A Friend In The Dark

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Helen Keller.

It’s quiet around the house at the moment. My family have been in Shropshire for a few days. I have many jobs to do until it’s time for tea, and in the evening I can read or put on a good film, or trawl the Internet Archive for treasures - in fact, I came across all three series of “Beachcomber … By The Way” recently. Excellent! But what if I want to talk to someone? I could always go round and see a friend, I suppose. 

No, not really. I haven’t got any. 

Hmm. Well, what was it my wife suggested, a while ago? Why not join some local association of people who are interested in one of my interests, activities, or pastimes? There, I might meet someone of a like mind. It’s always possible, I suppose. Where’s my laptop? Let’s have a look at local venues offering leisure activities.

Here’s one. It’s a big building, to judge from this photograph: very sixties in style, but it looks as though it’s been well kept up. It’s right in the centre of town, too, so travel would be no problem, and it has a large, free car park.

Let’s look at the activities on offer. There’s a lot going on.

On Monday – Nursery, Age UK Line Dancing, Painting And Art Group, Dance Centre.

On Tuesday – Nursery, Tai Chi, Camera Club.

On Wednesday – Nursery.

On Thursday – Nursery, Visually Impaired group, Young At Heart group for the retired and semi-retired, Dance Centre, local Choir.

On Friday – Nursery.

On Saturday – Dance Centre, Saturday Morning Café, Writers’ Circle.

On Sunday – Wait a minute, what’s this? “Sunday Morning Worship 10.30am”, followed by “refreshments in the hall”!

Yes, you were ahead of me, I’m sure. It’s a church; in fact it’s the biggest Baptist Union church in the local area, though anyone going through the website might be forgiven for thinking that it’s a Community Centre first and foremost, with a Sunday morning service added on, just in case it’s religion you’re interested in. I’ve looked in vain for any mention of a bible study or a prayer meeting, and the church’s “Mission Statement and Aims” is a document so utterly deplorable that I wouldn’t want to reproduce it here.

And yet (and I quote), “We think of ourselves as a lively and forward looking church. We are made up of about 90 adults and 45 children and young people.” Also, “We have a passionate team of deacons and church officers who meet regularly to discuss all aspects of church life.”

There is a page with pictures of all thirteen (yes, thirteen!) of these passionate persons. They’re all deacons, including three “church officers” (all women) in charge of Admin., Admin., and Finance. Of the other ten deacons, three are men. 

What about a pastor, a minister, or elder(s) or any such sort of person? No mention, as far as I can see. 

And yet, I know that there is a minister. In fact, I sat under his ministry, elsewhere, for quite a while. He’s a fine man, one that I admire; and, if you asked me, I would say that I owe him a great deal. He’s been there for a few months. I wonder why they haven’t got round to giving him a mention on their website, thus far? Perhaps they need another deacon, one to be in charge of communications! 

I trust that he knows what he’s doing: but, in my humble opinion, he has a very hard row to hoe. I also trust that he has people praying for him: I’d better add myself to that list.

So, will I be venturing down town to take part in any of these activities on offer? No, I’m not that desperate. Might I consider worshipping in this church, now that a man that I admire is its minister? It’s highly unlikely. “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light”, according to Helen Keller. With all due respect to Miss Keller: no, it isn’t. 

What about this evening, then? 

Don’t worry! There’s always “Babycart At The River Styx”!