We continue the theme of places into Holy Week. Try to visit some of the places suggested this week. If you can't visit all or any of them, then try to think about the places you do go to. Perhaps they are places you always visit at this time of year or even everyday. Try to see them as if you were visiting for the first time or ask yourself how would a stranger see this place, or a child? If you are going to the church you usually attend during the week try to see it as if visiting for the first time too. Think about this parable.....
The parable of the badly maintained house There once was a badly maintained house is a delightful suburb. The people who lived in it were very nice: kind to others, friendly if anyone called, helpful in the neighbourhood, and generous to people in need, even those not in their street. The house itself was in a sorry state. The windows at the front were boarded up which made the house look dark and uninviting. The front door wasn't at the front, but at the side, and no one coming to that house for the first time would know how to get in because it just wasn't obvious. There was a high narrow gate and an even higher wall which made it almost impossible to see into the garden. The garden itself was overgrown with weeds and the path was a death trap. Besides which the path didn't even lead to the front door but took some round about overgrown route round to the dimly lit back entrance. Of course the people who lived in the house knew all of this. They knew how to avoid the gaps in the path and the brambles. They always took a torch with them and made sure never to be trying to get in late at night. They often wondered why they didn't have many visitors. They always said they would welcome any who come, but very few managed to negotiate the gate, the path and the garden, let along find the door. The family got older and older and fewer and fewer. Still they could not understand why more visitors didn't call. What will happen to the house and to the few people who still live in it? If you have brains then use them!
© Janet Lees