There is a story doing the rounds that comes from the Conclave, the one
convened in 2013, to elect the Pope.
Although all this happened behind closed, even locked doors, the Cardinals,
apparently, asked three or four of their number (the front runners) to address
them in the Sistine Chapel and speak about the vision for the Church’s
future. Obviously, this was the
opportunity of a lifetime, and they all over ran their allotted time. They tried to say everything and in doing so
somewhat tested the patience of their audience.
Apart from one man, Argentina’s Jorge Bergoglio. He spoke for less than his allotted time, so
maybe it was his brevity that earnt him the papacy, for it was he who became
the new Pope, Pope Francis.
Over these last 18 months, since we last had a Bite Sized Service in February 2020 to celebrate Epiphany, many things have been left out of our lives. Meeting up, contact, hugging, shaking hands, seeing one another face to face.
We’ve discovered the value of less. We, who have, relatively speaking, been so used to more, have felt the significance of the changing seasons, have been uplifted by a kind word spoken on a telephone call, have been thrilled to come back to a church service even if it meant wearing a mask and not singing. Less has become more and the worth of the ‘ordinary’ has made a new impression on us.
Chatting to a neighbour in Lockdown, he said to me it wasn’t the expensive cruises he’d missed the most, but driving over to Cambridge to be with the grandchildren.
We’ve been recalibrating our values and it’s not the number of our words, or the monetary value of our gifts that matter most, but the spirit of open generosity in which they are given that truly blesses people around us.
So, we’ve missed you. We missed LunchBreak.
This re-start isn’t quite the old LunchBreak, yet in a way less is more. Because even though we might miss the food, what we value most is the fellowship.
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