Over Christmas many Reading people have been intrigued by the installation of a new railway bridge in Cow Lane. Despite extreme inconvenience for motorists and its inevitable ripple effect in creating traffic jams, there have been surprisingly few complaints. Almost any opportunity to move slowly along Portman Road seems to be generally welcomed. Some curious drivers stop furtively on the Beresford Road roundabout to look around, glance in their rear view mirrors for an up-date on the landscape or even park to make use of the viewing platform.
Our town which owes so much to the railway for its development, evidently still appreciates its importance. This process of updating an old bridge demonstrated to me the importance of taking responsibility for other networks of family, friend, work colleague and fellow human beings. As illustrated by the prayer of St Francis, it would seem there is an opportunity for us all to become a channel of peace through all our contacts .
Traditional railway maintenance and investment can be quite a challenge over Christmas. For many of us its a time of considerable contact with those we just happen to care about. High expectations pitched against limited
finance, stamina and time can make this a time of considerable disappointment and
stress. At Christmas we tend also to be acutely aware of those relationships which have failed. Treasuring memories whilst grieving lost opportunities to be with those you love seem a particular feature of this time of year.
This year an operation on my eyelid meant that I had to decline several invitations during December.Those working on the Reading Interfaith Group committee proved
throughout this process of recovery how generous, tolerant and vigilant
they can be, particularly with regards to my notorious dyslexic
mistakes! It was frustrating to miss out on Christmas dinner provided as a gift of love and goodwill by our Pakistan Community, although lovely to pass on so many messages from others who for other reasons were also sorry not to be there. I regretted also not being present when the Civic Hanukkah candle was lit, remembering what a happy and inclusive occasion this was last year.
Despite a reduced capacity it was still possible to keep a interfaith networking service running. I welcomed an invitation to help make the 7-9 am radio slot on Christmas morning an opportunity for interfaith, by inviting some of my friends to contribute.To be honest, this programme did not work out quite as I expected, but that experience of listening to some wonderfully generous people sharing their insights so honestly and effectively on air all the way home and over coffee afterwards, emphasised how incredibly fortunate I am to be a part of this Group.
Although most of us would like to be strong, effective winners all the time, there is also considerable benefit to be derived from seeing how wonderful everyone else can be. Times of weakness can also be those of strength. Through my incapacity everything in our family preparations for Christmas became a matter of teamwork. Our presents were purchased in the most physically undemanding way possible, on line thanks to my very systematic husband who absolutely hates shopping. My youngest daughter upped the usual cooking and presentation standard somewhat alarmingly with her Christmas cake. When my oldest asked if we would be prepared to have all our festive excess of food at her house, freed from all domestic responsibility, in my first year as a grandma, it was just like being a child again at Christmas!
During the Christmas holiday break I had the pleasure of several days working at the Madejski stadium. it was wonderful to be once again in a network of very caring human beings through a shared occupation and in the case of Reading Football and London Irish fans on successive days, love of a particular sport.
In those days up to Christmas it seemed just about everyone had something in common with the small boy in this years John Lewis advert. Those presents I couldn't wait to give were for my husband, made possible by the discovery of a shop that sold bits for an N gauge model railway. Since a particularly helpful member of staff didn't seem at all surprised when asked specifically for 1930's stock suitable for the line through High Wycombe, I ended up some farm animals, authentic cardboard buildings, two GWR carriages and even some people!
Some of these tiny N gauge characters mystified me at first because they were all sitting down on identical green benches. When it was explained that these were railway passengers they gained additional significance to me. Despite the many problems associated with maintaining a model railway network, with its associated challenge of getting the trains to work, through long spells of neglect, dust, children growing up and the natural passage of time, these tiny lead characters stay resolutely in position.
In previous years I have often written about angels, how they are prevalent through many faith traditions and take many forms. My Christmas angels may not be so small as to dance on the end of a pin as medieval theologians once debated but N gauge still provides tiny ambassadors of love who are brave enough to wait. They understand the many difficulties associated with maintaining communication, how it is necessary to clear away sufficient debris on the track to listen. Such angels are prepared to understand the gradient, those long dark tunnels of despair, loss of power and trains which go a little of the rails sometimes. They maintain a sense of direction so forgive and repair connections. This may take time and many attempts. Despite all the odds, such angels believing in peace and goodwill to all men, expect their train will eventually arrive at the station.
In sharing their greeting of peace and goodwill to all people, it would seem N gauge passengers who wait patiently for their train this Christmas, believe that whatever the obstacle or divide, love can break through.
