The Pointer July-August 2022
Rector The Rt Rev Darren McCartney 028 4175 3497 suffragan1@gmail.com
The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore I was recently invited to share with some children at a school assembly. Now this doesn’t normally give me too much concern as I have shared in schools before. This time however it was a special needs school and I was left considering how and what might be a way of sharing something of the Bible Story with children who may not necessarily think or understand in the same way I might. As I reflected, I thought about those who I know, with special needs, I remembered how many of them related and shared through touch. Recently, at a friend’s funeral, I met another friend with special needs, she held my hand and spoke quietly to me. I was touched as I remembered how she used to make scones on a Wednesday and was always happy to see me on her baking day. This led me to the idea of touch, affection and love and I reflected on Holy Scripture and was reminded of Luke 15. People were complaining about the people Jesus was spending time with and Jesus speaks to them through the parables of The Lost Coin and The Lost Son. I remembered how the father looked and longed, every day, for the return of his son. Then one day the son returns, the father running to meet him and embracing him. So, this was the story I would attempt to run with. To help me I recruited an old friend Barney the Bear. I bought Barney the Bear when I was in my thirties, and I really like my mate, Barney. Barney is always up for a cuddle and is a really good listener. I am sure many of you can remember a friend like Barney. The day arrives when I am in the school. I, along with ten other bikers, (men who own and ride motorcycle) watched as the children come in and sit down on the floor with their support teachers, all primary school age. I am invited to come and share with those who have gathered. I introduce Barney and ask the children and adults to put up their hands if they also have a teddy bear. The majority had and I allowed the children to hold and touch
Barney asking them to describe what he felt like. Many could only smile and hug Barney. I told the children how I loved to give Barney a hug and how I often would give someone in my family a hug. A hug can say a lot to someone. It can say I love you, I care for you, you mean a lot to me. I asked one of the ten men I was with to come up and Keith was very happy to oblige. I gave him a hug and he gave me a hug and we would say something like, love you brother. The children seemed to understand this and understood what a hug meant.
I told the children how there was a story in the bible about a boy who ran away from home, he was lost, and his father missed him so much. The father would go out every day and look to see if he could see his son coming home. Then one day he sees his son coming in the distance and runs to meet him, giving him a big hug. Jesus used this story to try and tell how much God longs for us to come to him. He longs to embrace us as the father longed to embrace his son who was lost and who was now found. Perhaps you might like to give someone a hug, a friend, a loved one and share with them the story of the Prodigal Son. It doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Simply tell someone that God loves them and longs for them to come home. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20b
Blessings +Darren