The Joy of Repetition

We’re on holiday for a few days with Daughter-Jo and family at a cottage in Norfolk. Family tradition necessitates that there are repeated conversations that take the form:

Child: Can I have an ice-cream, please.

Me: Did I buy you one yesterday?

Child: No

Me: Then I must buy you one today.

Such conversations started 40 years ago when our children were young; they’ve continued with grandchildren. They make no sense and aren’t funny to anyone else… but they’re an enjoyable part of our family identity.

I sung ‘I am the Music Man…’ to our children repeatedly. I enjoyed it; they enjoyed it. We now sing ’Music Man’ with senior citizens in our ‘Singing for Wellbeing’ group… with repeated enjoyment

Many friends have things they enjoy doing repeatedly… playing golf, going to bingo, walking on the beach, meeting friends at the pub… Many have stories they enjoy telling repeatedly… ‘When I was in Lanzarote…’, ‘When George got lost in Tesco’s…’, ‘When Emily learnt to open the fridge…’

Solomon Northrup describes slavery 200 years ago in ‘12 Years a Slave’:

‘There may be humane masters, as there certainly are inhuman ones – there may be slaves well-clothed, well-fed and happy, as there surely are those half-clad, half-starved and miserable; nevertheless the institution that tolerates such wrong and inhumanity as I have witnessed is a cruel, unjust and barbarous one.’

His words about slavery, power and prejudice have been repeated many times… with no joy at all.

We enjoyed ‘holiday-church’ yesterday. It was Pentecost Sunday. Ian preached: ‘We need another Pentecost’. Many churches across the world will have repeated that message with enthusiasm and conviction.

Christians throughout the centuries have repeated:

…Peter’s words when fear-full in a storm: ‘Lord, Save us! We’re going to drown!’

…Paul’s words of reassurance: ‘Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ’

…Ian’s words of encouragement: ‘We need another Pentecost.’

…Words that I repeat joyfully through the changing scenes of my life… demonstrating and strengthening my faith.