Friends

I am sure anyone who is friends with me on Facebook is already sick to death of me talking about and sharing pictures of my secondary school reunion on Saturday....I've spent the
Last couple of  days trying to process why the weekend had such a profound impact on me, apart from being away for the weeknd with wonderful people !

In my job we do t get weekends, we .get one day off and so social occasions very rarely get attended especially if they are not close to Kent. However by chance, this weekend became free and part of the split half term holiday I missed in October. I was slightly anxious about going as some key friends were unable to make it but with the support of my sister ( who was a few years ahead at school but knew loads of folk) we decided to brave it. There was a lot of anticipation, what will people think of me, how much will people have changed, will we have stuff to talk about, will anyone actually remember me? We began by meeting my bestest friend from primary school, her hubby who I also went to school with and their children, Daniel instantly took a shine to their youngest son and that was that, a great few hours catching up and chatting, we then went on to the reunion feeling a bit nervous, I need not have worried, in the company of our geography teacher and my wonderful form tutor ( who kindly offered to drive us there) we instantly began reminiscing and catching up on 21 years of events; and the night carried on in that way, it was so exciting to see those folk I'd grown up with, to catch up and to hear what people have been up to , it was great meeting people who I only get to see and chat to on Facebook...and it was lovely to hear people call me their Facebook vicar 😉. What was also lovely was the amount of praise each person had for my parents who were chaplain and chair of governors at the school...all very complimentary.

That night my sister and I couldn't stop chatting and the next morning felt a bit deflated having to go home, it really felt like something special had happened. And why? Well I think because these people knew me before the dog collar, we'd shared history, we'd grown up together and we've survived the
journey. I was treated as Sue ( or rather Susan as I was known then !) who I am rather than what I
am...no heirs and graces, no holding back just treated normally. It made me really value friendship and feel a bit sad at the lack of contact over the years.

What was also great was meeting up with special people ...those you look up to and realise they are just as lovely in real life as you imagined them 21 years ago. I pray that this won't be the end of these encounters but only the beginning....to all who made that night special ...you know exactly who you are, thank you so much for welcoming me back up north and treating me as ME!

God incidence

Just a quickie!
Had a real God incident this evening...we had another lovely Sunday @4 ( shame about the turn out) very well planned by the wonderfully creative Anne Mallaidet with craft fun and games as well as a message about how we are like pumpkins and God puts his light within us of we are open to him (v rough summary!)
As we were leaving it was totally pitch black and Daniel suddenly said "mummy it's so dark, I love. Jesus and believe in him where's the light shining ? " to which Anne and I looked at each other turned to the sky and the brightest moon appeared as if from nowhere...."wow mummy I closed my eyes to tell Jesus I did believe and the light appeared!" Too cute!

It really reminded me how literal children are and also how awesome their faith is....I had a total tingling moment!