A Retired Rector's Reflections

Every Christmas I remember the Christmases I experienced as a prison chaplain. I smile when I think of the carol services at wich prisoners would insist Jingle Bells be enthusiastically sung, the simple hand made gifts some prisoners would give to chaplains, the brave faces of prisoners who had no one ‘on the out’ to send them Christmas cards, a Christmas tree with decorations carefully made from recycled rubbish, the feeling of shared humanity on Christmas Day among staff and prisoners, the loneliness and pain for many…

The German theologian Karl Barth had a particular love for preaching to a prison congregation. In one memorable sermon he told how he felt being in prison was a metaphor for our human condition. We are all imprisoned, all apprehended, by failings and weaknesses by a flawed humanity. Of course it is not just that. There is hope, and love.

During the last few months I’ve met two men who were serving life sentences in prisons where I served who have now been released. One friend had been in prison for over 40 years. Both have rebuilt lives outside, and can share hope with others. Both have been greatly helped by their christian faith and the support of christian people on their release. It is not always been easy for them but their willpower, faith and hope is inspiring.

A saying often quoted in prisons, and attributed to a large variety of authors, is “Two men look out of prison bars. One sees mud, the other sees stars.” A simple saying, but striking too.

So many of us at times look out and see mud. We see the anger, the suffering, the greed, the discrimination found in our world. Sometimes it is close at hand.

Many years ago, in my teens I was speaking with a retired elderly gentleman in my home village in Teesdale about my vocation to be a priest. It was Christmas time. He encouraged me always to look up, and see the star and follow it as the wise men did.

My prayer this Christmas is that I may continue to look up and follow the star. I pray that this coming year will bring us all more hope and faith. I pray too that in a world often so noisy and fractious there may be many who look out in wonder, and see stars.