Of Knitting

At this time of year, you may well have noticed that I wear lovely knitted jumpers. These are warm and personal, and it is a great joy to wear them both practically and emotionally.

A lot of hours go into the creation of one of these garments. It doesn’t just happen overnight. In fact, it happens over many nights, and it's a wonder to watch them slowly emerge into the fashionable garment they become. Each stitch draws ever closer to the finished product. So what’s all this got to do with parish life and sorting out the Church of God?

Most days are a single stitch, maybe 2 on a really good day. A little something happens, a conversation, a prayer, a reading, a surprise encounter, a cheeky text. It’s all just part of the potpourri of parish life. It’s hard to step back and see the progress that is being made. What has changed over time? Anything… something? The completed outfit in all its wonder lies hidden from us. We have to be content with just seeing part of what is happening. Sometimes it doesn’t look like much, and there are some days when it certainly does not feel like much. But then, that’s OK. Maybe the threads of continuity and consistency are the strongest and most colourful and heartwarming of all. The simple knowledge that each and every day, prayer is offered and we give The Almighty a chance to whisper back to us. You have to listen for a long time and like the knitting experience, not a lot seems to happen, but everything is happening.

It’s helpful to look back over the years and reflect. Where have I/we come from? How has the garment changed, developed? Where were the blunders, and just look at the progress?