Friday 26th May: 'Doing the Jesus Thing!'

The children's exclamation when they saw us yesterday carrying the cross along the canal towpath has stayed with us: "They are doing the Jesus' thing!" Is that what happens when we come out of our church buildings??

I woke at 5-ish and saw the clear sky and lay anticipating the heat, wondering of all your ardent prayers for fine weather have been abundantly answered?  Our host was up and about early, bringing round cups of tea and chivying us into action. As we gathered round the table for breakfast, she gave us all cockle shells soaked in saltwater,  a practice for travellers in the Iona Community and sang over us the Closing verse of a hymn in our worship booklets:
     "Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets:
     Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.
     Listen Lord Jesus, let my fears be few:
     Walk one step before me: I will follow you."

We re-gathered at Walsall's Manor hospital, dedicated to Sister Dora. The chapel there is a real haven of peace and the chaplain, Alison - as last night - had prepared prayer cards for each pilgrim. Bishop Clive joined us and reflected upon Psalm 23 and it's themes of care for the sheep (v.2-3), safety in travel through difficult places (v.4) and God's hospitality(v.5). All of which seemed to take on a fresh relevance to us pilgrims. ALison accompanied us for the first mile from the hospital and Bishop Clive to the edge of the Diocese: now we are truly 'entering foreign territory'. Initially the way was pleasant and 'beside still waters' and we had two fresh pilgrims join us and later on another family. We arrived at Birmingham City Hospital hot and weary.... to find about 8-10 hospital staff gathered in the chapel, along with two familiar faces; David and Marianne Jones from Stafford; such a joy and encouragement. The chaplains lead a beautiful service and we anointed and prayed for all the staff, then prayed over the box of prayer booklets we left at the hospital. By the time we had said goodbye to the staff, we had just 20 minutes to eat the wonderful spread the chaplains had provided for us. By now the jokes and rapport are passing round the group as we encourage one another. We were dispatched with the remains of the meal in Tupperware boxes!

The route ahead took us straight through the heart of Birmingham City Centre, carrying the cross passed armed police patrolling the shopping centre. It was rather surreal and poignant. Despite the punishing schedule, we were unable to walk passed three homeless people and stopped to talk and pray with them. We therefore arrived late to Moorfield Station, where we were joined by Jane, a respiratory consultant from Birmingham Children's hospital who had found out about the walk last week and accompanied us all the way to Solihull, taking her turn carrying the cross.
Halfway through the afternoon the heat and monotony of the canal towpath was telling on our feet. Fred and Gay had very sensibly taken shifts in the support vehicle with Dave, and Gay went ahead to the hospital to meet Ann; the volunteer chaplain who has bravely co-ordinated everything here. We managed to arrive at the hospital main entrance at 5.55pm for a service at 6pm. Cups of juice and water awaited us on a table in the foyer! The chapel at Solihull is 'cosy' and we just about squeezed into it. Our service was lead by David, an Independent Methodist Bishop (I'm learning new things) and was just very intimate and special. There was a real sense of God's presence as we anointed and prayed for the few staff (including Jane) and the volunteer chaplains who were there. Then everyone held hands in a circle to bless us: very needful as (once we had sat down) we were struggling to stand up again!

Barry and Elaine had laid up a wonderful table for us (Psalm 23:5), complete with napkins, flowers, wine and water glasses... and we feasted like Kings in the hall of the URC church adjacent to the hospital carpark. At 8pm our hosts arrived to drive us to their homes for the night; each knew who they were collecting. As I type this, Matthew is relaxing in a VERY long bath... and I am sat on my bed by an open window, enjoying the cool evening air and birdsong. Thank you, John and Sheila for your hospitality... you have really blessed us.  My turn in the bath now!

Next post will be a photo- gallery..... just haven't got ourselves organised yet!
Thanks to all of you who are praying... more prayers for the feet... and slightly less for the heat!