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Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. Proverbs 9:1-6 |
Like so many young people nowadays after Confirmation, when the active commitment of my parents ended and I took upon myself Christian responsibility, I withdrew from the Church. At the time I could see no attraction in leading a reserved Christian life, instead actively chasing worldly pleasures and rewards. For years I endured the working week, eagerly awaiting the weekend when I would take every opportunity possible to go clubbing, drinking and partying. Nevertheless I didn't find a stable happiness, riding on an emotional roller-coaster throughout my later years at Secondary and whole time at University.
Only after leaving full-time education, disillusioned by the ethics I encountered professionally, did I start to turn back to the solid foundation I have since rediscovered in the Church.
It isn't for the moment you are struck that you need courage, but for the long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security.1
My Lord gave me the strength to leave carnal pleasures; smoking (this was so much easier than I thought it would be!), drinking et al, and has continually helped me since to rebuild my life around Him.
Although my journey back to faith had been ongoing for a couple of years, I can't remember the exact date, but on one Sunday in late July (or maybe early August) 2000 I attended Communion at St Paul's wholly voluntarily, for the first time in many years. I stopped for a cigarette before the service, with a near full deck of twenty in my pocket, but when I emerged I felt an enormous emotional weight lifted from my shoulders, and I committed my life to Faith. The local Marie Curie Charity shop was a little unsure how to receive the four hundred odd cigarettes I offered them a couple of days later, but when a customer in-store overheard and offered £25 they gratefully accepted! I haven't looked back since.
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.2
My experiences leading up to that day, and on the day itself, have sealed in my mind beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ is the true Saviour, my Lord and Master.
Derryloran Parish Church, Cookstown
I have since moved back to Northern Ireland, and chose to return to the Church of my childhood, St Luran's in the Parish of Derryloran. In 2002 I volunteered to teach one of the Sunday School classes, and this has become an ongoing commitment. Admittedly I sometimes find it quite a difficult undertaking, since the children oftentimes try incredibly hard to outwit their teachers with what they consider to be unanswerable questions, like where are the dinosaurs in the Bible, or literal interpretation of Revelation. I can empathise with them when they do however, since I was full of many of the same questions when I was their age, and challenged my then teachers with a similar conviction. Perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, I should offer an apology now!
For the year 2003-4 I have been honoured by election to the role of People's Church Warden, so if you've made it this far down the page, I confidently hope be able to greet you at the door there, soon.
1. Anne Morrow Lindberg cited by Helen Exley in Words on Courage, Exley Publications Ltd, 1998
2. Mat 12-27 cited on the Blue Letter Bible website, 2003-04-08