I love people and I love the unexpected fun of simply ‘being with’ people and the wonderful chaos and questions that draw forth conversation and insight. Thank you to all the wonderful people with whom I share ‘parish visits’.

By way of example: following a recent parish visit I was asked by a young fun-loving mum to respond to her child’s question:

“Thank you for your sermon yesterday, it was very encouraging to us all 🙂  The kids were asking me about the story/reasons for having your special stick thingy! (I have no idea what it is called!).  Can you please tell me about it so I can tell them – I promised I would ask you for them!”

My reply,

Hi, The “special stick thingy” is called a Pastoral Staff or Shepherd’s Crook or Crozier. Shepherds out in the fields carried a staff or crook use to protect the sheep from harm. Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd of his people and sometimes Jesus is depicted holding a shepherd’s staff. Bishops are to model their caring ministry on the ministry of Jesus and the Pastoral Staff, also called a Crozier, symbolises that the bishop is to be a shepherd of God’s people, the Christian community, the church. The Pastoral Staff I had on Sunday was made of Tasmanian timbers and was of the style used by shepherds in the Bothwell district – a Tasmanian told me that he recalls his grandfather, a shepherd, using one.

Now that exchange is part of the precious ‘being with’ people in parishes and indeed ‘being with’ people anywhere and everywhere.