Accidents - do happen!

St Mary Magdalene. Wednesday 22nd July, 2020

There are certain characters and deeds in the gospel stories which have a huge appeal for me. St Peter's denial of Jesus, his comment when asked if he too would leave Jesus "where else do we go" and his air of simple bewilderment and faith at it all. St Thomas and his refusal to believe. St John and his impetuous leap in to the sea of Galilee to get to Jesus on the shore. Today St Mary Magdalene around whom so many myths and stories have grown. It is in peoples' weakness that one sees a vulnerability, an imperfection with which to identify and to realise that greatness, achievement, integrity, goodness is not denied one because of a failing, a mistake, a sin, a foolish act.

Today we seem to have such black and white, such harsh judgementalisms  in our society. If someone is 'caught out' we love to see them fall, a horrid prurient delight to bring down our heroes and heroines. I ever recall Mrs Thatcher's comment "this lady is not for turning". I thought how stubborn, how ignorant, how prejudiced for surely if facts or circumstances or arguments or actions convince one that one is wrong so be it: change, rectify, turn. So with the miscreant: learn from mistakes, change one's ways or in biblical language ' go and sin no more'.

I know justice needs to be done, I know standards and principles are vital, I know some faults, crimes need to be registered and punished and I know some people cannot change, or reform or forego cravings and impulses. They need to be helped, not simply condemned and discarded.

When I was a teenager I recall breaking part of a large Spode China dinner set owned by my Mother. One of her ancestors was a Spode and she had inherited the ( ugly) dinner set which included a 'fantabulous' soup tureen. One day I knocked it by mistake and it smashed into many pieces. My Mother was out. I cleared it up, even hoovering the floor and did not mention it. A few days later my Mama asked it I knew where the tureen was as it had disappeared. I denied any knowledge at all. Total denial. She fussed and wondered about it for a few days. Finally I could stand it no longer, the guilt, the puzzlement of Mama and the fact of my denial and lie. So in tears I owned up. She hugged me and simply said: 'I knew it was you. I just wanted you to admit it. I love you not the tureen, it has no relevance'. I can still feel my relief.

I have not since failed to own up to breakages but as a result I have had a few roasting...one especially over some mediaeval glass!

I also recall returning to my parked car in Bath, many years ago. I noticed quite a dent and severe scratch on it. Then I was relieved to see a note on my windscreen. I thought thank goodness. When I read the note it had the following message: " I am so sorry to have damaged your car. There are a few witnesses who think that I am writing my name and address etc but sadly I cannot afford the insurance so I am not. Good luck and I wish you all the best. X".

I laughed.