I see them....

Driving home from a morning’s teaching at The Salvation Army training college I’m getting vexed! Why is it that every traffic light is red? In my frustration I try to make the stopping every two minutes a positive thing and start to look around.

Then I see them.

I see them walking slowly. I see them heads down. I see them on the park bench. I see them stood around watching. I see them sat on the step of the off-license with their blue plastic bags. Everywhere I looked aimless people. No where to go, no one to talk to; no one to listen; no reason; no incentive - nothing.

I arrive back at church. There is Tommy, fingers yellowed from nicotine, face a mosaic of fresh and old scars, alcohol breathed fumes offer a light relief from the smell of his socks! "My life is a mess…" he starts, I listen, encourage and comfort as the luncheon club looks on.

As Tommy leaves I get thinking about a question a reporter asked me about HRH. "Is Prince Philip the most important person to have visited your church?"

"Probably not!"