God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform

August 17, 2009

Dear Friends

There is a saying “God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform” and I think I have an example of this.

Some of you may be aware that I am leaving Fairford Leys next Spring after what will have been ten really good years. It’s be great to be part of this community and have no regrets, except that the pub we’ve all been waiting for for so long will probably open after I leave!

Anyway, I had an interview for a new post a few weeks ago and I met with a group of lay people who had lots of questions to ask and I was invited to make a presentation as to what I might bring to the post. It was going reasonably well when suddenly a young man walked into the foyer where the interview was being held. I think he’d “had a few” beforehand and promptly sat right in the interview and began to ask questions of his own about the meaning of life, what to do when you have been disowned etc… the profound, deep questions that often come to mind after a few pints of Fosters!

Momentarily we were all thrown by this unexpected interruption, but I quickly decided I should engage in a conversation with him, despite the fact that we were in the middle of an interview to decide my future. He stayed until he’d had enough or had become thirsty and we bid him farewell. The interview resumed twenty minutes later. It was all a bit surreal!

I had a call from one of the interviewers the next day promising me that this was not a “set up” but proved decisive for the team as they were impressed how I handled the situation. So my top tip for you is if you have an interview looming… buy a friend a few pints and see what happens…!

So a somewhat inebriated young fella enabled a member of the clergy to impress a selection panel. Coincidence? Or evidence that indeed God moving in mysterious ways? The jury’s out on that one, all I know is that’s what so wonderful about life…it’s full of surprises, challenges and the unexpected. Wouldn’t life be tedious is it were always predictable. I wonder if that’s why we enjoy talking about things like the weather because it’s always changing?

On reflection, maybe it’s good that I leave before our “local” opens… I might otherwise spend my evenings being questioned about all sorts of things, including, “Is there life on other planets?” and “What’s the purpose of wasps?” whilst sipping a chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

Rev Fred Ireland