Wandering into dangerous territory

What you put into words may have the power to change a life.

R: Last in the queue again, are we?

J: The kingdom of God is within you.

R: Indeed. Tea or coffee?

J: What do you think Jesus meant when he said that?

R: He meant that God is always with us, guiding us if we let Him.

J: Who do you mean, us?

R: Well, Christians, you know. And I did say if we let Him. I mean some of them don’t let Him, do they?  That Mrs Whats-er-name Bloggsington hasn’t got a clue, has she? All smiles and loveliness in the church, then next day in the town, she’s, well, cynical, and rude, yes, rude.

J: So Jesus didn’t mean Mrs Bloggsington? And people like her. But He did mean all the ‘normal’ Christians? Or all the Christians according to your definition, in the country, in the world, even? Is that what you’re suggesting?

R: No. Um, no. Stop. 

J: Why would he exclude Mrs Bloggsington, just because she is unable, at the moment, to understand what God wants her to become? Or to work out how she can accomplish such a task. And what about the Jews?

R: Ah, Jews. He must have been including the Jews, mustn’t he, because there weren’t any Christians when he was alive.

J: What if he meant, there is something of God in everyone? As Paul says, ‘One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.’ (Ephesians 4 verse 6)

R: Well, yes, that sounds very sensible. Now, tea…?

J: Therefore he meant the Jews and the Romans and the Greeks. And what about the Native Indians who were roaming the plains in what we now call North America, and nobody in the Roman Empire knew they even existed. They respected the earth, as you know, in a way that many twenty first century humans could learn from, perhaps. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

R: I s’pose it does. Now. Cup of tea? Coffee? There’s one slice of cake left.

J: What about the people of other faiths. Hindus, for example? They love their children like we do. They honour their mothers and their fathers…

R: …that their days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Hm. I went to India once. Saw the Taj Mahal, y’know. Met some very nice people abroad. Very kind.

J: (Almost to self) We are responsible for building the church of the future. Our job is to speak and write compassionately and inclusively. All the days of our lives. We have to do our bit.

R: Poof! Tell that to Mrs Bloggsington….

Why are you looking at me like that?

Photos: V. Bright

Veronica Bright is a storyteller who has been lucky enough to win prizes for her short fiction and drama. She writes occasional book reviews for Transforming Ministry, which has been a blessing because each book has taught her to think deeply about everything. Veronica has been the ACW short story advisor for several years, and this too has taught her a lot. She and Sally Todd co-ordinate the ACW Writing for Children group, whose members meet on Zoom.