I left the railway bridge mooring on the River Severn at about 7.15am and made my way downstream to the huge barge locks that give access to Diglis Basin and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal beyond. By the time I had locked up these two locks and made my way across the basin it was 9.00am and the darkening clouds began to let go of the burden they were carrying!
It wasn't a full soaking, but came quite close. Anyway, it was as I was travelling up this next bit of canal, and looking at the row upon row of back-to-back terraced housing, that it struck me quite suddenly as to just how privileged I am.
Back in 1979, when we were on home service with CMS, I recall saying that I ought never to become a clergyman because it would immediately give me a house and job for life, and that would be the wrong reason for doing it. Circumstances changed over the next few years and, when the call did come, I recall saying to God that I was concerned that I might accept for the wrong reason. He said to me that the concern was right in 1979 and the time would not have been right, but 1983 was different, and the time was right.
In some ways I feel guilty about the privileges I have - yet I know that I have been allowed them, even though I haven't earned them or deserved them. It is up to me to ensure that those who do not have such privileges are enabled to live fulfilled lives with whatever they do have, and wherever they are. To help them to know that Peter was right when he wrote:-
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2.9-10
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