Leaves on the Line

Two Jesus Centre meetings to attend on Friday: Finance Group in the morning and Centre Managers' Forum in the afternoon, both conveniently held at Coventry.

I'd been to Kettering by train on Thursday, for our monthly Apostolic Team get-together, and picked up a return ticket for Coventry on my way home.  A bunch of our Eritrean Sunday congregation attenders had prepared tea and invited several friends.  Keith and Kristia were there too, up from London for their daughter's wedding at the weekend. 

Keith aims to retire from doctoring in a couple of years, and is setting up a horticultural project under the Assembly's 'One Planet, One Wales' initiative.  He was keen for advice about cooperative business, sustainability, etc.  Some time it would be nice to tootle over to Haverford to see what they're up to.

Friday morning didn't start well.  A few things were spinning in my head from the A Team meeting.  I had to call into the Jesus Centre to pick up a file of papers.  The handle broke on my briefcase (a mere 20 years old) as I walked to the station.  The journey was fine, including the section from Birmingham New Street to Coventry in a Virgin Pendalino.  They really are swish, with tarty blue cabin light providing an even better decor than an Emirates triple seven (Boeing 777 to non-flyers).

The Finance meeting, too, was fine, although attendance was down and even three of those who came excused themselves early.  JACT has made a lot of effort to improve financial 'sinews'. 

The other guys arrived for the Managers' meeting, and we chatted engagingly about photocopiers, Foodbanks, service promotion and spiritual impact.  We were impressed by Coventry's new programme of Friday night services.  Meanwhile, the sky darkened and the Well Cafe's panoramic view displayed impressive flashes of lightning. 

Our Facilities Manager Kevin had separately travelled from Sheffield, but we walked back to the station together.  The indicator board spelled trouble.  Some departures were flashing incomplete information, and arrivals were well delayed.  Kevin - a total railway buff - tried to find someone to explain.  We decided to take our chance and jump on the first service leaving for New Street.  It was packed and every seat was taken. 

"Hey!  Ian.  Just a minute - Ian Callard." A slightly grizzly baseball-capped guy addressed me.  "You don't know me, do you?"  I didn't.  "Harvest House, 1982...  Joe."  I really was no wiser.  He chatted on happily about folks he'd known, and how Mick had taken over from Noel.  And now?  "Well, life just overtakes you.  I'd like to meet Barney again, though," he added.

"Listen mate," Kevin barged in.  "Don't just say that, do something.  At our morning prayer time I had a word to say that on the way home I'd meet somebody to talk to about God.  He knew about you.  We weren't even supposed to be on the train!"  Joe softened.

We stopped at Birmingham International.  'This service is terminating here owning to a tree fallen on the line,' the PA announced.  (In fact the blockage was between Banbury and Leamington, but New Street station wasn't coping.)  We (three) shuffled across platforms and Kevin spoke to the lady next to him.  "This is the second time," she groaned.  "I was on the train immediately behind the one that got hit by the tree."  The afternoon's thunderstorm had a lot to answer for.

At Birmingham, we waved goodbye to Joe and found a delayed train heading for Sheffield via Derby.  If anybody has a spare hard briefcase, big enough to take two A4 files side-by-side, I'm keen to hear.