A journey through my past

On Maundy Thursday every Anglican priest has the opportunity to renew the vows they made at their ordination. This takes place in your Cathedral and is part of a service called the Chrism Eucharist.

Last week I made a special effort to go along. But due to a major road closure I decided I didn’t want to drive and it didn’t work out to to lift share either. So I decided to go by train. I drove to Leamington Spa to take a 10 minute ride into Coventry.

Except that I didn’t – the trains weren’t running. “Rail Replacement Service, love” said the man in the ticket office, “wait outside for a bus“…..

*Sighs*

‘Great, now I’ll be late‘ .

But on my way to the station, in an underpass of all places, I had been given the unexpected gift of a hug with a very dear lady who has been part of my life in various ways for over 20 years. Given that neither she nor I live anywhere near Leamington Spa, this exchange of hugs and Easter greetings seemed especially precious.

So I settled down to wait for the bus: content but resigned. I had almost given up and was walking away when a large and totally empty coach pulled up. This turned out to be for me! Just for me… because no one else was queuing up!

Thus, I was chauffeured to Coventry for this special service in a 56 seater coach which I had all to myself. It was hilarious and joyous – because it was also journey back through time – we went through Kenilworth, past the pub we used to go out when we were students, past the church where my dear friends got married, past the bike shop where I bought my first ever brand new bike and up and down the wonderful Gibbet Hill Road where I’d memorably ridden that bike for the first time, past the university where David and I had met, past the house where one of our previous Bishop’s used to live , someone who’d helped me along so much in my ministry.

I was so excited I couldn’t help telling the bus driver some of these snippets from my life but he wasn’t much interested so I just settled back and thought about how on the day of my actual ordination I had made almost this very journey from the Retreat house to the cathedral along with all the other candidates, feeling very nervous but also equally joyful.

Yes, I was a little late for the service but I felt like I’d been carried on a wave of good memories, all reminders of God’s faithfulness and provision of direction, loving people and faithful mentors in my life. To cap it all, after the service I had the chance of another hug with another very dear brother, one of my college lecturers, as well as greetings with familiar friends and ‘yet to be friends’.

Past, present and future: ‘I will be with you always’ (all for £7.40)

PS I caught the train back!