by Giles Fraser
Church Times, June 15, 2007
I am in the mood for a rant. I have always thought the Ranters — that Charismatic sect of 17th-century theological anarchists — a rather maligned group. But I digress. My rant has been prompted by the person who conned his way into Mrs Bishop’s flat, and stole her handbag.
Mrs B. is one of my kindest parishioners. In a church like mine, which is dominated by young couples, she is one of the few elderly people, being a sprightly 90-something. She lives in warden-controlled accommodation close by the church. The other evening, Mrs B. was pottering about in her flat when a thief burst in, punched her in the throat, knocked her to the ground, and left her shaking, as he ran off with her money and bank book. This is the second time it has happened this year.
I went to see her the next day. She was sitting, shaking, in the day room, reluctant to go back upstairs to her flat. She spoke of feeling “finished”. I held her hand, and cried like a baby. When I left, my 11-year-old daughter, who went with me to see Mrs B., described the thief in language that would be out of place in these pages. Normally, I wouldn’t be too impressed by her using words that she hears at football matches, mostly directed at the referee. But all I could do was to offer a weak smile and mutter back: “I quite agree.”
But whom is my rant directed against? Certainly, against some heartless yob wanting £100 for a drug fix. But it is more than that. It strikes me that the lovely Mrs Bishop looks out at the world, and just doesn’t understand it any more. It is not as if she has not seen a great many things in her full life, but this she just does not understand. To be honest, neither do I.
To be a Christian is to be on the side of the vulnerable. It is to fight on their behalf. It is our calling. But, often, we fail to include the elderly in that fight because we are out fighting much more fashionable causes. And, yes, I am certainly talking about myself here, too.
Furthermore, it has become a much subtler fight than I am used to. This isn’t just about bullies or prejudice — though they both exist. This is about people who are too often forgotten and ignored. It is about a society that has set itself up to value things that go fast, that are sexy and stimulating and youthful. These may not be things always in evidence at the local care home. But it is the job of Christians to show that there are more things in heaven and earth. The fight is to show more of the Kingdom. Please pray for my friend.
The Revd Dr Giles Fraser is Team Rector of Putney.
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