Great Friends at Chalfield
Saturday started with one of those memory flashbacks while doing a simple task. Shelling peas, and broad beans. A simple task, but one that connected me with my grandmother, long since promoted to glory, and many happy weekends doing the same simple task, and remarking how beautiful are the beans and the peas, the beans secured within their felt padded pods and yet the pods are marked, spotted and gnarled on the outside. How is that like being human, or even being a Christian? Are we attractive on the outside, superficial, yet not so attractive on the inside? Or perhaps, people we know, work alongside, even even share our lives with, are people with hearts of gold, who are dedicated and faithful servants of Christ, and yet we fail to get below the surface, so fail to see the glory of God that lies hidden.
Later in the day, Anita and I drove out to Great Chalfield, that delightful country manor house between Bradford on Avon and Melksham. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-greatchalfieldmanor I was co-hosting the Wiltshire launch of the Friends of Wiltshire Churches, a fundraising and social arm of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, of whom I happen to be the Chairman. It is a lovely house, so do get along and see it. The church next door is simply lovely too, and worth a visit.
It was a splendid evening, wonderful canapés, in delightful surroundings, and enchanting company [do you feel you've missed a treat? Then think about joining the Friends - no don't think - act: http://www.wiltshirehistoricchurches.org.uk/Home.html ]
We had a moment of drama, when one of our distinguished guests collapsed, and as often happens at these events, two doctors and a nurse emerged out of the crowd to take control and reassure our patient. Within minutes a paramedic team arrived and I’m pleased to say that our friend is well and ready to bounce back. The clergy were on hand too, but the Last Rites were far from our thoughts. It is good to know who your Friends are – sometimes, you only really know that when times are testing and tough; if you want to be a Friend, then get on and demonstrate it before it is too late.
