Open Air: The Lives Of Others

The afternoon didn't start too well. Two weeks ago we got a good soaking and my preaching notes were ruined. I had printed fresh ones and was getting them organised… and the wind blew my coffee cup over, ruining them. No doubt an expert would tell me that I shouldn't need notes. Thankfully, that was the only significant mishap.

The main lesson this week was that what you expect from an interaction is not necessarily how it turns out - for better or for worse.

Example 1. I spot a lady staring at me while I am trying to hand out tracts. Oh, she's heading my way; she clearly has something to say. As she gets nearer I notice that her top carries the words "Manchester City Council". Oh well, I guess she's going to tell me that we are not allowed to do what we are doing. I am not a fan of conflict but I begin to think of appropriate replies. Finally, she reaches me and says, "Thank-you so much for bringing the Word of God to people."

Example 2. I offer a person a tract. They stop and look at it. Good, I think, it looks like they want to talk. "What's that?" "A Christian leaflet." "Are you with him?" they ask, gesturing in the direction of the preacher. "Yes..." Details of the ensuing expletives and gestures have been intentionally omitted!

Many thanks to Stephen for the above. I wasn’t aware of the encounter in Example 2. I expect that gent was just jealous because I was better-looking than him - and taller…

I haven’t enough time today to give you a complete account of what took place last Wednesday afternoon - but allow me to offer my grateful thanks to Janette, Kieran and Peter for their invaluable assistance, and to Jason B., back in this country for a couple of months. It was a pleasure to share fellowship with them, and then to leave Janette, Jason and Kieran to take the second shift, so to speak, while we went off to the Arndale.

And I will follow Stephen’s example by giving you a couple of examples of my own encounters during the afternoon. They remind me once again of how Open Airs give you glimpses into the lives of others: lives that would otherwise have remained completely opaque, entirely unknown.

Example 1. I met a clean-cut young man with slicked-back fair hair, wearing a smart yellow tee shirt above grey jog pants and shining white trainers. He had a small gold cross on a chain around his neck. We shook hands and he thanked us for getting out into the open air with the gospel message. Surprisingly enough (given its present parlous state), he belonged to the C. of E. I told him that I’d been saved in an evangelical church of the same stripe, though even in those days the evangelical ones were few and far between.

It was an encouraging conversation. I noted his firm grip and excellent upper arm development. “Yes, I’m a boxer,” he said. Well, I’m all for the return of Muscular Christianity…

Example 2. An older man accosted me. He was stocky and bespectacled, with greying hair and a neatly-trimmed beard. He asked me for a couple of tracts. I was happy to oblige, after which he embarked upon a troubling account of a very serious miscarriage of justice. It would be wrong to go into detail at this point, since the matter is currently going through the courts. (At great cost to himself, I suspect.)

We frequently hear tales of hard times and unfortunate events, but they’re so often a prelude to “D’you think you could help me out, because I haven’t enough money to get to…” or “I’ve not had anything to eat today, so could you…” that we tend to take them with a pinch of salt. This man struck me as entirely genuine and deserving of our prayers. He took several Blanchard booklets away with him to give to others for whom he was concerned. His name is J.

Back at the Arndale, we were very pleased to see Brendan sitting waiting for us. However, his illness has taken its toll, with weight loss and an unaccustomed hoarseness to his speaking voice being immediately evident. We would covet your prayers on his behalf, as his treatment continues.

This coming Wednesday seems set fair, even if it’s not exactly flaming June. Please join us on the edge of Piccadilly Gardens, just opposite Superdrug, at about 12.30pm. You will be welcome, and no one will ask you to do anything that you don’t feel comfortable doing. If you’re otherwise engaged, please pray for one or more of those mentioned above, if our Lord puts it upon your heart to do so.

Every blessing!