Parish magazine article - May 2008

Mandy Flaherty writes,

“Maybe Rosebud was something he couldn’t get, or something he lost.”

If you’re any kind of film buff, you may know the quotation above as a significant one from near the end of Orson Welles’ 1941 film, ‘Citizen Kane’. The film, in its time, was ground breaking in its cinematography but also in its portrayal of a man who had failed, despite being loaded with material possessions and fame. It is a deeply exposing film about loss and loneliness as well as a reflection on how important childhood and family are. The Children’s Society is prominent in its work at the moment in raising awareness on ’What makes a good childhood?’ highlighting the very disturbing fact that ‘the UK fares very badly in bringing about the well-being of its children.’ Britain is not a good place to grow up in, according to new research cited by The Children’s Society, and there is much loss and loneliness, of various kinds, experienced among our children today.

I have been mulling over these thoughts and ideas about a good childhood versus the loss of that childhood for a few weeks now, both on a theological level in preaching and leading services and last month’s Peter’s Place, but also on a personal level as I prepare to adopt my 16 month old son, Jayden. Having a fulfilled and well connected childhood that extends into adult life is so important to be able to deal with all the pressures that modern life throws at us. And, of course, it’s something I want to be able to provide for my children, no matter what disadvantages they face, now or later.

As Christians, we search for what God says to us about how to be fulfilled so that we can take that into our lives and give it to others. As we near Pentecost, one scripture comes to mind that offers some answer to this searching and yearning. In Ephesians 5, just as he warns against filling your life with other things, Paul says, ‘… be filled with the Spirit’. Instead of the huge number of alternatives that the world offers to fulfil our lives and take away the loss and loneliness, Paul urges, ’be filled with the Spirit.’ This is the real alternative and the tool needed to ensure we don’t feel the huge loss and loneliness depicted in Citizen Kane or inferred in the research done by The Children’s Society. A more accurate translation of this phrase is actually ‘keep being filled’ or ‘ be continually filled’ with the Spirit and this is the principle we are urged to live by: to continually ask God to fill us with his Spirit so that we can live an alternative life to the consumerist and addictive modern life that takes up so much of our time and energy. By being filled with God’s Spirit we can have a deeper energy and fulfilment that keeps us happy and contented. May God fill us again this Pentecost with his Holy Spirit that we might know and share the satisfying love of Christ. Amen!

On a personal note: I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone in the parish that I have got to know over the last four years in my role as Curate here. I have met many people; listened to and enjoyed many people’s stories and friendship and all are valuable. Grace and I are looking forward to our lives changing over the next few weeks as Jayden arrives as son and brother and as my role changes. We will still be living in Oadby for the foreseeable future and I will be moving into a teaching role after my adoption leave but hope to continue my ministry as a non-stipendiary priest at a suitable point in the future. Thank you for your prayers and support. See you around…. With a double pushchair!

Every Blessing – Reverend Mandy Flaherty