music group (or even the official organist) can sometimes exclude, or overlook, other talented musicians in the congregation who would love to exercise their gift too. In some churches, especially house churches, there’s a surfeit of musicians, whilst down the road a different church has none whatsoever and the congregation have to rely on a CD player for their hymns. 

It's a case of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'!

To make my point about unrecognised talent, I organised a drama when I was asked to preach and preside at a church in Marlow, Bucks, the place where my daughter’s in-laws worship. It was a drama based on the Parable of the Talents, and in it one man had to offer a single talent which they possessed, and so he chose to sing. The congregation had never heard him sing before, and when he ‘delivered’, he sounded like Andrea Bocelli. Seriously! Everyone sat up and took notice, they never realised they had such a gifted singer in their midst!

There's another lesson here too, that we can sometimes be guilty of burying our own gifts!

There's a member of our family who is only now, getting round to a career change after working in an office most of his life, and he is now working for a well know charity, something he has wanted to do for years!

There's a saying: “ Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them!”

There was another thrilling event when in November of 2007 our daughter Sarah and Alan announced they were going to have a baby, their first. How wonderful! The baby was due in June the following year 2008. Our third grandchild was on the way!

Such joy was all around us, and there was so much to thank God for and everything seemed to be going ‘swimmingly’, but how easily the tide turns and we end up slap bang into something that can upset us!

Early in January 2008, Bob and I, on one of our walks, wandered into the Baltic Art Gallery, Newcastle, and I was shocked to discover an exhibition by an artist Terence Koh, which was both gratuitous and obscene. The artist had made the crucifix the theme of all his displays, with many revolting and crude images of Jesus on the cross. I was more than furious about it, I was incensed. No other religion would have stood for such offensive images on public display, which showed such lack of respect for the founder of their faith, yet we as Christians are simply expected to tolerate it. Two or three of their attendants listened to exactly how I felt and they were actually sympathetic. I also wrote to the director of the Baltic, and to my MP with my complaint, and received no reply from my letters.

I wonder what would have gone through the artist’s mind, if someone had done the same with someone he revered and loved, and portrayed them in such an obscene way? Should we let this kind of abuse go unanswered? Should we simply shrug it off and say nothing?

All this brings me to the question should we not be more vocal about the many disturbing and obscene incidents and events in our world today? Persecution, war, sectarian violence, the abuse of children, modern day slavery, violence against women; poverty, hunger? The list seems endless these days.

Revd John Inge, now Bishop of Worcester, when he was vicar at our church in Wallsend, told us of a priest he knew, who had said to his congregation as part of his sermon:-

“22,000 children will die of poverty in our world today and no-one f---ing cares!” (his friend had actually said the swear word out aloud!)

Those listening to the sermon were horrified at his choice of language. He asked later, as  the many complaints came in:-

  'Are those of you who protest at my choice of language, just as passionate in protesting about the plight of those in desperate need the world over?

‘To remain silent, is a choice!’ (quote from one protestor speaking up for Civil Rights.)

But to do nothing is also a choice too!