Max, Patrick… Life’s Box Of Chocolates

Forrest Gump: ‘My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get…’

Yesterday I visited Harry. He told me about Max, recalling Max as a child playing with his sons in the garden…

Max became head pupil of Durham School, achieved a First in Politics with Russian at Newcastle University… a Distinction in his Masters at the University of Glasgow…

He progressed to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, where he won the Queen’s Medal for the best cadet last December. Max was a Second Lieutenant, a platoon commander, with huge potential and a glittering career in front of him.     

A month ago, on a training exercise on Salisbury plain Max was hit by an armoured vehicle, suffered significant head injuries, and died at the scene…

Harry reflected with sadness on the tragedy…

Returning home I read about Tools with a Mission. Our church has supported ‘TWAM’ for many years, collecting unwanted tools and equipment no longer required, so they can be  refurbished and sent overseas.

Last year’s impressive quantity of tools dispatched included 2545 sewing machines, 347 haberdashery boxes… 437 carpentry trade kits, 442 builders kits, 248 motor mechanics kits…

Patrick started working with TWAM in Uganda  in 2017: ‘I found that when a child drops out of school, they have no options… they get involved in crime, drugs, etc… if I train school dropouts in tailoring, then give them a sewing machine and find them a place in the market, I will give them a chance…’

Patrick taught students to use machines to knit, sew and develop a range of tailoring skills… He taught and trained students to maintain and repair sewing machines… to service and repair motorbikes…

Musing… the mystery of Forrest’s box of chocolates… Max, Patrick… Isaiah’s words: ‘I am the Lord and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.’ (45:6-7)