The following stories are true. In the 1950’s rectories were, in the winter, dank dark and cold. You had to break the ice on your watch in the morning to know what time it was. On one occasion a rector had a friend to stay for a few days. During lunch, the day after his arrival, the rector’s wife apologised to the guest saying how sorry she was that he had been so cold during the night. “No, no not at all,” he replied. “It was so cold you had to put on your cassock, not only that but you put it on back to front as there were insufficient blankets.” She continued. The guest stared open mouth and the rector laughed and asked how his wife knew this. She answered that when she went to make his bed the line of small buttons on his cassock had made a line of indents on the mattress. He was nicely warm the next night with several more blankets on the bed.
Again during the 1950’s in a country parish there was an induction of a new vicar. The Bishop would be presiding and always appointed one of the number of clergymen attending as his bishop’s chaplain, not a popular role. On this occasion one of the clergy arrived wearing a pair of loud check tweed plus-fours with large brown boots. Asked by a colleague why he was dressed like a gamekeeper, he replied, “The bishop won’t choose me for his chaplain.”
If caught unawares then you have to be ready for a quick answer. A curate had grown tired of a series of requests for information which appeared irrelevant to his life in parish work. Angered by another demand he rang the diocesan office and when answered immediately sounded off about the demands of pastoral work being unnecessarily interrupted by these facile demands for useless information, and stating that those in charge should get off their backsides and do something about it.. The voice at the other end asked the curate if he knew who he was talking to. He answered he did not and was told it was the bishop. The curate asked, “Do you know who I am?” And when the bishop said, “No” the curate said, “Good” and put the phone down.
During a programme about Sherlock Holmes the son of Conan Doyle discussed his father’s ability to draw attention to the details of those around him. He would sit in a restaurant and regale his son with characteristics not noticed by others. It is often uncomfortable to be made aware of what appears to be hidden.
There are times, however, when someone's insight can be beneficial. In the gospels Jesus demonstrated his ability to see into the soul of someone and give comfort. One of the most touching of these is the healing of the sick woman who, being too shy to speak to Jesus and ask for help, touched the hem of his garment. Jesus was immediately aware of what had happened and gave willingly. It is good to know Christ is always insightful and fully aware of our needs.
This made me smile! Looking for warning sign photos and this one came up, I had to share it and hope Sue doesn't mind too much! - Rhian
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