top of page
Search
Writer's pictureRevd John King

FEEDING FRENZY

I get lucky. I witness a feeding frenzy. Not in a zoological garden where these things are time-tabled. Not in South Georgia where the penguins put on a show of their own. But back here in the UK, where a bit of magic (or perhaps an imitation banquet) conjures a storm of gulls (of the herring variety, I imagine), that beat their great wings and would cry ‘Hitchcock!’ if they knew how.


Two or three minutes and it’s all over. Something else has attracted attention. But the contrast between the short-style frenzy and the calm deliberation outside the church door is something remarkable.


Of course, we have to say that the Church offers nothing novel and enticing. We’ve heard it all before. But then we don’t stop eating if eating lacks novelty. We may not enjoy a varied cuisine every day, every week, every season. We eat because we have to. To increase the flavour and enjoyment is a bonus.


It is no disappointment, then, to find an absence of frenzy outside the church door. Rather we should see that as proof that the church menu is doing its job. The Church has no novelty to offer but it sustains the worshippers who enter soberly and purposefully to pay homage to a Creator and Provider.


The pursuit of novelty is exhausting and degrading. It leads to fresh measures of razzmatazz. For the birds to expect us humans to take part with them in their feeding habits is misguided. For creatures with highly developed navigational powers it is a bit of a let-down.


But, all the same, I enjoy the spectacle.


If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.

10 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

CAN I BELIEVE THE BIBLE

Can I believe the Bible? Good question? No. Here’s an answer that puts us altogether on the wrong track. Think for moment about the story...

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

It takes a good man to start asking questions. It takes a better man to ask the right questions. And it takes the best of men to find...

BIBLE LABELS

Everybody knows MOTD, Strictly, Bangers and Cash. Living as we do in the days of smart one-liners, slick editing and honorific titles, we...

Comments


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page