Some rich company today. Peter Wedde came up from Auckland and brought Graeme Ferguson -- these were my contemporaries at both Auckland and Otago Universities, and at Knox College. Long ago. All our marriages have survived, and between us we have seen and experienced quite a lot. Peter and Graeme still do things in the church, while I don't. We enjoy each other's company, and I suppose each of us thinks the others have mellowed, and that "they" needed to.
So we had lunch together. I made some rather fine pea and bacon soup, and some bread -- and Mary left some chocolate and apricot squares for us. We talked. I'm interested to note that none of it was bitter or recriminative, or regretful. It is as though we have made peace with life and unanswered questions and unresolved issues. Graeme battles on with the effects of his big stroke some years ago, but he sat at the table and one-handedly buttered and cut his own bread, and dealt with his soup. Of course we traversed theology and politics, and the state of the church from where we are. They loved the situation here, the view, the quiet.
These are people who embody the gentle, scholarly, sensitive and liberal company of Christ. Our wounds and scars show, I guess. We have long ago relinquished any need for dogmatism or control. We have ministered everywhere from Scotland to Papua New Guinea, from Cambridge UK to Australia, to Kiwiland, in parishes and theological college. Mary was sorry she could not be present, but maybe soon we'll organise another such luncheon here, with spouses.
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