Outsiders, Observers or Insiders?

The plan is that we shall go to watch the cricket today…

There are three sorts of people: Those who don’t understand cricket, those who watch cricket, those who play cricket… outsiders, observers, insiders.

These three categories apply to church… Those who stand outside the church – detached, uninvolved; those who come occasionally, a passive audience, observers; those who are part of the church – involved, contributing, participating…

These three categories of people exist in schools, hospitals, zoos, prisons…

Outsiders…

I watch the news…

Lucy Letby, Brittain’s most prolific child murderer is sentenced. A rare “whole-life order” is imposed… Fires are raging – continuing in Canada, new fires in Tenerife… Ethiopian refugees are trying to reach Yemen; they’re shot by Sudanese border guards.

I’ve not been in court following the details of the Letby trial, I’ve never had my home threatened by fire, I’ve not seen the desperation of refugees personally. I may think I’m an observer; really, I’m an outsider.

Observers…

I respond to a few messages, glance through Facebook

Prostate cancer, eating disorder, bereavement anniversary… folk I know well. I’ve some understanding of their lives, I form opinions – compassionate, judgemental – but I’m still only an observer.

Richard Coles says: ‘I would rather be uncomfortable for being more generous than we want to be, than uncomfortable for being meaner than we need to be.’

He’s actually writing about gay marriage, but the principle is a good one for me as an observer with opinions.

Insiders…

Henri Nouwen says: ‘Who can save a child from a burning house without taking the risk of being burnt in the flames? Who can listen to a story of loneliness and despair without taking the risk of experiencing similar pains in his own heart and even lose his precious peace of mind? In short: ‘Who can take away suffering without entering it?’

There’s nothing like being an insider.

Musing… discerning when I’m an outsider, observer, insider… what I should be… looking forward to the cricket – as an observer.