Morning Pogue,

I did something yesterday that I haven’t done in a while, I went to church.

You know I have a long and chequered history with the church and after being a regular attender for a long, long time, parted company with them. I would now say, when asked why I left, that the church did me in. It beat me, and all my high flying aspirations down, over and over. Believe me I tried hard, not to fit, but to realise what I thought I saw in the Bible. I mean, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?

Apparently not.

I read about healings and miracles and thought, when I joined up, that was what I should expect.

Apparently not.

In fairness I’d have to say that there were a number who were very open to the ideas of an empowered Church, thought the same, but kept these thoughts to themselves. Not me. I learnt all I could, went to places I believed this sort of thing was happening, read books as well as the Bible. Found that Jesus promised his followers would do as he had done and more!

Then I started to tell people. Big mistake. Big, BIG mistake. Apparently “we don’t believe that here”, or, “that was only for biblical times” or anyone of a dozen reasons. Basically, this is our comfort zone, don’t mess with it. But, insensitive as I am I persisted and the institution resisted (good rhyme, ehh. There’s a poem waiting in the wings there). And as said, “they did me in”. So, in an act of defiance, and to preserve my beliefs, I left, my rebellious middle finger 🖕 pointing to the sky. I was angry, I was hurt, I was exhausted, and most of all I was frustrated because I knew a better day, a real live church was possible.

Years passed. On odd occasions I would visit a church, each time being put off by the organisation, the need to control the setting and the people (I guess that’s what religion does).

Did I lose faith in God you ask?

No. I found myself on an ongoing spiritual quest. God and me. I found God in other places. You know how the woods became my Church, but I found God in other texts, the ones I was not suppose to read. I discovered God is no respecter of men’s (and women’s 🤔) ideas. She can’t be kept within a series of rules and precepts. As C.S.Lewis summed this up, “Aslam, (Lewis’ God type) is not a tame lion”. And life becomes very exciting when we realise that.

So yesterday, I went to church. I went on my motorcycle so my arrival was not very discreet 🥴. Arrived late as the sat-nav didn’t really know where it was going. Sat at the back. Didn’t know any of the songs (as I’m 15 years behind!). Had a moment when the speaker invited everyone to turned to their Bibles and I expected them to produce a book and they all produced devices! (maybe I’m 20 years behind!). But it was OK.

They had an openness and an expectation. They believed God was there in a tangible way and were not put off by this belief. The Church was young and obviously finding its own level but I would cautiously say, on the evidence of only one visit, these could be my kind of people. I am not sure what they made of me in my leather biker jacket, quietly keeping his own counsel but quite apparently aware of God.

So, Pogue, I’m on a journey. How long? Well that’s for finding out.I’ve been a long time in the wilderness but then, so was Moses and look at all the trouble he stirred up 😎

Have a good one Pogue.

Yours, believing in a better day,

Wic