Is this the Way?

Yesterday in the evening, I went to see the Ravenshead Gilbert and Sulivan Society perform HMS Pinifore and Trial by Jury, and what a wonderful evening it was. Now I have been to see their production every year for many years, (other than last year when I was poorly) and last evening's offering was the best yet. I even felt as good as i have done for ages. Hope it lasts, as my "birthday week" begins today with all the family coming round for our family's traditional birthday Sunday Buffet Lunch. (my Birthday is 28th February!). So yesterday my post on my blog never got finished, and I will finish it today.

But before I start my posting proper for today, I ask a favour from you please. One of my sisters has told me she can't leave a message on my blog – I tried to leave a message and I was successful, but I am well aware that I haven't received any messages at all in recent times. If you could just leave something even if it's just saying "hello" or even "Happy Birthday" or better still a comment about the blog, that will be great and I will know it is working properly. Thanks.

As well as reading the bible each morning, and saying my prayers, and remembering special people in my prayers, I also try and listen to music, or look at a picture, or read some inspirational reading other than the Bible, and those of you who have been following me on Facebook through my time in hospital will know that the Abba song "Move On"has meant quite a lot to me, and helped me on my journey.

One of my all-time favourites in recent times, that always brings a smile to my face, is the Peter Kay Comic Relief offering of 2005 where he is walking at speed (maybe dancing) down corridors and in some strange places with a variety of people, to the song "Amarillo". I hope you remember it! For me, it is and always will be, great! I simply love it, and the expression on people's faces always brings a smile to my face.

I have bought the DVD on many occasions, but now after two moves I can't find a copy anywhere. So yesterday morning, and needing a bit of a cheer up, I looked it up on YouTube. There it was so I selected it ready for it to be played. As I read through all the credits at the beginning, I read something which is saddened me. It was a "health warning" with these words "warning – contains Jimmy Savile".

I have never particularly liked Jimmy Savile, and with all these horrendous accounts of what he is alleged to have done to hundreds of children, I am afraid I now feel sick just when I hear or read his name. And I had forgotten he was on this favourite Comic Relief DVD of mine.

Not only was I and still am totally appalled by what he has almost certainly done, as a Christian I always try to see both sides of any dispute or accusation made. After all we are innocent until proven guilty. But with Jimmy Savile I find it very difficult to see beyond the evil he has done, primarily to the young people he has abused, but also to the wider community who took him to their hearts over many years, and whose trust he also abused and betrayed. In addition to this, he also wormed his way into many of our national institutions, and even into being awarded a knighthood.

But the harrowing tales, one after another, and also pulling in other "celebrities", not only left me feeling sick as I've already mentioned, but very very angry. What is the society we live in coming to? And if you think I am mearly using one person to make a sweeping statement to back my theory, I read in the newspapers yesterday that Internet child porn is up 48% over the past four years (thank goodness the detection rate has more than caught up!)

During my time of five years working as an assistant prison chaplain, in the late 1990s, I was very saddened and shocked to see that the "male" role model in young men's lives – indeed all peoples lives - is often a very negative roll or in many cases, a roll that doesn't exist.

In addition, where there is a role model, it is so often the case that it is one of discipline and simple verbal communication – not one of a physical hug or other physical expressions of love. I don't pretend that I have always been the perfect Father, but I like to think I have been the best that I could have been.

I have never been afraid to show affections of love to my children, with a hug, or a kiss, or maybe a hand on the shoulder. As we all get older, they are expressions of affection which become more and more precious as time and situations pass us by.

As a society, it so often seems that the "male" has to be careful. Whether as a father, a step father, an uncle, a carer, a teacher, a scout leader, or a priest, we so often can't reach out in love. As Vicar of Ollerton, I was so conscious of young people who would run up to me, and want to hug me. Children who needed love, young people who sought affirmation. I always had to look round to see if other adults were witnessing what was going on so that no one would misinterpret.

How different it seemed to be in Jesus's day.

When children were excluded from close proximity to him, what did Jesus say and do.

He instructed the children to be brought to him, with accompanying words - "Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10:16)

As individuals and as a society we have so much to learn from a book which today few people seem to want to read, and yet a book which will help us find all the answers.

Chat again on Tuesday!