Day 36 Approach

 I was listening to a radio programme the other day. Its a couple of forensic psychologists who interview people who have been in prison to dig into what leads people there, what they learn whilst locked up and what helps people rehabilitate afterwards.  Ive heard a few episodes and its covered a wide range of people and crimes. Its interesting . If you want to listen to it if is here.

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029xr7

This week I tuned in half way through.  The chap they were talking to had a very rough start in life, bi-racial, dyslexic  abandoned by his mother , violent father, self sufficient from a very young age.  Circumstances led him into a life of crime - he considered performing robberies to be his job.  He talked very openly about resolving disputes with his fists and quite often seriously injuring people.  But then he spoke very beautifully about his partner, who is clearly from a different background, works in banking, knew nothing of his history when she met him, but who saw something else in him and offered unconditional support.  He said he suddenly felt cared for, for the first time in his life.  Knowing he had enjoyed drawing as a child she got him enrolled on a course.  He saw this as an act of such care - and it started to turn him around.

Then he described being in a coffee shop one day and a vicar came in and started a conversation. Along the lines of ' what do you think about God?5'.   Our criminal said he thought maybe he did believe in something because whenever he was in trouble he would ' pray'  ' God help me out here'.   I presume the vicar struck up a relationship with this guy because at some point ( and this is absolutely genius!) the vicar asked our man Mickey if he would be able to help out by writing a drama for the church for Good Friday.  Mickey had some talent for writing which the vicar had obviously gleaned.  So Mickey said he would give it a go. And went off to read the Bible ' for research'.   The truly brilliant thing about this was not only that he came to faith but that the play he wrote won two awards and turned his life around even more.

Hats off to the vicar.  Im pretty sure Mickey looked like a hard man.  He certainly sounded like a hard man on the radio.  He might not have been the only customer in the cafe that day and the vicar could probably have chosen someone else to chat to.  But, like Jesus, he chose the struggling, hardened, hopeless one to engage over a cup of tea.  I think we would all like to think that we could do that too, if we felt the nudge of the Spirit.   But what makes this story soooooo good is that the vicar didn't invite Mickey to an Alpha course ( big fan of Alpha dont get me wrong) or even invite him to church.  In a stroke of brilliance he asked for Mickey's help.

Here was a man who had taken , stolen, robbed, all his life.  I'm pretty sure he didn't feel he had anything to offer anyone really.  Giving was not in his vocabulary.  His self-worth had previously been in how tough and ruthless he could be.  But now, thanks to love from his partner, he was starting to see another way.  The vicar sees a long-hidden talent and offers a way for Mickey to use it. How great must Mickey have felt to be asked?  How risky for the vicar - I mean he didnt know what Mickey was going to come up with and let's face it, it could have been something dreadful. Inappropriate. Even anti-Jesus.  But Love sees the heart. Love sees potential.  Love takes a chance.  Love is not concerned with reputation.  Mickey, who had spent so many years in and out of prison, is suddenly an award winning writer.  He has since gone on to be a screenwriter working on well known films and TV series. Only God can do that stuff.

As we approach Easter we ponder on the God who not only came to rescue us from our sins, but who saw potential in us when we were wallowing in them.  A God who can see the gifts He has placed in us when we cant see them ourselves, and who calls out those gifts because He needs us to be using them in order to build His church.  He needs us.  Mind-blowing but true.  Next time you meet someone you want to invite to church or talk to about Jesus why not ask them for their help?  It makes people feel seen and valued and needed.  And we all need to feel those things.