Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 October 2008 10:40:16
Neither of us slept well. Partly because the heating in the hotel was set quite high to combat the freezing cold westerly winds which were bombarding the area, partly because we were both thinking about the day ahead, this being eldest son's birthday and Smudgelet's first experience of visiting a YOI.
The Smudgelet was not impressed with my desire to go to church. I really needed to go to church, a church in a strange place where I didn't need to talk about anything I chose not to talk about, where I could be with God without having to consider the rest of the congregation. Smudgelet was feeling angry and let down by God - he really didn't want to go. Difficult. But on this occasion I was going to put my own needs first, not least because the weather was foul and there was nowhere else to go.
Fate played into his hands. Service at breakfast was ssssssllllllllllllllooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww. The waiter came and apologised, blaming a problem in the kitchens. I reckon the problem was that I'd ordered poached eggs and the chef was as bad at making them as I am! But by the time we were out from breakfast, the church service several miles away was already beginning. But with no idea of what else to do, we drove there anyway and went in for the end of the service, which happened to be communion. We walked in during the prayers of intercessions. Afterwards Smudgelet told me that instantly he'd felt God take all his anger away and replace it with peace! Wow! I did too - God was very tangible in that place at that time. And it was an even greater blessing to hear the Smudgelet alongside me, singing in his lovely voice (the one I so rarely hear) during the hymn, even if we did get the giggles when he misread one word and totally changed the meaning of the line!
And afterwards, I found myself surrounded by a friendly and caring congregation and an amazing minister to whom I was able to unburden completely, people who offered real sincere help in the form of prayers, accommodation, phone numbers, and.. amazing... the news that they are regular visitors in the YOI where my son is and will make a point of seeking him out and providing yet another source of company and comfort.
The visit went OK. Typical - I had spent ages practising the security routine with the Smudgelet, crawling round the floor in sniffer-dog mode.. and what do you know, the sniffer dogs were having a day off!